Édith Scob

Biography

Édith Scob (October 21, 1937 – June 26, 2019) was a prominent French actress celebrated for her haunting performance as the disfigured daughter in the iconic film Eyes Without a Face (1960). Born Édith Helena Vladimirovna Scobeltzine to a lineage that included a Russian Army general, she grew up in a culturally rich environment—her father was an architect and her mother a journalist. Scob's family also included her elder brother, Michel Scob, a notable French cycling champion and Olympian.

Struggling with anorexia at the young age of 14, Scob found solace in literature, which eventually led her to the theatre. While studying French at the Sorbonne, she took drama classes that paved the way for her theatrical debut in 1958 with Don Juan, directed by Georges Vitaly. Her career took off with her role in Eyes Without a Face, catapulting her to prominence in the film industry. Scob received César Award nominations for her supporting roles in Summer Hours (2008) and Holy Motors (2012).

In the wake of the civil unrest of May 1968 in France, she and her husband, composer Georges Aperghis, established an avant-garde theatre in Bagnolet, dedicated to making culture accessible to underprivileged communities. Scob passed away in Paris on June 26, 2019, leaving behind a legacy of artistic innovation. She is survived by their two sons, Alexander and Jerome, both of whom have pursued careers as writers.