Biography
Darling Légitimus, born Mathilda Marie Berthilde Paruta, was a French actress and music-hall performer. She was born on 21 November 1907 in Le Carbet, Martinique, and died on 7 December 1999 in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
She began her career as a dancer in La Revue Nègre in 1925 alongside Josephine Baker. Légitimus appeared in films from the 1930s onwards, including the role of Rosa in The Wages of Fear (1953) directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. She performed in theatre works by Jean Genet and Aimé Césaire, and also sang and composed Caribbean songs.
At the age of 76, she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her performance in Sugar Cane Alley (1983), directed by Euzhan Palcy.
