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- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
French ballet dancer Leslie Caron was discovered by the legendary MGM star Gene Kelly during his search for a co-star in one of the finest musicals ever filmed, the Oscar-winning An American in Paris (1951), which was inspired by and based on the music of George Gershwin. Leslie's gamine looks and pixie-like appeal would be ideal for Cinderella-type rags-to-riches stories, and Hollywood made fine use of it. Combined with her fluid dancing skills, she became one of the top foreign musical artists of the 1950s, while her triple-threat talents as a singer, dancer and actress sustained her long after musical film's "Golden Age" had passed.
Leslie Claire Margaret Caron was born in France on July 1, 1931. Her father, Claude Caron, was a French chemist, and her American-born mother, Margaret Petit, had been a ballet dancer back in the States during the 1920s. Leslie herself began taking dance lessons at age 11. She was on holidays at her grandparents' estate near Grasse when the Allies landed on the 15th of August 1944. After the German rendition, she and her family went to Paris to live. There she attended the Convent of the Assumption and started ballet training. While studying at the National Conservatory of Dance, she appeared at age 14 in "The Pearl Diver," a show for children where she danced and played a little boy. At age 16, she was hired by the renowned Roland Petit to join the Ballet des Champs-Elysees, where she was immediately given solo parts.
Leslie's talent and reputation as a dancer had already been recognized when on opening night of Petit's 1948 ballet "La Rencontre," which was based on the theme of Orpheus and featured the widely-acclaimed dancer 'Jean Babilee', she was seen by then-married Hollywood couple Gene Kelly and Betsy Blair. Leslie did not meet the famed pair at the end of the show that night as the 17-year-old went home dutifully right after her performance, but one year later Kelly remembered Leslie's performance when he returned to Paris in search for a partner for his upcoming movie musical An American in Paris (1951). The rest is history.
Kelly and newcomer Caron's touching performances and elegant and exuberant footwork (especially in the "Our Love Is Here to Stay" and "Embraceable You" numbers, as well as the dazzling 17-minute ballet to the title song) had critics and audiences simply enthralled. The film, directed by Vincente Minnelli, won a total of six Oscar awards, including "Best Picture," plus a Golden Globe for "Best Picture in a Musical or Comedy". Leslie was put under a seven-year MGM contract where her luminous skills would also be featured in non-musical showcases.
While Leslie's dramatic mettle was tested as a New Orleans nightclub entertainer opposite Ralph Meeker's boxer in Glory Alley (1952) and as a French governess in The Story of Three Loves (1953), it was as the child-like urchin who falls for a cruel carnival puppeteer (Mel Ferrer) in Lili (1953) that finally lifted Leslie to Academy Award attention. The film, which went on to inspire the Tony-winning Broadway musical "Carnival," earned Leslie not only an Oscar nomination, but the British Film Award for "Best Actress" as well. At her waif-like best once again in the musical Daddy Long Legs (1955), Leslie was paired this time with the "other" MGM male dancing legend Fred Astaire. The story, which unfolded in an appealing Henry Higgins/Eliza Dolittle style, was partly choreographed by Roland Petit, who founded the Ballet des Champs-Elysees, Leslie's former dance company.
While the actress gave poignant life to the ugly-duckling-turned-swan tale, The Glass Slipper (1955), choreographed by Petit and co-starring Britisher Michael Wilding as Prince Charming, Leslie also played a ballerina in love with WWII soldier John Kerr in Gaby (1956), a lukewarm remake of the superior Waterloo Bridge (1940). It took another plush musical classic, Gigi (1958), to remind audiences once again of Leslie's unique, international appeal. Audrey Hepburn, who had played the title part on Broadway, was keen on doing the film, but producer Arthur Freed wrote the part expressly for Leslie. It was also Freed who called up Fred Astaire to suggest her as his leading lady in Gigi (1958). Leslie tried the role out on the London stage prior to doing the film version. The musical wound up receiving nine Academy Awards, including "Best Picture," and Leslie herself was nominated for a Golden Globe as "Best Musical/Comedy Actress".
