Anna Karina arrives for the screening of the film 'A Prophet' during the 62nd International film festival in Cannes, southern France in 2009. AP Photo / Lionel Cironneau, File
Karina made seven films with Godard, her partner at the time, including the 1961 "Une Femme Est Une Femme" (A Woman is a Woman), in which she played a femme fatale. For that, she received the best actress award at the Berlin Film Festival. Other cult Godard movies starring Karina included the 1962 "Vivre Sa Vie"' (Live Your Life) and the 1965 "Pierre le Fou."
Karina captured film-goers with her large blue doe eyes and acting and singing talents.
The French New Wave broke with traditional cinematic conventions to create a fresh approach to making movies, in keeping with the free-spirited times.
French movie director Jean Luc Godard and Anna Karina are shown at the International Film Festival in Venice. Anna Karina in 1965. AP Photo / Mario Torrisi, File
Godard wasn't the only director with whom Karina worked. Jacques Rivette's 1966 film "La Religieuse" (The Nun), adapted from the 18th-century French novel by Diderot, was initially banned. The story of a young woman forced into the convent by her mother, who had given birth out of wedlock, was revived in a restored version and presented at the 2018 Cannes film festival.
Born Hanne Karin Blarke Bayer in Denmark, she initially modeled and sang in cabarets before coming to France. She was reportedly discovered, and renamed, by Coco Chanel, then discovered by Godard.
Anna Karina embraces Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis after a press conference in Venice in 1965. AP Photo / Mario Torrisi, File
Karina also worked, among other illustrious directors, with Luchino Visconti.
In a bold undertaking at the time, the actress later got behind the camera to make her own movie in 1973, "Vivre Ensemble" (Living Together).
