Anne Francine was best known for her stage portrayal of the flamboyant
Vera Charles in "Mame". She played the role--her favorite--both on
Broadway and in touring productions.
Her long and successful career began in the nightclubs. She made her
professional debut in New York at the elegant Coq Rouge, where a
one-night booking turned into a celebrated three-year engagement. Early
in her career she made a successful transition from nightclubs to the
legitimate stage, performing in both drama and musical comedy. She was
featured on Broadway with Alfred Lunt and
Lynn Fontanne in "The Great Sebastions",
with Shirley Booth in "By The Beautiful
Sea" and with Maurice Evans in
"Tenderloin". She spent two seasons as a member of
Ellis Rabb's acclaimed APA Repertory Company,
alternating with Helen Hayes as
"Mrs. Candor" in "School For Scandal", joining Rabb and
Rosemary Harris in "You Can't
Take It With You" as the "Grand Duchess Olga Katrina", and appearing in
Jean Anouilh's "The Flies" under
the direction of Vinnette Carroll. In
regional theatre she had starred in "Mother Courage", "The Importance
Of Being Earnest", "The Skin Of Our Teeth", "Twelfth Night" and
"Company". She appeared in films including
Federico Fellini's
Julia und die Geister (1965),
Mike Frankovich's
Jede Stimme zählt (1972)
and Unter Wilden (1972).