A few more forgettable film roles came and went until she returned triumphantly in a non-musical adaptation of a highly successful 1954 Broadway musical. The film version of Fanny (1961) was more adult in nature for Leslie and was blessed with gorgeous cinematography, a touching script and the continental flavor of veterans, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer, and Horst Buchholz. At the movie's centerpiece is a child-like Leslie (at age 30!) who is mesmerizing as a young girl with child who is deserted by her sailor/boyfriend. Even more adult in scope was the shattering British drama The L-Shaped Room (1962) wherein the actress plays a pregnant French refugee who is abandoned yet again. She earned her a second British Academy Award and a second Oscar nomination for this superb performance.
On stage in London with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Leslie earned applause in another Audrey Hepburn Broadway vehicle, "Ondine," in 1961. While the mid-1960s and 1970s saw her film career take a Hollywood detour into breezy comedy with a number of lightweight fare opposite the likes of Rock Hudson, Cary Grant and Warren Beatty, she managed to shine with a complex working class mother role in the remarkable Italian film Il padre di famiglia (1967) starring Nino Manfredi and Ugo Tognazzi, and was spotted in the popular crossover film Valentino (1977) starring iconic Russian ballet star Rudolf Nureyev.
In the 1980s, Leslie appeared in stage productions of "Can-Can", "On Your Toes" and "One for the Tango". She also was invited and accepted to appear on American TV. At the age of 75, the actress won her first Emmy Award with her very moving portrayal of an elderly woman and closeted rape victim in a 2006 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999). More recent filming have included Damage (1992) by Louis Malle, Chocolat (2000) by Lasse Hallström, and the Merchant Ivory romantic comedy/drama The Divorce (2003).
Leslie's private life has been more turbulent than expected. She is divorced from the late meat packing heir and musician Geordie Hormel; from avant-garde Royal Shakespeare director Peter Hall, by whom she has two children, Christopher and Jennifer (both of whom have careers in the entertainment field); and from her Chandler (1971) movie producer Michael Laughlin.
One of the few MGM post-musical stars to enjoy a long, lasting and formidable dramatic career, Leslie Caron is still continuing today though on a much more limited basis. In 2008, the actress published her memoirs, "Thank Heaven," later translated to French as "Une Francaise à Hollywood". In 2010, she triumphed on the Chatelet Theater stage in Paris with her portrayal of Madame Armfeldt in Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music. More recently the still mesmerizing octogenarian had a recurring role as a countess in the British TV series The Durrells (2016). Over the years, she has received a number of "Life Achievement" awards for her contributions to both film and dance.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Camille Cottin is a French actress and comedian. Following her debut as a stage actress, she became known in 2013 for playing a capricious Parisian woman in the Canal+ hidden camera-sketches series Connasse (2013-2015), as well as in the theatrical film based on the series The Parisian Bitch, Princess of Hearts (2015), which brought her significant mainstream success in France.- Michael Vartan came to international acclaim with his starring role as 'Agent Michael Vaughn' on the worldwide hit ABC series, "Alias," which ran for five seasons. With upcoming film and television roles, he continues to explore the different facets of his talent and versatility.
Vartan currently stars in E!'s original one-hour drama series "The Arrangement," about the relationship between an A-list movie star 'Kyle West' (Josh Henderson) and his beautiful young co-star 'Megan Morrison' (Christine Evangelista). Vartan portrays 'Terrence Anderson,' best friend, producing partner and mentor to 'Kyle,' as well as leader of a fictitious self-help organization called the Institute of the Higher Mind. His influence on Kyle's life is pervasive, and when 'Kyle' begins to date 'Megan,' 'Terrence' becomes particularly invested, presenting her with a marriage contract to ensure that the 'The Arrangement' goes as planned. E! will debut the 10-episode first season on March 5, 2017.
He played a key role in Season 2 of A&E's "Bates Motel" as 'George,' a charming divorcé who caught the eye of Norma (played by Emmy-nominee Vera Farmiga). He also had a recurring role in USA Network's "Satisfaction." He previously starred for three seasons alongside Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT's medical drama "HawthoRNe."
