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When they buried Sarah Bernhardt at Pere Lachaise cemetery in 1923, all of Paris turned out to mourn her and the newsreel cameras rolled. She died as she had lived in a blaze of publicity and public adoration. Rising from utterly humble origins, she became the pre-eminent tragedienne of her time but so much more. Actor, manager, entrepreneur, cultural ambassador, Mother of France.

For six decades, across two centuries, Bernhardt died on stage twice a day in innumerable tragedies, loved and beloved by men and women. She defied critics over and over again and took to male roles like Hamlet when she was in her 50s. She made and lost fortunes, carried on performing after her leg was amputated and achieved ultimate immortality by starring in films as motion pictures were being birthed. Writer and broadcaster Muriel Zagha celebrates her life, tracks down the totem of her handkerchief passed among New York stage actresses ever since her death and hears from those still in awe of this defiant spirit of the stage and screen.

Presenter Muriel Zagha
Producer Mark Burman
A Just Radio Production