Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1960
Simone Signoret Room at the Top 1960
SEX WORKER ROLE
Gisele in Back Streets of Paris 1946
Dee Dee in Dédée d’Anvers 1948
Leocadie in La Ronde 1950
Marie in Casque d’or 1952
Adua in Hungry for Love 1960
Madame Rosa in Madame Rosa 1977
All Six Characters Are Prostitutes
Simone Signoret in Back Streets of Paris 1946, Dédée d’Anvers 1948 and La Ronde 1950
Simone Signoret in Casque d’or 1952, Adua and Her Friends 1960, and Madame Rosa 1977
Simone Signoret has played so many prostitutes in movies that I cannot summarize them all in half a page. In fact, from 1946 to 1952, she played a prostitute on average once every two years. She could have added another hooker role to her film repertoire – Madame Hortense from the movie “Zorba The Greek.” But she withdrew from the part after a few days of filming. Simone is second to Sophia Loren as the Oscar winner for playing the most hooker roles – six.
In “Macadam” (aka “Back Streets of Paris”), Simone plays a hooker named Gisele. She works out of the Hotel Bijou. Though other streetwalkers are piling their trade from the exact location, Gisele differs. She oozes class and style in a strictly supporting role.
Watch clip of the film “Macadam”
Four years later, Simone would play a much more substantial hooker role in “Dédée d’Anvers.” The plot is familiar as a hooker vows to leave her profession for the man she loves.
Watch clip of the film “Dédée d’Anvers”
“La Ronde” is similar to “Our Town.” In that, a narrator introduces several stories that are intertwined. In her story, Simone plays a prostitute who picks up a soldier.
Watch clip of the film “La Ronde”
In “Casque d’or,” Simone plays a hooker who meets an ex-con vowing to go straight. They immediately fall in love. However, their romance sets the stage for events that will destroy the people around them.
Watch clip of the film “Casque d’or”
Simone plays the title character Auda in “Hungry for Love” (aka “Auda and her Friends”). When their brothel gets shut down, the women decide to open a restaurant. They cannot escape their past despite trying to make a fresh start.
Watch clip of the film “Hungry for Love”
“Madame Rosa” is perhaps one of Simone’s most notable roles. In this film, Simone plays a retired hooker. She decides to start her third act in life, babysitting the children of other prostitutes. When they have to go out and make a call, Madame Rosa looks after their kids.
Watch clip of the film “Madame Rosa”
To read more about this prostitute role & other Oscar-winning actresses playing a hooker, please continue perusing
If you know of this actress playing more than one prostitute role, please tweet to me and let me know! I’ll gladly add it to the page here. My Twitter handle is at the top of this page.