Biography
Catherine Hiegel (born December 10, 1946) is a French actress, comedian, and director.
She is the daughter of Pierre Hiegel, a radio host, music critic, producer, and artistic director of French record labels, and the niece of Pierre Bellemare.
At age ten, she portrayed Cosette in a radio adaptation of Les Misérables, where her father played Jean Valjean. In 1956, she sang "Viens danser avec papa" with André Claveau.
Following her father's advice, she left school to study comedy. She trained under Raymond Girard and Jacques Charon, beginning her stage career at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Cactus Flower, alongside Jean Poiret and Sophie Desmarets. She later attended the French National Academy of Dramatic Arts, studying with Jean Marchat, Lise Delamare, and Jean-Laurent Cochet.
In 1969, she joined the Comédie-Française, collaborating with directors such as Philippe Adrien, Patrice Chéreau, Dario Fo, Jorge Lavelli, and Jean-Paul Roussillon, performing in both classical and contemporary works. After Christine Fersen's passing in 2008, she became the troupe's Dean.
Catherine Hiegel has also served as a professor at the CNSAD for thirteen years.
She has received two Molière Awards from five nominations.