On the feature front, Vartan next appears in the indie thriller "Small Town Crime," with Academy Award nominee John Hawkes. The storyline revolves around a boozing ex-cop 'Mike' (Hawkes) who becomes a makeshift private investigator to solve the murder of a young prostitute. Vartan plays 'Detective Scott Crawford' who is investigating the murder and knows that 'Mike' has messed up in the past, yet to a certain extent still believes in him and trusts him to carry out his private investigation as long as he reports back to him with his findings. The film will make its World Premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 11, 2017.
Vartan previously starred opposite Zoe Saldana ("Avatar") in TriStar Pictures' "Colombiana." In 2011, he starred opposite Jessica Chastain, as 'Brad Benton' in the independent film "Jolene: My Life," for director Dan Ireland ("The Whole Wide World"). Based on a story from critically acclaimed author, E.L. Doctorow ("Ragtime," "Billy Bathgate").
He previously starred opposite Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez in New Line's summer blockbuster, "Monster-In-Law." He also starred opposite Robin Williams in the psychological thriller, "One Hour Photo." Additional film credits include a starring role opposite Drew Barrymore in the romantic comedy "Never Been Kissed."
Born in Paris to a French father and an American mother, Vartan grew up in the tiny Normandy village of Fleury until the age of 16 when he moved to Los Angeles to live with his mother, who encouraged him to take acting classes.
After starring in two small French films, Vartan grabbed the attention of the film world with his breakthrough performance in the 1993 Italian epic, "Fiorile," directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. Soon after, Vartan signed with an agent and landed a role in "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," playing the bigoted small-town thug who harasses three drag queens (Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo). He went on to star opposite David Schwimmer as one of his best friends in "The Pallbearer," a comedy of escapades surrounding three old high school pals coping with bachelorhood, marriage and a case of mistaken identity. He also starred in Sony Pictures Classics' "The Myth of Fingerprints" with Julianne Moore.
For television, Vartan appeared in the two-part TNT mini-series "The Mists of Avalon," a retelling of the legendary story of Camelot. He portrayed 'Sir Lancelot,' opposite Angelica Huston, Julianna Margulies and Joan Allen.
In his limited free time, Vartan feeds his obsession with sports, particularly ice hockey. "If it weren't for acting, I'd give anything to play a professional sport," he says, still holding onto his life-long dream. - Actor
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Pierre Niney was born in Boulogne-Billancourt (France), on March 13, 1989. He began his acting career at the age of eleven and joined the Comédie-Française troupe on October 16, 2010, when he was only twenty-one, which made him the youngest resident of the troupe. After several appearances in TV films and short films, he obtained several roles in cinema: 'LOL' (2008), 'L'armée du crime' (2009), 'Les Émotifs anonymes' (2010). He was chosen to play Yves Saint-Laurent in the eponymous film directed by Jalil Lespert. For this role Niney won the prize Patrick Dewaere, then the César for best actor (he actually became the youngest actor to win this prize). He left the Comédie Française on January 15, 2015. In the same year, he starred in the thriller 'Un homme idéal'. Also in 2016, Niney took the lead role in 'Frantz', directed by François Ozon, and played Philippe Cousteau in 'L'Odyssée', a biopic based o the life of French Commander Jacques Cousteau.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Son of horse breeders, the young man spent his childhood in the countryside near Paris. In his youth, Guillaume wanted to be a horse-rider, and briefly followed a professional career in the sport. A bad fall broke his dreams, but is at the origin of his acting career, and success. After briefly studying acting, he started his career. Eclectic and moving, Canet is also a successful director, he has directed movies like Tell No One (2006) and Little White Lies (2010)
In 2015, after 20 years of career, he received his first important nod as an actor for playing a serial killer in Next Time I'll Aim for the Heart (2014). He was nominated to Cesar Awards but eventually lost to Pierre Niney. Before that, he received a nod as Breakout Actor in 1998.- Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu was born on 25 April 1963 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress, known for Call My Agent! (2015), Two Brothers (2004) and Neuf mois (1994).
