Sarah Bernhardt (French: [saʁa bɛʁnɑʁt]; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 or 23 October – 26 March ) was a French stage actress, and has often been called "the most famous actress in the history of the world ". [2] Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of Europe in the s, and was soon working in Europe and the United States. She developed a reputation as a serious actress.