She was born Camille-Élisa Andriot on 23 August 1886, in Paris (20e), the fifth of six children whose father was a dyer and their mother a florist.

She had no theatrical training, and the skills that she brought to the film studio were those of an accomplished sportswoman in riding, cycling, and swimming.

In his Zigomar series, she played Rosaria, the title-character's accomplice, forever escaping from threatening predicaments.

In 1913 Jasset made Protéa, a spy adventure with the distinction of being the first to have a woman as the central action figure.

[3] In her role as Protéa, she also wore a characteristic costume of a close-fitting black jersey, two years before Musidora achieved cult status with her similar appearance as Irma Vep in Feuillade's Les Vampires.