Céline Montaland was born on 10 August 1843 in Ghent, Belgium. Her parents, Pierre Montaland and Mathilde Chevalier, were actors. She was trained by her father, who was a former actor at Théâtre du Vaudeville. She made her debut at the age of six at Comédie-Française in the role of Camille in Gabrielle (1849) of Émile Augier.[3] She was the “youngest actress ever to perform at this theater.”[4] She performed a number of children roles, which were specially created for her.[3]
In 1860 she returned to Paris after a worldwide musical tour by her theatrical troupe which got a wide public attention.[5][6] She continued to perform in different popular theaters including Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe and Comédie-Française.[3] At the end of her distinguished theatrical career, she became a Sociétaire at the Comédie-Française in 1888.[4]