BAM Affiliation One of the most famous actresses of the late 19th century, Sarah Bernhardt began her career in Paris with the Comédie-Française. After performing in all the most illustrious theaters in Europe, Bernhardt came to BAM to perform Camille, the English version of La Dame aux Camélias (the Dumas tale which was the basis of Verdi's La Traviata). Toward the end of her long career, Bernhardt returned to BAM in the 1916-17 season for an extended repertory engagement.