Alain Delon is more than just an actor. He is a symbol of an era, a style icon, and a standard of male beauty that the public has followed for decades. His life on and off screen was full of passion, audacity, and scandals that only fueled his legend.
But behind the dazzling facade of stardom often remained those who paid a high price for their proximity to this sun. Women whose fates were closely intertwined with his own. Their stories are not just newspaper headlines, but a reflection of Delon's complex and sometimes hurtful character.
In this article, we will look at five remarkable women whose lives intersected with his. Their stories are very different — from turbulent romances to deep connections. But they have one thing in common: they all encountered the dark side of Delon's charm and came away from these relationships not only with memories, but also with deep wounds.
Romy Schneider
The actors met in 1958 on the set of the film Christina. Romy Schneider was already famous at that point, while Alain Delon was just beginning his rise to stardom. “Too handsome, too neatly combed, too young, dressed like a gentleman.” I thought: what a vulgarity, and this boy is just dreary! And he just made me want to vomit — that's how rudely he later expressed himself on the matter. A vain, sweet Viennese fool, without the slightest charm. He didn't speak English, I didn't speak French. We had to communicate in some monstrous mixture of languages. We were hopelessly banal and didn't like each other at all," Romy said of their first impression of each other. Despite this, the actors' relationship soon went beyond the set. A year later, Alain and Romy got engaged and were the most beautiful couple in European cinema for almost six years. Their romance was even called “the love story of the century.”
But the long-awaited wedding never happened. Schneider forgave the blue-eyed handsome man for all his infidelities, but it didn't help. At some point, Delon could no longer put up with his bride's boundless patience and left her. He did so with a note, as he was afraid to talk to her in person. By that time, his new lover, Nathalie Barthélemy, was already expecting a child. “I was filming in America. I came back, and the apartment in Paris was empty, no one was there. There was a bouquet of roses and a note next to it: ‘I'm leaving with Natalie for Mexico, all the best to you. Alain,’” Romy Schneider said. The actress had a hard time getting over her fiancé's betrayal.
Nevertheless, throughout their lives, they were bound by what we now call a neurotic relationship — the former lovers could not forget each other and even appeared together from time to time. On Delon's initiative, they starred together in two films, one of which — the cult classic The Swimming Pool — in which they played a couple in love.
Whether it was Delon's fault or not, Romy's fate was very tragic — the most beautiful actress of her time was practically never happy. In 1982, she committed suicide after the death of her son. Delon wrote an open letter to a magazine, which began with the words “Goodbye, my doll!”
Alain Delon is an icon of French cinema whose charisma drove millions wild. But behind the glamour of his fame lies a story of pain and disappointment for five women who truly loved him, only to be met with coldness, betrayal, or outright cruelty in return. His romances rarely ended well: some gave up their careers, others lost their health, and still others were never able to recover from their emotional wounds. Delon knew how to inspire, but he didn't know how to protect. Love for him often became a trap — beautiful, but destructive.
Nathalie Delon
Alain Delon left Romy Schneider for model and actress Nathalie Barthélemy. It was with her that the actor decided to start a family for the first and last time in his life. Nathalie set a condition for the womanizer: if he did not stop all his affairs on the side, she would leave him. The actor made his choice in favor of the girl and asked for her hand in marriage. In 1964, Nathalie gave birth to Alain's son, Anthony.
Everyone noticed that she and Nathalie were very similar in both temperament and appearance. Authors of biographical books about Delon wrote that in her he found the embodiment of his mother, to whom they were also very similar. Another version said that, being a well-known narcissist, he simply fell in love with his own reflection.
“From day one, we started arguing and yelling at each other. Alain, explosive and reckless, would get worked up over anything — but I didn't let anything slide either,” Natalie said. “We loved each other between fits of laughter and rage.” Speaking of rage, Natalie once blew up their bedroom door with a gunshot. The couple's marriage lasted almost five years — they divorced on Valentine's Day in 1969.
Nico
While still in a relationship with Romy Schneider, Delon had his first child — from a fleeting affair with German singer, actress, and model Nico, a friend of Andy Warhol and lead singer of the legendary band The Velvet Underground. However, the actor flatly refused to acknowledge his son. Nico was unable to give the baby enough attention, and he often spent time at Warhol's “Factory” among the bohemian crowd, who were partying and using illegal substances. As a result, Alain Delon's parents took the boy in and even gave him their surname. Despite the fact that Ari Boulogne grew up looking very similar to the actor, Delon still does not acknowledge his paternity. Unsurprisingly, Ari Boulogne hates Alain Delon, blames him for his mother's suffering, and calls him a heartless monster at every opportunity.
Dalida
The spark between Dalida and Alain Delon began in the 1950s, when they were both unknown and lived next door to each other. But their real romance only began in the 1960s, while Delon was engaged to Romy Schneider. Dalida broke off her relationship with Delon with minimal losses — the singer was aware of her lover's fickle nature and did not expect a serious relationship with him. In 1973, two years after their breakup, they recorded the song Paroles Paroles, which became a worldwide hit.
Later, Alain Delon described the story of their relationship in his book: "I was barely getting by, working nights, and returning in the early morning to my small room in a hotel on Rue Jean Mermoz near the Champs-Élysées. On the same floor, in another attic room, lived a certain Yolanda Gilotti. We dreamed of fame and glory. Ten years later, she became Dalida, and I became Delon. And we met in Rome. We loved each other away from the prying eyes of onlookers and paparazzi, and the few witnesses to our relationship kept silent for many years. I only regret one thing — that I didn't call her before she decided to end her life." Dalida passed away in 1987 after taking a large dose of sleeping pills.
The stories of these five women show that behind the glamorous facade of stardom often lie deep wounds that he left behind. Alain Delon was undoubtedly an icon of style and talent, but in his personal life he was often cold, egocentric, and hurtful.
For many, love for him became a test, and separation a painful disaster. The women around him faced his infidelity, emotional unavailability, and public contempt, which hurt their reputation and self-esteem.
It is important to remember that genius on screen does not justify cruelty in life. These stories are a bitter reminder that even the most vivid romances can turn into a shadow that lasts for years after the cameras are turned off.
