Catherine Deneuve — Biography
Catherine Fabienne Dorléac, better known as Catherine Deneuve, is a distinguished French actress, occasionally taking on roles as a singer, model, and producer. She is regarded as one of the preeminent actresses in Europe, celebrated for embodying aloof and enigmatic beauties in films directed by renowned filmmakers such as Luis Buñuel, François Truffaut, and Roman Polanski. In 1985, she took over from Mireille Mathieu to become the official representation of Marianne, the national emblem of liberty in France. Deneuve has been nominated for the César Award 14 times and won for her remarkable performances in Truffaut's The Last Metro (1980)—a role that also earned her the David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress—and Régis Wargnier's Indochine (1992). She began her acting career at just 13 years old with her screen debut in 1957, in a film made the previous year when she was only 12. Her rise to fame commenced with Jacques Demy's 1964 musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Subsequently, she showcased her talents in Polanski's Repulsion (1965) and Buñuel's Belle de Jour (1967) along with Tristana (1970). For her work in Belle de Jour, she received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress, and she was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for Indochine. In 1998, she garnered the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her role in Place Vendôme. Among her English-language projects are The April Fools (1969), Hustle (1975), The Hunger (1983), Dancer in the Dark (2000), and The Musketeer (2001). Other significant works in her filmography include Mississippi Mermaid (1969), Scene of the Crime (1986), My Favourite Season (1993), 8 Women (2002), Persepolis (2007), Potiche (2010), The Brand New Testament (2015), and Bonne Pomme (2017). More recent films feature The Midwife (2017), The Truth (2019), and Peaceful (2021). Deneuve has been married once; she wed photographer David Bailey from 1965 until their separation in 1967, though their marriage lasted until 1972. She has two children: actor Christian Vadim (born June 18, 1963) from her relationship with Roger Vadim and actress Chiara Mastroianni (born May 28, 1972) from her relationship with Marcello Mastroianni.
