Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923) went down in history as one of the most famous actresses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was not only an innovator on the stage, but also the epitome of a Jewish mother - strong, driven and devoted to her son, Maurice Bernhardt, whom she raised alone.
Sarah was born in Paris in the family of a Jewish courtesan, Julie Bernhardt. Birth name Sarah Marie Henriette Bernard. Her mother, Judith-Julie Bernard, a penniless milliner and the daughter of an itinerant Dutch eyeglass merchant, was a Parisian courtesan known as "Jul." It is unknown who her father was, Sarah has always remained silent about his identity. The names most often suggested are Eduard Bernhardt or Paul Morel, a naval officer. Due to the destruction of civil records, Sarah Bernhardt's date of birth is uncertain and controversial. If some biographers usually give the dates as October 22 or 23, 1844, the others suggest July or September 1844, even 1843 or even 1841. In addition, to facilitate the procedure for obtaining the Legion of Honor and confirming the French citizenship of the actress, a retrospective birth certificate is issued by court decision. January 23, 1914, based on the baptismal certificate issued by Sarah Bernhardt.
Despite her difficult childhood, Sarah was able to show her talent by entering the Paris Conservatory. Her Jewish heritage played an important role in shaping her resilient character, which allowed her to overcome prejudice and social barriers.
Sarah gave birth to her son Maurice in 1864, when she was only 20 years old. The identity of Maurice's father is not precisely established, but, with a high probability, it was the Belgian prince Henri de Ligne. Sarah raised Maurice on her own, combining motherhood with a career in the theater. Her efforts were extraordinary for a woman of that era, especially given her precarious financial situation in the early years. Subsequently, her son became a famous French playwright and theater director.
Bernhardt began her career at the Comédie Française and then achieved international fame performing in plays such as The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas fils and Phèdre by Jean Racine. Her dramatic style and charisma attracted the attention of audiences around the world.
Sarah was endlessly devoted to her son. Maurice received an excellent education, which was rare for children of actresses of that time. He inherited his mother's passion for art and became a successful actor, and later a playwright and director. Maurice accompanied Sarah on her many tours. Later she entrusts him with successive management of the Théâtre Ambigu (1882-1883), the Théâtre Porte-Saint-Martin (1883-1884) and finally the Théâtre Sarah Bernard, the former Théâtre des Nations, which the city of Paris gave her for twenty years from 1899, when she gave up management of the Renaissance Theatre, which she had directed for five years.
Bernhardt found time to be close to Maurice, despite her numerous roles and busy schedule. Her letters and memoirs reflect the tenderness and deep care she felt for her son. In one of the letters she wrote: “I live for the stage and for you.” In her will, she declares to bequeath “everything I have, buildings, jewelry, recognition in Mont de Pite, furniture, trinkets, my entire library, my silver, my dresses, my linen, everything in my hotel bl Pereire. (...) to my son Maurice Bernhardt. (...) Finally, there is not a single thread that belongs to me that is not my son, to whom I give everything.”
Sarah's deep influence on Maurice is evidenced by the fact that she acted in all of his plays. She became a symbol of a woman who was able to combine a career with motherhood in an environment that was often hostile to such endeavors. Sarah Bernhardt raised a son who continued her creative mission and contributed to art. Her Jewish heritage—the values ​​of family, culture, and perseverance—left a deep imprint on both her career and her relationship with her son.
The story of Sarah Bernhardt is not only a story about a great actress, but also about a woman who embodied the ideal of a Jewish mother, becoming a support for her child. Her love, work and fortitude made her not only the “Divine Sarah”, but also a symbol of the fact that motherhood and creativity can coexist, complementing each other.