Actress. She was one of French cinema's biggest stars of the 20th Century who was best known for her multifaceted performances in French New Wave films of the 1950s and 1960s. She studied at the Conservatoire Nationale d’Art Dramatique and became at the age of 20, the youngest member of the Comédie-Française. She made her film debut in 1949 in the film "Last Love", but it was the films "Elevator to the Gallows" (1958) and "The Lovers" (1958) that brought her international fame as "the embodiment of feminine mystery and sexuality". Her performances as alienated modern women in "Moderato cantabile" (1960) and "La notte" (1961) and as the volatile, enigmatic Catherine of "Jules et Jim" (1962) established her as a remarkable actress and compelling screen presence. Her other notable films from the 1960s include "Diary of a Chambermaid" (1964), "Viva Maria!" (1965) in which she starred opposite Brigitte Bardot, and "Chimes at Midnight" (1965). She also turned briefly to directing, most notably with “The Adolescent” (1979) which starred fellow actress Simone Signoret. As her career continued into the 1980s and ’90s, her films, notably “The Miracle” (1987) and "The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea" (1991) were well received in France. She starred in such varied roles as a seductive older woman in the BBC movie "Clothes in the Wardrobe" (1993) and as a Jewish grandmother in "I Love You, I Love You Not" (1996). She was honored with numerous awards during her career including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for "Seven Days... Seven Nights" (1960), the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress for "Viva Maria!" (1965), and the César Award for Best Actress for "The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea" (1992). She was also the recipient of several lifetime awards, including a BAFTA Fellowship in 1996.
Actress. She was one of French cinema's biggest stars of the 20th Century who was best known for her multifaceted performances in French New Wave films of the 1950s and 1960s. She studied at the Conservatoire Nationale d’Art Dramatique and became at the age of 20, the youngest member of the Comédie-Française. She made her film debut in 1949 in the film "Last Love", but it was the films "Elevator to the Gallows" (1958) and "The Lovers" (1958) that brought her international fame as "the embodiment of feminine mystery and sexuality". Her performances as alienated modern women in "Moderato cantabile" (1960) and "La notte" (1961) and as the volatile, enigmatic Catherine of "Jules et Jim" (1962) established her as a remarkable actress and compelling screen presence. Her other notable films from the 1960s include "Diary of a Chambermaid" (1964), "Viva Maria!" (1965) in which she starred opposite Brigitte Bardot, and "Chimes at Midnight" (1965). She also turned briefly to directing, most notably with “The Adolescent” (1979) which starred fellow actress Simone Signoret. As her career continued into the 1980s and ’90s, her films, notably “The Miracle” (1987) and "The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea" (1991) were well received in France. She starred in such varied roles as a seductive older woman in the BBC movie "Clothes in the Wardrobe" (1993) and as a Jewish grandmother in "I Love You, I Love You Not" (1996). She was honored with numerous awards during her career including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for "Seven Days... Seven Nights" (1960), the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress for "Viva Maria!" (1965), and the César Award for Best Actress for "The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea" (1992). She was also the recipient of several lifetime awards, including a BAFTA Fellowship in 1996.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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