She threw herself into show business with an energy which has never flagged since. Aged only 18, she starred in a revue in Brussels , where she was spotted by Pierre-Louis Guérin, boss of the biggest Parisian cabaret, the Lido. As soon as she moved to Paris Annie Cory began making a name for herself as Annie Cordy and, at the Lido, she soon went on to meet the famous Paris agent Henri Bruneau. Bruneau, better known to friends and other professionals as Bruno, would become Annie's husband as well as her Pygmalion and he soon went on to make her an enormous star.

Between 1951 and 1852, Annie Cordy starred in numerous revues at the Lido, but also at the ABC and the Moulin Rouge cabarets. In 1952, she accompanied the Tour de France cycle race, an event which had huge mass appeal and which, at the time, attracted as many show business personalities as sportsmen. The event brought popular acclaim for the young singer who received the Maurice Chevalier award at Deauville. She was already admired for her versatile talents as singer, revue artist and above all zany comedienne.

But 1952 marked above all her début in operetta, a light-hearted, working class genre of musical comedy hugely popular at the time. She made her début alongside two stars of the genre, Bourvil and Georges Guétary, in "La Route fleurie" by Francis Lopez and Raymond Vinci. The show has a enormous hit and ran at the AC Theatre for three years. At the same time, Annie Cordy began her solo singing career with a string of hits, "La petite Marie", " Les trois bandits de Napoli" and "Léon".

The revues, an operetta and solo recordings were not enough for the aspiring artist who, in 1953, also embarked on a cinema career. Directed by the famous playwright, Sacha Guitry, her first role was in the star-studded cast of "Si Versailles m'était conté", a genuine superproduction for French cinema at the time.

Annie Cordy's time was now permanently divided between numerous different artistic activities. With great professionalism and energy, she shone in several engagements which ensured her continued success. France had become her country of adoption and her popularity there was now firmly established. Her verve and constant good humour had much endeared her to the French public.

Following the shooting of "Si Versailles m'était conté", she left on a long tour of North Africa and North America. In 1954, she performed for the first time at the prestigious Parisian venue, L'Olympia, doing support act for the American singer, Eddie Constantine. The following year, however, she was to return to L'Olympia as star performer. In 55, she co-starred with Henri Salvador in the musical comedy "Bonjour Sourire". Also in 55, Annie Cordy proved she was not just a zany singer. She received the Académie Charles-Cros award for her rendition of "Oh Bessie", a melancoly tribute to jazz singer Bessie Smith.

In 1956, Annie Cordy starred in the film version of the hit operette, "Le Chanteur de Mexico", again alongside Bourvil and with the main character played by the" prince of operetta" and superstar of the genre, Louis Mariano. The same year, Annie Cordy starred in a gala show organised for the marriage of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. Her performance there led to an American contract and shows in Rio and New York.

In 1957, she played with Jean Richard in the operetta, "Tête de linotte", which ran until 1960. At the same time, she played in a string of films: " Tabarin" and "Cigarette", "Whisky et P'tites pépées" in 1958, and "Tête folle" in 59.

Annie Cordy began the sixties with a series of concerts in Canada. In October 1960 she made a triumphant return to the Parisian stage at Bobino, her show breaking the box office record hitherto held by Yves Montand.

In 1961, she again co-starred with Louis Mariano in an operetta, "Visa pour l'amour". Together, they triumphed in the show until 1964. In October 64, Annie Cordy returned to Bobino. Maurice Chevalier, impressed by her dynamism, advised her to stage a show in which the whole range of her talents - comedienne, singer and stage artist - could be appreciated. In February 65, "Annie Cordy en deux actes et 32 tableaux", a show in which each song had its own scenery, choreography and costumes, was premiered in Paris. In October 65, she again played alongside Bourvil in the musical, "Ouah Ouah", which ran at the Alhambra until April 66. Shortly after the show's run ended, she embarked on another international tour which took her to Berlin, Madrid and Moscow. Returning to France that summer, she toured the country for 100 days. The radio station, Europe 1, which sponsored the tour, placed a special caravan at her disposal.

In 0ctober 1967, she appeared in another musical in Paris, "Pic et Pioche", with Darry Cowl, . Then, a year later, she was back on stage at Bobino for a show which gave rise to the live album, "Anny Cordy, Bobino 68".

During these years, Annie Cordy never stopped appearing in films and recording songs which were often hits. She was so busy she even had to decline certain contracts, such as a another series of concerts in Canada.

A star of fantasy and light comedy, at the end of the sixties Annie Cordy showed another facet of her talents as a comedienne. In 1969, film director Réné Clément cast her in the role of the mother of Marlène Jobert in "Le passager de la pluie" with Charles Bronson. Spectators now discovered a different, dramatic and poignant Annie Cordy, in contrast to the charming funny girl who had delighted the public for more than 15 years.

Although Annie Cordy's career as a comedienne continued tol dominate, she again took on a dramatic role in 1970. That year, her name appeared on the same bill as two giants of French cinema, Simone Signoret and Jean Gabin, in "Le Chat", directed by Pierre Granier-Deferre. At the same time, she was on stage with Pierre Doris at the Européen Theatre in the comedy, "Indien vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras".

1972 was a big year for her. She played one of the most famous characters of her career. On March 3rd, "Hello Dolly",the French adaptation of the musical comedy starring Barbara Streisand, was premiered. After a tour in the provinces, the show's Parisian run began on September 28th at the Theatre Mogador. It was a huge hit, and the title song has remained a standard of her repertoire. As for her performance, she received the Triomphe de la Comédie Musicale Award. After shooting several films, she went on tour with the show again until April 74.