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Marina Foïs was born on 21 January 1970 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and writer, known for Polisse (2011), The Beasts (2022) and A Stormy Summer Night (2015).- Producer
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Alain Sarde was born on 28 March 1952 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is a producer and actor, known for The Ghost Writer (2010), The Pianist (2002) and Mulholland Drive (2001).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Vincent Lindon was born on 15 July 1959 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and writer, known for Titane (2021), The Measure of a Man (2015) and La haine (1995). He was previously married to Sandrine Kiberlain.- Actress
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Catherine Spaak was born on 3 April 1945 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Seine [now Hauts-de-Seine], France. She was an actress and writer, known for The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971), The Easy Life (1962) and The Empty Canvas (1963). She was married to Vladimiro Tuselli, Daniel Rey, Johnny Dorelli and Fabrizio Capucci. She died on 17 April 2022 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Valerie Quennessen became an actress almost by accident. She started out performing as a child as an acrobat. She was very accomplished in this field and won an award at the age of ten. However, she hadn't seriously considered performing for a living. In her late teens, she enrolled in acting classes as therapy, to overcome severe shyness. To her surprise, she found she enjoyed it and her abilities were noted positively by others. So after briefly attending the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Techniques du Theatre, she left school to perform full time. She won supporting roles in various projects. Her big break was her role in French Postcards (1979) in 1978. The following year, she completed her studies and traveled to the United States to find roles in Hollywood. She won a role as a princess in Conan the Barbarian (1982), a role she accepted because she had enjoyed fairy tales as a child. She became more familiar to American audiences when she starred in Summer Lovers (1982) with Peter Gallagher and Daryl Hannah. Playing an archaeologist, she dug at an ancient find and, to everyone's surprise, found some real ancient pottery from some 3,500 years ago. The film achieved box office success, in spite of poor reviews. However, afterwards, she left Hollywood to concentrate on her family life.
In 1989, she died in an automobile accident. She was 31 years old. - Daughter of a 70's famous French actor called Patrick Dewaere (born Patrick Bourdeaux), Lola Dewaere has become an actress herself at the age of 30, in 2009. When she was 3 years old, she lived in French Antilles with her mother and the French artist Coluche. The same year, in 1982, her farther Patrick Dewaere committed suicide. Then during her childhood, Lola Dewaere have been living in France. In 2001, she worked for the French fashion print magazine "Jalouse". Starting in 2009, she became an actress and played some characters in short films, TV film and a movie.
- Actress
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Sandrine Kiberlain was born on 25 February 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and director, known for A Radiant Girl (2021), Alias Betty (2001) and Mademoiselle Chambon (2009). She was previously married to Vincent Lindon.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Elsa Zylberstein was born on 16 October 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and producer, known for I've Loved You So Long (2008), Un + Une (2015) and Van Gogh (1991).- Her father was a lawyer. Her mother was an artist, a painter. She had a brother and a sister. At age 18, she married the father of her only child, actress Pascale Ogier. She divorced him two years later. To support herself, she started to work for high fashion designer Coco Chanel.
- Actress
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Marie Trintignant died tragically on the 1st of August, 2003 from a cerebral edema in Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris, France, following a violent fight with her boyfriend, Bertrand Cantat, lead singer in the French rock band, Noir Désir. She was just finishing filming a TV movie about Colette, directed by her mother.
Born into show business, she made her first screen appearance when she was just four-years-old but her breakthrough came in 1979 with the film "Série noire". In 1990, she had her first leading role in "Une nuit d'été en ville". Her second major role came in 1992 as "Betty", a bourgeois alcoholic. She also did theater work, notably "Le Retour", by Harold Pinter.
Her last film, Janis et John (2003), was completed three months before her death.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Julie Depardieu was born on 18 June 1973 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and director, known for A Very Long Engagement (2004), Rush Hour 3 (2007) and La petite Lili (2003).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
One of France's most popular actors, writers, and producers, Thierry Lhermitte has been appearing in films since the 1970s. Perhaps best known for work in farcical comedies, the tall, handsome actor has appeared in some of France's more outrageous films over the course of his prolific career.
