Quick Facts
Biography
Laura Duke Condominas, also known as Laura Duke, born Boston April 1951, is the daughter of French artist and film-maker Niki de Saint-Phalle and American novelist Harry Mathews. As an actress she is most notable for her portrayal of Guinevere in Robert Bresson's film Lancelot du lac of 1974.
She grew up in France in the artistic and film-making milieu of her mother, and married Laurent Condominas, a model and photographer. A daughter, Bloum, was born to them in 1971 in Bali, Indonesia. Laurent was linked to the 'Zanzibar Films' group of avante garde French film-makers, known as the "Dandies of May 1968" financed by Sylvina Boissonnas, 1968-70. He appeared in Patrick Deval's film Acéphale. Apart from Bresson's film she also appeared in her mother's film Un rêve plus long que la nuit, 1976.
In 2008-2009, she hosted several key production meetings for the full-dome film "Maya Skies" [www.mayaskies.net]. During this time she began to develop an arts immersion outreach program based on this film, intended to benefit at-risk youth in the San Francisco Bay Area.
She currently works as a 'cultural designer' in Emeryville, California.