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Fẹlix, Sophie

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

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French actress; eldest of the sisters of Elisa-Rachel Félix (Rachel); born in a small village near Frankfort-on-the-Main Feb. 2, 1819; died Jan. 12, 1877. She began as a singer in the cafés of Lyons and Paris, later entering the Conservatoire to study for the opera. Failing at the final examination, she gave up this project, and resolved to attempt tragedy and comedy. After several attempts at the Gaîté and the Ambigu, she entered the Odéon, but, following her sister's wishes, she soon after entered the Comédic Française, where she made her appearance as Célimène in the "Misanthrope" (1849). Her admission there had been premature, however, and she returned to the Odéon. Here she played in different pieces, finally achieving, in the rôle of Caroline de Lussan in Prémaray's "Les Droits de l'Homme," a success that enabled her to return to the Comédie Française. She appeared there (Oct. 29, 1852) as Elmire in "Tartuffe," and as the Marquise in "La Gageure Imprévue"; she took up again the rôle of Caroline de Lussan, and created that of the Duchesse de Lenoncourt in "Lys dans la Vallée."

Sophie, however, was much less gifted than her sisters, and much less suited to the dramatic career. After another season at the Odéon, and a journey to America in the company of Rachel, she abandoned the stage. She was present at the last moments of her famous sister, and wrote a last appeal to the chief rabbi of France, Isidor, telling him of Rachel's desire to die in the faith of her fathers, and to receive a minister of the Jewish religion.