Isabelle Mergault has passed away. Her family announced the tragic news on March 20th in a statement sent to RTL, a radio station broadcasting “Les Grosses Têtes”. A key figure on the show from 1988 to 1998 with Philippe Bouvard, and later with Laurent Ruquier, she lost her battle with cancer. The statement specified, “Her family and friends have the sorrow to announce that the director, actress, and comedian Isabelle Mergault has passed away this morning in Neuilly-sur-Seine, after bravely fighting cancer for several months.”
She had been absent from the airwaves for several weeks, with the host providing updates on January 6th. He had said, “We’re thinking of her, Isabelle will be back very soon. Many listeners ask me, ‘Why isn’t Isabelle here?’ Right now, she is absent, but she will return as soon as possible. We send our love to Isabelle, thinking of Sacha Guitry.”
They had a close relationship for many years and collaborated extensively, including in television shows like “On n’demande qu’en rire” and “L’émission pour tous”. Laurent Ruquier also cast her in his play “La presse est unanime”, which reignited her career. Isabelle Mergault stated on Europe 1, “I was demoralized because no one wanted me in theater. I was auditioning. He wrote that, huge success. Thanks to him, I wrote my plays and had some credibility on stage.”
Isabelle Mergault had a speech defect known as a lisp. At the age of 18, her speech therapist advised her to keep this trait to stand out in the theater world. This decision paid off, as she managed to establish herself through her talent and uniqueness. In 1979, she landed her first role in “La Dérobade” by Daniel Duval. In the 1980s, she continued with comedic supporting roles in various films and TV series, including “Les hommes préfèrent les grosses” and “P.R.O.F.S.”
In addition to her acting career, Isabelle Mergault made a name for herself in radio by joining “Les Grosses Têtes”. She also wrote screenplays and dialogues for movies, such as “Meilleur Espoir féminin” and “Je vous trouve très beau”. Her first film as a director earned her the César for Best First Film in 2007. A versatile artist, Isabelle Mergault also co-hosted Eurovision with Laurent Ruquier and wrote several theater plays, like “L’amour sur un plateau”. She was honored as a Knight of the Order of Agricultural Merit in 2008, alongside Michel Blanc, following the success of “Je vous trouve très beau.”
In her personal life, Isabelle Mergault never found true love or felt the need to become a mother. However, she decided to adopt Maya, the daughter of a friend from Niger. She explained on the show that she met Maya’s mother, who was facing difficulties, and developed a bond with the child. Maya grew up with Isabelle Mergault while still maintaining a relationship with her biological parents. Despite this, she carries the last name of the one who raised her, leaving behind a profound sense of loss.
