Simone Desmaison

Simone Desmaison, originally named Simone Damiani, was born in Paris in 1926. She began her career in the entertainment industry as an actress under the pseudonym Simone France. Desmaison gained recognition not only for her acting prowess but also for her contributions as a writer and screenwriter.

In her early years, she starred alongside notable figures such as Lino Ventura and a young Jean-Paul Belmondo in Claude Sautet's film "Classe tous risque." Her life took a significant turn when she became romantically involved with mountaineer René Desmaison, who passed away in 2007. Despite being four years older and having been married twice with two daughters, Simone eventually married René three years after their initial meeting while climbing in Fontainebleau.

While she initially put her acting career on hold to support René, she became instrumental in promoting his climbing achievements to the public. Simone was a powerful advocate for her husband, leveraging her media skills to ensure his adventures received the attention they deserved. Notably, she played a pivotal role in René’s televised climbs, such as the ascent of the Eiffel Tower on May 3, 1964.

In 1985, she published her first novel, "La Face de l'ogre," which was later adapted for film. Her literary works often featured themes centered around the mountains. In her later years, Simone returned to Fontainebleau to teach theater before settling in Chamonix, where she enjoyed time with her family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.