Liliane Rovère (née Cukier) (born 30 January 1933) is a French actress.[1]
Liliane Rovère was born Liliane Cyprienne Cukier. Of Jewish origin, she had to hide in Catholic institutions under a fake name during the German occupation of France in World War II. Her parents survived the Holocaust, but many of her family did not.[2]
Rovère's lifelong love of jazz began at age 12, and from then on she frequented jazz clubs.[3] At age 18, after a visit to the Club Saint-Germain, Rovère survived a rape by two acquaintances.[4]
In 1954, Rovère's parents sent her to live with an uncle in the United States. She visited Birdland in New York City, where she met a cool jazz trumpeter Chet Baker at the height of his fame.[5] They began a romantic relationship. She lived with Baker and accompanied him on tour for two years, and he introduced her as his wife despite his existing marriage.[6][4][7]: 102 The stylish couple was frequently photographed together, including in a famous shot by William Claxton where she, with a curly pixie cut and black dress, gazes at the viewer while resting her hand on Baker's head;[8] it appears as part of a collage on the cover of Chet Baker Sings and Plays. While on tour, Rovère caused a stir when she openly palled around with Black people in racially segregated St. Louis.[7]: 104 Baker and Rovère's romance ended in 1956, when Baker informed her by mail that he'd married a new woman.[7]: 128
A few years later, Rovère married jazz bassist Gilbert "Bibi" Rovère. In 1971, they adopted a daughter who they named Tina.[5]
After taking acting classes, Rovère began appearing as supporting characters on television.[3] She works as a make-up artist in cinema and television.[citation needed]
In 1986, Rovère appeared as Madame Queen in Round Midnight, a film which features roles and cameos played by real-life jazz figures and stars bebop saxophonist Dexter Gordon.
In 1998, Rovère received a Lutin, an award given to short films, for best actress in Christian Rouaud's Le Sujet.[9]
In 2015, Rovère appeared as Arlette Azémar, a main character in Call My Agent!. Some of the character's elements, such as a passion for jazz and a youthful romance with Chet Baker, are taken from Rovère's life.[10]
Rovère published an autobiography in 2019 titled La folle vie de Lili.
In 2022, she supports the candidacy of Jean-Luc Mélenchon for the French presidential election.[11]