Lhermitte was born on November 24, 1952 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France, to Rossanne (Bouchara) and André Lhermitte. His mother was from a Sephardi-Ashkenazi Jewish family, and his father was of French background. He began his career as one of the founding members of the comedy troupe Le Splendid. Among the troupe's other founders were Patrice Leconte, Josiane Balasko, and Michel Blanc, all of whom Lhermitte would collaborate with on future films. After his film debut in Bertrand Blier's Les Valseuses (1974) and a supporting role in Bertrand Tavernier's Que La Fête Commence... (1975), Lhermitte had his first screen collaboration with his Le Splendid colleagues, co-writing and acting in Leconte's Les Bronzés (1978). A farcical satire about a group of French tourists vacationing in Africa, the film proved to be phenomenally popular in France, inspiring a sequel the next year and a dedicated cult following.
Lhermitte subsequently made his mark starring in a number of comedies, including Les Hommes Preferent les Grosses (1981) with Balasko, Jean-Loup Hubert's L'Année Prochaine...Si Tout Va Bien (1981) with Isabelle Adjani, and Blier's La Femme De Mon Pote (1983). He maintained a prolific work schedule throughout the '80s and '90s, continuing to play the romantic lead in comedies of every possible variety for a diverse array of directors.
Lhermitte also continued to collaborate with his Le Splendid colleagues, starring in Leconte's 1993 Tango as a man intent on murdering his wife after she leaves him, and alongside Balasko in Grosse Fatigue, a comedy that featured Michel Blanc both directing and acting in a double role. In 1998, Lhermitte had one of his greatest successes to date as one of the stars of Francis Veber's Le Dîner de Cons. A witty comedy of manners, it featured the actor in top form as an arrogant publisher put in his place by the seemingly moronic man (Jacques Villeret) he has invited to his weekly dinner of idiots. One of the most popular films to be released in France in years, it was a phenomenal hit with critics and audiences alike.
In addition to acting, Lhermitte has continued to work as a screenwriter and producer. In 1994, he wrote, produced, and starred in the children's comedy Un Indien dans la Ville; three years later he served as the associate producer for its American remake, Jungle 2 Jungle. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
Children: Victor Lhermitte, Louise Lhermitte, Astree Lhermitte-Soka
Father: Andre Lhermitte- Additional Crew
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- Cinematographer
Vanessa Vadim was born on 28 September 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is a director and cinematographer, known for The Quilts of Gee's Bend (2002), Jane Fonda in Five Acts (2018) and Blue Is Beautiful (1997). She has been married to Paul Van Waggoner since 12 June 2010. She was previously married to Matt Arnett.- Actress
- Director
- Cinematographer
Sara Giraudeau was born on 1 August 1985 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and director, known for The Bureau (2015), Bloody Milk (2017) and Les bêtises (2015).- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Bertrand Blier was born on 14 March 1939 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Seine [now Hauts-de-Seine], France. He is a writer and director, known for The Clink of Ice (2010), Too Beautiful for You (1989) and 1, 2, 3, Freeze (1993).- Anicée Alvina was born on 28 January 1953 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She was an actress, known for Friends (1971), Paul and Michelle (1974) and Successive Slidings of Pleasure (1974). She died on 10 November 2006 in Paris, France.
- Victor Belmondo is the grandson of the famous Jean-Paul Belmondo, the headliner of many timeless classics of French cinema. Victor studied theater, screenplay and then worked as a stage manager and assistant (Belmondo's documentary by Belmondo). In 2015, he finds his first role in "La vie très privée de Monsieur Sim", a dramatic comedy led by a depressed Jean-Pierre Bacri. Victor Belmondo continues with the short film "Coeurs Sourds" in which he is one of five wild and tender adolescents fighting their loneliness in a world deserted by adults. The young comedian returns to the feature film with "All Inclusive", where he plays a small role and meets a certain Thaïs Alessandrin, he found in the wake for "Mob bébé". In this comedy directed by Lisa Azuelos (mother of Thaïs and LOL director) which deals with mother-daughter relations, Victor Belmondo embodies Theo, the mature son of Sandrine Kiberlain who supports her lost mother in the face of the departure of her daughter. An important role that enhances its notoriety. Victor Belmondo will soon be appearing on "Versus", a thriller with a dark aesthetic. He will also give a reply to Gérard Darmon in "Vous êtes jeunes, vous êtes beaux", a drama on boxing matches between old men.
