Claude Godard

This beautiful girl with auburn hair, long eyelashes and blue-green eyes was born in Casteljaloux, in Gascony. She studied in a Bordeaux high school, graduating at the age of seventeen. She then went to the Conservatoire de Bordeaux, where she was taught music by Marthe Despoulos and drama by Kléber Halpin. She debuted on stage by a mere chance. Indeed Fernand Ledoux was unable to come to Bordeaux to play George Feydeau's "Boubouroche" unless a replacement of his female partner (who had got ill) could be found locally. Spurred by Harpin she embarked on the adventure and came out of it with flying colors. It was not long before she got another part, this time at the Trianon Theater, in André Barde's operetta "Le Comte Obligado". After which she started singing in nightclubs and galas. Encouraged by such a good start, Claude Godard decided to make it in Paris and she immediately enrolled at the famous Cours René Simon. While she was studying she was contacted to represent Gascony at the Miss France beauty contest and she won the title. Selected for the Miss Universe contest she went to the USA in 1952. Although she was not elected this time she decided to stay in the States and work there. She soon appeared on the stage of the only theater of Hollywood and was also in a TV program titled "Bachelors' Paradise". To be sure to obtain a green card she even contracted an unconsummated marriage with a complaisant American citizen.