Constance Bonacieux is the heroine of Alexandre Dumas Pere's LE TROIS MOUSQUETAIRES/THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1844). She is the love interest of D'Artagnan. Constance is married to a weak husband who is landlord to the newly-arrived D'Artagnan and his servant Planchet. She is the dressmaker to Queen Anne of Austria and her loyal confidante, a role that makes her a target for the Queen's enemy Cardinal Richelieu. A kidnapping attempt by the Cardinal's guards is thwarted by D'Artagnan, resulting in a romance. Constance is responsible for leading the Duke of Buckingham into a secret meeting with his lover the Queen. She is also instrumental in having D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers travel to England to reclaim a gift- twelve diamond studs- from the Duke to maintain the Queen's honor. She and D'Artagnan plan a romantic getaway, but Constance is kidnapped by Richelieu's guards. The Queen's agents rescue Constance and hide her to a Convent for safety. But Milady de Winter, wishing vengeance on D'Artagnan, meets Constance, gains her confidence, and tricks her into drinking poisoned wine. The dying Constance is reunited with D'Artagnan, revealing her murderer's identity before succumbing to death.Either because of censor prohibition or moral promotion to the characters, many film adaptations have removed the adulterous implications of Constance's relationship with D'Artagnan. Her husband Bonocieux is either omitted or transformed into her uncle. Some adaptations cut short the full narrative of Dumas' novel, removing Constance's kidnapping and fate to ensure a happy ending for D'Artagnan.The 1921 United Artists/Douglas Fairbanks adaptation ends with a happy ending for Constance. But the 1929 sequel THE IRON MASK continues the story to its tragic climax. Constance is made witness to the Queen's delivery of a second twin brother to the heir. To ensure national security, Cardinal Richelieu has Constance spirited away to a Convent, accompanied by Milady de Winter. As the Four Musketeers charge to her rescue, Milady bullies Constance into revealing the secret of the twin brother. But Constance's resistance accidentally reveals the fluer-de-lis branded on Milady's shoulder- the mark of a criminal. Milady fatally stabs Constance as the Musketeers arrive. Cradled in D'Artagnan's arms, Constance vaguely mentions 'the other one' before dying.The 1939 20th Century-Fox/Ritz Brothers version has Constance kidnapped by the Cardinal's Guards and taken to his castle. D'Artagnan and the three Lackeys rescue her and take her to the Royal Palace, where Constance secretly gives the Queen her required brooch.The 1948 MGM version follows through the tragic denouement of the novel, despite some changes. Freed by the Queen's agents, Constance has a temporary reunion with D'Artagnan, telling him that she is soon to be spirited away to a secret place. The lovers take the brief time given to marry and spend the night together. Constance is taken to the Duke of Buckingham's castle in England. When Milady DeWinter arrives for negotiations, Constance helps expose her duplicity to kill the Duke. Buckingham arrests Milady, making Constance her jailer. But Milady feigns great illness, convincing Constance to grant her a merciful death. Constance sneaks a knife to Milady, only for the treacherous woman to use it on her. Milady then uses Constance's cloak as a disguise, allowing her to get through palace guards and murder Buckingham. D'Artagnan and Athos, fearing Milady's duplicity, travel and arrive only in time to see Constance die in her husband's arms.The 1966 BBC TV Serial restores Constance's marriage to Bonocieux.The 1974 Richard Lester adaptation also restores Constance's marriage, but allows her to consummate her love with D'Artagnan. Constance is portrayed as loyal and intelligent, but is a clumsy person, always tripping and upsetting objects (sometimes to her advantage). In the climax of THE THREE MUSKETEERS: THE QUEEN'S DIAMONDS, Constance has a fight with Milady de Winter over possession of the Diamond studs. In THE FOUR MUSKETEERS: THE REVENGE OF MILADY, Constance is kidnapped by Comte de Rochefort and taken to his castle. The Three Musketeers rescue Constance and take her to a Convent. However, Milady and Rochefort learn of her whereabouts and go to the Convent, intercepting the Four Musketeers into battle. Milady sneaks into the Convent disguised as a nun and strangles Constance with a rosary.The 1987 Japanese-animated series alters Constance's fate. In revenge, Milady tries to kill both her and D'Artagnan in an exploding building. Constance is put into a coma, but eventually awakes, although she temporarily suffers from amnesia.The 1993 Disney version has Constance in a smaller role. When D'Artagnan defeats her traveling escorts by accident (believing them to be her captors), Constance is smitten by her 'rescuer', but tells him that Musketeers and Royal ladies-in-waiting are not permitted to see each other. Later, Constance is instrumental in rescuing D'Artagnan in his final duel with Rochefort.THE MUSKETEER (2001) renames the character Francesca Bonocieux. She came from Spain with her mother, a confidante of the Queen, an association passed down to her. D'Artagnan first meets her falling through the ceiling as she takes a bath. Nevertheless, she falls for the young swordsman. Together, the two help the Queen make a secret meeting with the Duke of Buckingham. Unfortunately, Francesca is kidnapped by Febre's minions, who force her to the Queen and Duke, whom Febre also kidnaps and takes to his fortress. When D'Artagnan and the Musketeers storm the fortress, Francesca takes the bullet Febre meant for the Queen. Fortunately, the 'dying' girl discreetly reveals to her sadden lover that she is only wounded and asks him to kill Febre. In the end, D'Artagnan and Francesca marry. Show less «