- Gérard Lanvin was born on 21 June 1950 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and writer, known for Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 (2008), The Prize of Peril (1983) and The Taste of Others (2000). He has been married to Jennifer since 19 May 1984. They have two children.
- Actress
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Ophélie Winter was born on 20 February 1974 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and composer, known for She (2001), 2001: A Space Travesty (2000) and RRRrrrr!!! (2004).- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Edouard Baer was born on 1 December 1966 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and writer, known for Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), Molière (2007) and La bostella (2000).- Diana Frank was born on 29 August 1965 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress, known for Der Clown (1998), Der Clown (1996) and Florida Lady (1994).
- Actor
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Mathieu Demy is a French filmmaker and actor. He is the son of renowned filmmakers Jacques Demy and Agnès Varda. Demy has directed several acclaimed films, including "Americano" (2011), "Lola Pater" (2017), and "Three Songs for Benazir" (2021).
Demy began his career as an actor, appearing in several films directed by his parents. He made his directorial debut in 2000 with the short film "The Girl from the Train." His first feature film, "Americano," was a critically acclaimed drama about a young French woman who travels to Los Angeles to find her estranged father.
Demy's films are often characterized by their personal and intimate style. He frequently explores themes of family, relationships, and loss. His films have been praised for their emotional honesty and visual beauty.
In addition to his work as a director, Demy has also written several screenplays and acted in several films. He is a regular collaborator with his wife, the actress Chiara Mastroianni.
Demy is a rising star in French cinema. His films have been shown at major film festivals around the world, and he has won several awards for his work. He is a talented filmmaker with a unique vision, and he is sure to continue to make acclaimed films for many years to come.
Demy is a significant figure in contemporary French cinema. His films are personal, intimate, and visually beautiful. He is a talented filmmaker with a unique vision, and he is sure to continue to make acclaimed films for many years to come.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Antoine de Caunes was born on 1 December 1953 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and director, known for Man Is a Woman (1998), Yann Piat, chronique d'un assassinat (2012) and Love Bites (2001). He has been married to Daphné Roulier since May 2007. They have one child.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Claire Borotra was born on 25 September 1973 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and writer, known for Meurtres à... (2013), Les Chamois (2017) and Vive les vacances! (2009).- Eye Haidara was born on 7 March 1983 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. She is an actress, known for C'est la vie! (2017), Film socialisme (2010) and Furies (2024).
- Writer
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- Actress
Marina de Van was born in France in 1971, her father being a musicologist. She studied at the Lycée Henri IV and at the Sorbonne University where she earned a degree in philosophy. Then, in 1993 she became a student at the FEMIS, the French school for cinematic studies, where she graduated in 1996. She directed and wrote 6 short movies as well as working as an actress and a writer with fellow FEMIS student director François Ozon. In 2002 she made her first feature film In My Skin (2002) as director, writer and actress.- Christian Vadim was born on 18 June 1963 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor, known for Les nouveaux chevaliers du ciel (1988), Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach (2003) and Aire libre (1996). He was previously married to Caroline Bufalini.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Hippolyte Girardot was born on 10 October 1955 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and writer, known for Yuki and Nina (2009), The French Dispatch (2021) and Paris, I Love You (2006).- Pascale Roberts was born on 21 October 1930 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She was an actress, known for Marius and Jeannette (1997), Au théâtre ce soir (1966) and The Blonde from Peking (1967). She was married to Pierre Mondy, Pierre Rey and Michel Le Royer. She died on 26 October 2019 in Garches, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Writer
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- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Moreau was born on 14 July 1976 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is a writer and director, known for Them (2006), The Eye (2008) and Seuls (2017).- Gwendoline Hamon was born on 27 August 1970 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress, known for Madame Sans-Gêne (2002), Evamag (1999) and Une famille à louer (2015). She was previously married to Frédéric Diefenthal.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Didier Flamand was born on 12 March 1947 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and director, known for The Screw (1993), The Chorus (2004) and Wings of Desire (1987).- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Frédéric Pierrot was born on 17 September 1960 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor, known for Polisse (2011), Young & Beautiful (2013) and Monsieur N. (2003).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Thierry Frémont was born on 24 July 1962 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor, known for Allied (2016), Dans la tête du tueur (2004) and Les démons de Jésus (1997).- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Joséphine de Meaux was born on 23 January 1977 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and director, known for The Intouchables (2011), Nos jours heureux (2006) and Snowlidays (2019).- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Bruno Podalydès was born on 11 March 1961 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and director, known for Paris, I Love You (2006), The Perfume of the Lady in Black (2005) and Versailles Rive-Gauche (1992).- Actor