In the seventies, Annie Cordy notched up hit after hit. Her image was now definitively that of the charming clown and, at almost fifty, she was not afraid of disguising herself and singing songs whose sole aim was to entertain. Her energy seemed to have increased with age and her success was perennial. At the end of 74, she released the single "La Bonne du curé", which was to sell over a million and enter the annals of French music. All France was humming the melody, which became extraordinarily popular with children, like many of her songs around his time.

Early in 76, Annie Cordy returned to L'Olympia for a three-week run of concerts and celebrate the twentieth anniversary of her first appearance as top of the bill at the famous Paris venue. Then, following a summer of rehearsals, she launched another hit musical, "Nini la Chance", the story of a French nurse in America who returns home after the Second World War. Backed by a troupe of singers, actors and dancers, Annie Cordy proved yet again just what dynamism and verve she had. Her performance in the musical was even more remarkable since it coincided with the release of a Belgian film, "Rue Haute", in which, aged and hardly recognisable, she played a tragic role, in complete contrast to Nini.

In 1979, she stayed for four months at L'Olympia. From April 26th to September 1st, she accomplished the feat of playing to full houses nightly throughout the summer season when Paris is deserted. The concerts was heralded as the singer's adieux. At the time, Annie Cordy wanted to pursue her acting career further.

However, after a tour of the French-speaking world, she returned to the theatre to play Nini and recorded a new album. Her anticipated retirement from show business had proved to be a false alarm: Annie Cordy had countless new projects and was again working tirelessly.

In 1980, the year of another of her greatest hits, "Tata YoYo", she toured French seaside resorts throughout the summer, then, after a short holiday, went back on tour again in September. She appeared in television shows, in plays by Chekhov and Claudel, and again played the lead role in Madame Sans-Gêne", one of the classic female roles of French stage comedy. Finally, she began the shooting of a TV series, "Madame SOS", in which she played a kind-hearted millionaire.

In 81, the mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, awarded her the Medal of the City of Paris.

In 82, she definitively dispelled rumours of her intention to retire by returning to L'Olympia. The following year, from January onwards, she starred in another musical, "En avant la musique", at the Theatre de la Porte Saint-Martin.

At the end of December 84, Annie Cordy premiered her new show, "Annie Cordy en liberté", and from December 24th to January 5th 85, again returned to L'Olympia. A few months later, she released her new album, "Cho Ka Ka O", whose title track is still a best seller today. The album included songs composed by two young singers, Romain Didier and François Valéry.

She returned to the stage in 86 in a play by Pierre Ray, "La mienne s'appelait Régine" with Pierre Dux. Then, from January 3rd 87, she again starred as "Madame Sans Gêne" at the Theatre du Gymnase.

Annie Cordy was getting less media exposure at the time. Nevertheless, despite her now outdated repertoire and image, faithful fans still continued to flock to her shows. Her vitality and kindness had won her respect in the profession. When her husband died on February 9th 89, Annie Cordy cancelled none of her engagements.

In 1989, She appeared in the hugely successful television series, "Orage d'été", playing a dramatic role. In the nineties her appearances were mostly on television, and she recorded and toured less. In 1992, the album "Oh là là, quelle soirée!" was released, a mixture of new recordings of old hits and new material.

In 94, compilations of re-orchestrated hits and her most famous duos were released. She also appeared in "La vengeance d'une blonde" alongside Christian Clavier, and returned to the Brussels stage in the play "Six heures plus tard".

In 1995, Annie Cordy appeared in another television film with one of the greats of French music, Charles Aznavour. Both of them singing stars and excellent actors, they played alongside each other again in "Baldipata", Annie Cordy playing a withdrawn, passive character, in complete contrast to her real life persona.

Annie Cordy left the limelight until 1998 when, having just celebrated her 70th birthday, she published her autobiography and released a compilation of her greatest hits which included a new version of "Hello Dolly". But 1998 was above all the anniversary of her fifty years in the music business. So, thirteen years after her last appearance at L'Olympia, she returned there in September to celebrate a double anniversary.

Joined on stage by seven musicians (several of them from the famous Orchestre du Spendid), Annie brought the house down at the Olympia. The indefatigable singer followed her performance at the Olympia with a major tour and a series of television appearances.

In the summer of 2000 Annie temporarily abandoned her singing career, returning to the theatre to appear in a French adaptation of "The Merry Wives of Windsor." After performing the play on board ship as part of a special theatre "cruise", Annie went on to tour the play at French drama festivals over the summer.

After her success in the theatre world, Annie Cordy prolonged her drama experience in 2003, this time in the film world. Annie appeared in Nadine Monfils’s feature film, "Madame Edouard," starring opposite Michel Blanc and Josiane Balasko. France’s favourite “’super granny” also delighted younger film-goers, providing the voice of Nanaka in Disney’s mega animation, "Brother Bear,” in the winter of 2003.

Despite this hectic schedule, Annie somehow managed to find time to get a new show, "Que du bonheur!", on the road. The ever-energetic entertainer toured her new show around France, Belgium and Switzerland, presenting a selection of her greatest hits in a whirl of feather boas, sparkle and sequins.

Given Annie Cordy’s extraordinary success over the years, it was only logical she should win some kind of official recognition as an ambassadress for her homeland. Official recognition finally came on 6 July 2004 when the Belgian king Albert II made the sparkly show woman an honorary “baroness of Belgium.”

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Whether or not one appreciates the sinuous career of this versatile comedienne, Annie Cordy's career is incontestably an exceptional one. 500 songs recorded, 4000 live appearances world-wide, a dozen operettas and musicals, and television, cinema and theatre roles: Annie Cordy is undeniably an artist of multiple talents.

September 2004