Marine Jahan

Marine Jahan (born January 1, 1959, Versailles, France) is a French actress and dancer.

Career

In the United States, she is most widely known for having doubled for Jennifer Beals in the 1983 movie Flashdance. At the time of the film's release, Jahan's role was controversial for several reasons. Beals was an unknown actress when Flashdance premiered, and throughout the movie were close-ups of what was purported to be Beals' body. However Marine Jahan's role was not listed on the movie's opening or ending credits, and because the movie was a huge hit by the time the truth of Jahan's contribution had become public knowledge, some felt deceived to learn they had been looking at Jahan's body dancing, not Beals'. The producers of the film stated it was never a secret that they had used a stunt double, and Jahan's name did not appear because Paramount Pictures shortened the closing credits.

Jahan's other major film appearance was as a dancer in "Torchie's" bar in the 1984 movie Streets of Fire.

Jahan was the featured dancer in the halftime show of the 1987 Super Bowl XXI, during the Flashdance... What a Feeling number.

Jahan was also the model used for Snoopy in the Peanuts special It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown. That is, Snoopy was animated just like Jahan's dance moves via rotoscoping.

Jahan also played the role of Madame St. Cyr in the 1997 Broadway production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. She also made a guest appearance on the short-lived television series, The Wizard in 1986. She played the part of a dancer who is paralyzed after being shot by a stalker.