- Producer
Arpad Busson was born on 27 January 1963 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and producer, known for On the Road (2012), Sweet Lies (1987) and Seduced and Abandoned (2013).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michel Deville, a singular talent in French cinema. For, except during a short period where he made two or three standard commercial films (but that was to repay the debts of his own film company, due to the defection of a business partner), Deville made pictures which, without being too elitist, show a distinctive talent and personality. The French director-writer-producer managed, all through a career that spanned four decades and a half (from 1958 to 2005), to play a little music of his own, never resting on his laurels but always trying something new. And even if not all of his works are perfect, Deville's taste for research makes the bulk of them at least interesting or challenging. Born on 13 April 1931 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Michel Deville graduated from high school and started studying literature but soon branched out into movies. From 1951 to 1958, he learned the tricks of his future trade by being assistant-director, mainly to Henri Decoin, with whom he collaborated thirteen times, notably on two important films, The Truth About Bebe Donge (1952) in 1951 and Razzia (1955) in 1952. After a false start in 1958 (A Bullet in the Gun Barrel (1958), a run-of-the-mill crime flick, co-directed by Charles Gérard), Deville succeeded in making a name for himself two years later with his first true film Ce soir ou jamais (1961). Film critics did not miss out on the already gray-haired thirty-year-old director as they immediately identified what made his specificity : telling about love, seduction and feelings with subtle casualness and quizzing cruelty. For the ten years that followed, working in tandem with screenwriter Nina Companeez, Deville made a series of allegedly "light-hearted" comedies, surely full of charm and elegance but whose froth soon evaporates to reveal unexpected gravity. The result can range from slightly superficial (Girl's Apartment (1963), The Bear and the Doll (1970)) to genuinely moving (Adorable Liar (1962)) to profoundly tragic (The Diary of an Innocent Boy (1968), a cruel tale about desire, love and the difficulty to love; Raphaël ou le débauché (1971), one of the most beautiful romantic films ever made). After ceasing his collaboration with Companeez, Deville's films became darker and darker, the director choosing to explore new forms of expression (narrative deconstruction in La femme en bleu (1973)); the use of subjective camera and long sequence shots in Dossier 51 (1978), etc.) as well as new themes such as disillusionment, impossible dreams and imagination as a way of survival. In the nineteen eighties Deville is at the top of his art. A Sweet Journey (1980), Deep Water (1981), Les capricieux (1984) (TV movie) and Death in a French Garden (1985) examine the forms and variations of the loving feeling with consummate mastery while Le paltoquet (1986) and The Reader (1988) are two fascinating forays into the territory of sheer imagination. As of 1990, the director's art somewhat declined. Films like Sweetheart (1992), The Gods Must Be Daring (1997) and The Art of Breaking Up (2005), his final effort in 2005, more or less run on empty. But there are two magnificent exceptions to that rule: Aux petits bonheurs (1994) (1993), the elegant bittersweet chronicle of love being threatened by the coming of old age, and La maladie de Sachs (1999) (1999), a brilliant adaptation of Martin Winckler's novel, consisting of brief loosely related scenes, considered impossible to move onto the screens. An excellent technician and theoretician, Deville also established himself as a great actors director. All noticed how good he was - not unlike George Cukor - at directing women. Indeed Anna Karina, Marina Vlady, Michèle Morgan, Brigitte Bardot, Françoise Fabian, Lea Massari, Anémone, Miou-Miou, Fanny Ardant, Zabou Breitman and several others, did shine before his loving camera. But this does not mean that their male counterparts had anything to complain about when directed by him. Thanks to Michel Deville Claude Rich, Michel Piccoli, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Maurice Ronet, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Christophe Malavoy, Richard Bohringer, Claude Piéplu, Jean Yanne, Daniel Auteuil and many others naturally, also found gratifying and memorable roles. When Michel Deville decided to retire in 2005, he could do it with a clear conscience: he sure left his mark on the seventh art and even if his name is a little forgotten today, film historians will no doubt recognize his true worth some day in the future.- Producer
- Executive
Sidonie Dumas was born on 28 April 1967 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is a producer and executive, known for Only God Forgives (2013), JCVD (2008) and The Neon Demon (2016).- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Manuel Blanc was born on June 12, 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. His first movie, the André Téchiné classic I Don't Kiss (1991), earned him a César Award as Most Promising Actor in 1992 and established him in the French film and theater world. In his vast and varied career that has spanned over three decades, Blanc has worked with maverick directors like Jacques Deray, Josée Dayan, Édouard Molinaro, Werner Schroeter, Jérôme Savary and Philippe Calvario.
