Arlette Thomas was a highly influential French actress who became a major figure in the world of dubbing, bringing her voice to numerous animated characters and Hollywood stars for French audiences. Born Arlette-Suzanne Thomas in Paris on November 5, 1927, she began her career on stage and screen after training with Raymond Devos. Her on-screen career included roles in films such as Les Grandes Manœuvres (1955) and Tanguy (2000), as well as television series like Les Cinq Dernières Minutes. However, it is her prolific work in dubbing, which she began at the end of the 1960s thanks to filmmaker Jean Grémillon, for which she is most renowned.

In the realm of animation, Thomas is celebrated as the iconic French voice of two beloved characters. She was the voice of Calimero, the small black chick with a half-eggshell on his head, in the series Calimero. She also famously voiced Tweety Bird (Titi) in various Looney Tunes productions. Beyond these signature roles, her voice work in animation was extensive. She took on the role of the narrator in the series New Grimm's Fairy Tales. In the 1977 Japanese anime series Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac, which was based on the story by Ernest Thompson Seton, she voiced the character Moy. Another notable role was the Sorcière de Zotra in the animated series Ulysse 31.

Beyond animation, Thomas was the go-to French dubbing voice for many prominent actresses. She was perhaps best known for dubbing Shirley MacLaine in the majority of her films, a collaboration that spanned decades and included movies like The Turning Point (Le Tournant de la vie), Steel Magnolias (Potins de femmes), and In Her Shoes. She also lent her voice to actresses such as Kim Hunter in the first three Planet of the Apes films, Debbie Reynolds, and Liza Minnelli in films like Cabaret and New York, New York. Her work extended to television series as well, where she dubbed Marion Ross in Happy Days and Renee Taylor in The Nanny (Une nounou d'enfer).

In addition to her on-screen and voice work, Arlette Thomas contributed significantly behind the scenes. She worked as a dialogue director, supervising the French versions of numerous series. Her commitment to the performing arts also saw her direct the Théâtre Présent in Paris for fifteen years. Arlette Thomas continued her work until a stroke in 2010 forced her to retire. She passed away on May 13, 2015, in Antony, France, leaving behind a legacy as a cornerstone of French dubbing.