Dani

Biography

Danièle Graule, widely recognized as Dani (or Dany), was a prominent French actress and singer, born on October 1, 1944, in Castres. Her music career took off in 1966 when she signed with Pathé-Marconi and launched her debut single "Garçon manqué." A significant milestone in her career came in 1968 with the release of "Papa vient d'épouser la bonne," which became a major success, selling over a million copies. Dani was slated to represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with the track "La Vie à 25 ans." However, her participation was derailed by the death of President Georges Pompidou during that week, preventing her from competing. Her only release in English was "That Old Familiar Feeling," featuring lyrics by British singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul, set to the same melody as "La Vie à 25 ans."

In film, Dani gained recognition for her role as the script girl Liliane in François Truffaut's acclaimed film Day for Night. She reprised this character in the final installment of the Antoine Doinel saga, Love on the Run, where Liliane has a brief affair with Antoine, portrayed by Jean-Pierre Léaud. Truffaut skillfully interwove scenes from both films, further cementing Dani's association with the Doinel Cycle. Dani passed away in Tours on July 18, 2022, at the age of 77.