Lily Geertruida Maria Henriëtte Bouwmeester (28 September 1901 â€" 12
July 1993) was a Dutch theater and film actress, who was crowned with
a Golden Calf for being "the best actress in Pre-War Dutch cinema".The
daughter of violinist Ludovicus Adolphus Bouwmeester and pianist Julie
Marie Arpeau, Lily Bouwmeester was born in Amsterdam. As a child, she
toured with her parents through Europe, while preparing to become a
violinist as well. The touring proved to be too exhausting for
Bouwmeester, so she moved in with her aunt in 1913, the actress Theo
Mann-Bouwmeester. She dreamed to become a dancer, but her aunt
demanded for her to become an actress and sent her to several
auditions. At the age of 14, she debuted in a theatre production of
Herman Heijermans.In 1916, Bouwmeester started acting in silent films
as well. She debuted in the film Majoor Frans (1916), which starred
Annie Bos. In 1917, she landed a contract with a prestigious theatre
in Amsterdam and performed at the Stadsschouwburg. She was praised by
theatre critics and gained more acting experience. While working on a
play in 1920, she met actor Theo Frenkel Jr., whom she married to in
1921. She left the Stadsschouwburg to produce her own plays with her
husband. They moved to the Hague in 1923 and performed in Rotterdam,
where she became more famous.Through the years, Bouwmeester developed
in theatre and decided she was on her best at comedic roles. She and
her husband divorced in 1933. Two years later, she married Cor van der
Lugt Melsert, with whom she moved to Rotterdam. He had the desire of
her becoming a housewife. Bouwmeester, needing a break from acting,
did what she was asked to and left the theatre. However, she didn't
give up acting. In 1935, when the sound film had just been introduced
in the Netherlands, she auditioned for the lead role in The
Cross-Patch (1935), but had no luck. However, she was noticed by
director Ludwig Berger, who cast her in Pygmalion (1937). It would be
her first film since 1921.
July 1993) was a Dutch theater and film actress, who was crowned with
a Golden Calf for being "the best actress in Pre-War Dutch cinema".The
daughter of violinist Ludovicus Adolphus Bouwmeester and pianist Julie
Marie Arpeau, Lily Bouwmeester was born in Amsterdam. As a child, she
toured with her parents through Europe, while preparing to become a
violinist as well. The touring proved to be too exhausting for
Bouwmeester, so she moved in with her aunt in 1913, the actress Theo
Mann-Bouwmeester. She dreamed to become a dancer, but her aunt
demanded for her to become an actress and sent her to several
auditions. At the age of 14, she debuted in a theatre production of
Herman Heijermans.In 1916, Bouwmeester started acting in silent films
as well. She debuted in the film Majoor Frans (1916), which starred
Annie Bos. In 1917, she landed a contract with a prestigious theatre
in Amsterdam and performed at the Stadsschouwburg. She was praised by
theatre critics and gained more acting experience. While working on a
play in 1920, she met actor Theo Frenkel Jr., whom she married to in
1921. She left the Stadsschouwburg to produce her own plays with her
husband. They moved to the Hague in 1923 and performed in Rotterdam,
where she became more famous.Through the years, Bouwmeester developed
in theatre and decided she was on her best at comedic roles. She and
her husband divorced in 1933. Two years later, she married Cor van der
Lugt Melsert, with whom she moved to Rotterdam. He had the desire of
her becoming a housewife. Bouwmeester, needing a break from acting,
did what she was asked to and left the theatre. However, she didn't
give up acting. In 1935, when the sound film had just been introduced
in the Netherlands, she auditioned for the lead role in The
Cross-Patch (1935), but had no luck. However, she was noticed by
director Ludwig Berger, who cast her in Pygmalion (1937). It would be
her first film since 1921.
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