In 2001, he won the prestigious Molière Award for "Ladies Night", a comedy written by Anthony McCarten and Stephen Sinclair, adapted for the French stage by Jacques Collard. Other theater roles included "Tempête sur le pays d'Égypte" (1993/94), "Dommage qu'elle soit une putain" de John Ford (1997), "Trouée dans les nuages" (2005), "Journal secret" (2006) and "Parasites" (2009).
His most memorable films in the 1990s were Un crime (1993) with Alain Delon, Des feux mal éteints (1994) with Maria de Medeiros, Beaumarchais the Scoundrel (1996) with Fabrice Luchini and 1999 Madeleine (1999) with Anouk Aimée. With a bunch of high-budget movies and a huge pile of short films under his belt, Blanc became a household name with starring roles on popular TV shows like La rivière Espérance (1995), Contraband (2012), The Chalet (2017) (a mystery series produced by Netflix) and Chronicles of the Sun (2018).
He is one of director Antony Hickling's favorite actors. Hickling cast him in half a dozen short films as well as in his feature films Little Gay Boy (2013), One Deep Breath (2014), Where Horses Go to Die (2016) and Down in Paris (2021).
In addition to French, Manuel Blanc speaks English fluently. In 2014, his first novel "Carnaval" was published, followed by his second book "Les corps électriques" in 2018.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Géraldine Danon was born on 1 November 1968 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She is an actress and director, known for Company Business (1991), Jeans Tonic (1984) and Flo (2023). She has been married to Philippe Poupon since April 2007. They have two children.- Jean-Claude Dauphin was born on 16 March 1948 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is an actor and producer, known for The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), The Second Wind (2007) and LOL (Laughing Out Loud) (2008). He was previously married to Laura Ulmer.
- Actor
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- Soundtrack
Born on June 3, 1964 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France Jérôme Pradon is a French actor and singer, most famous for his theatre appearances. His theatre debut was the role of Marius in a production of "Les Miserables" in 1991 in Paris. He went on to star in musicals such as "Miss Saigon", "Napoleon", "Assassins", "Nine", "Whistle Down the Wind", "Titanic" and "Mamma Mia!". His career in musical theatre led to Pradon appearing in the filmed concert performance Les Misérables in Concert (1995) as Courfeyrac and in the movie Jesus Christ Superstar (2000) as Judas Iscariot. In 2001 he performed his one-man show "Crime of Passion" at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. in 2003 he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance in "Pacific Overtures". One year later he participated in "Les Miserables" concert which was performed for for Queen Elisabeth II and Jacques Chirac at Windsor Castle. In addition to being a theatre actor, Pradon also appears in smaller roles in movies and on TV. He was the voice of Andre in the French dubbing for The Phantom of the Opera (2004).- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Gilles de Maistre was born on 8 May 1960 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He is a director and producer, known for The Wolf and the Lion (2021), Féroce (2002) and Le premier cri (2007).