**Simone Signoret** (1921-1985) was a prominent French actress, an icon of post-war European cinema. Her film career was marked by intense and memorable roles.

She emerged with films such as *Casque d'Or* (1952), where she played a prostitute with a heart of gold, and the famous thriller *Les Diaboliques* (1955), which solidified her international fame. She reached her peak with *Room at the Top* (1959), for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress, portraying a mature and vulnerable woman.

Signoret was known for her magnetic presence, husky voice, and ability to embody complex female characters: strong yet fragile, often disillusioned or marked by life. Her style was realistic, far from Hollywood glamour, preferring roles of ordinary, sometimes tragic, women. Among her later works, Jean-Pierre Melville's *L'Armée des ombres* (1969) stands out, demonstrating her versatility and depth.