Japanese actress in french and international films. Born Itani Yōko (猪谷洋子), her parents were members of the Japanese embassy in Paris. In 1930 she returned with her family to Japan and did not return to France until 1950, after finishing her school education. She started studying at the Sorbonne University in Paris but quickly lost interest, taking instead jobs as exotic oriental beauty in music-halls, cabarets and night clubs. This led to bit roles in films and on the stage, portraying stereotyped orientals. After bigger parts in other French, German and Japanese productions and a small role in her first English-language film "The Quiet American" (1957/directed by Joseph Mankiewicz), her big "break" came with the English production "The Wind Cannot Read" (1958/dir. by Ralph Thomas), co-starring with Dirk Bogarde. It was a great success, leading to further roles in British and International productions, such as "The Savage Innocents" (1959/with Anthony Quinn), "Der schweigende Stern" (1960/dir. Kurt Maetzig - an East-German/Polish co-production of a Stanislaw Lem novel), some films in Italy, and in the early 60s an interlude in Hollywood ("My Geisha" (1962), "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?" (1963), TVs "Ben Casey"). Until the mid 70s many more productions, mostly in Italy and the UK on screen and television followed, almost always playing the femme fatale. After a short marriage to actor Roland Lesaffre in the 50s she remarried in later life a wealthy industrialist and largely withdrew from the business, dividing her time between Paris and Brittany. She died from cancer.
Japanese actress in french and international films. Born Itani Yōko (猪谷洋子), her parents were members of the Japanese embassy in Paris. In 1930 she returned with her family to Japan and did not return to France until 1950, after finishing her school education. She started studying at the Sorbonne University in Paris but quickly lost interest, taking instead jobs as exotic oriental beauty in music-halls, cabarets and night clubs. This led to bit roles in films and on the stage, portraying stereotyped orientals. After bigger parts in other French, German and Japanese productions and a small role in her first English-language film "The Quiet American" (1957/directed by Joseph Mankiewicz), her big "break" came with the English production "The Wind Cannot Read" (1958/dir. by Ralph Thomas), co-starring with Dirk Bogarde. It was a great success, leading to further roles in British and International productions, such as "The Savage Innocents" (1959/with Anthony Quinn), "Der schweigende Stern" (1960/dir. Kurt Maetzig - an East-German/Polish co-production of a Stanislaw Lem novel), some films in Italy, and in the early 60s an interlude in Hollywood ("My Geisha" (1962), "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?" (1963), TVs "Ben Casey"). Until the mid 70s many more productions, mostly in Italy and the UK on screen and television followed, almost always playing the femme fatale. After a short marriage to actor Roland Lesaffre in the 50s she remarried in later life a wealthy industrialist and largely withdrew from the business, dividing her time between Paris and Brittany. She died from cancer.
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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