Jean Marais played both the Beast and Avenant in Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film La Belle et la Bête.
The film presents Marais in two contrasting roles: the enchanted Beast and Avenant, a handsome but selfish suitor connected to Belle’s world. This doubling emphasizes the story’s concern with appearance, desire, and the difference between outward charm and inner character.
Marais was one of France’s leading actors and a longtime creative collaborator and companion of director Jean Cocteau. His performance helped make the film a landmark of poetic fantasy cinema, while Josette Day played Belle.
The 1946 movie is frequently cited as one of the most influential screen adaptations of the Beauty and the Beast story. Its atmospheric sets, practical effects, mirrors, candles, and dreamlike camera work strongly shaped later interpretations, including Disney’s animated version.