Mélanie Laurent | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Laurent at the2025 Cannes Film Festival | |
| Born | (1983-02-21)21 February 1983 (age 42) Paris, France |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse(s) | Unknown (kept private) (m.c. 2013) |
| Partner | Julien Boisselier (2005–2009) |
| Children | 2 |
Mélanie Laurent (French pronunciation:[melaniloʁɑ̃]ⓘ; born 21 February 1983) is a French actress, filmmaker, and singer. She has received twoCésar Awards and aLumière Award. Internationally, Laurent is known for her roles inInglourious Basterds (2009),Now You See Me (2013),Operation Finale (2018) and6 Underground (2019).
Laurent began acting at age sixteen, cast byGérard Depardieu in a small role in the romantic dramaThe Bridge (1999). She gained wider recognition for her supporting work in several French films, including the comedyDikkenek (2006), for which she wonÉtoiles d'Or for Best Female Newcomer. Her breakthrough role came in the 2006 drama filmDon't Worry, I'm Fine, for which she won theCésar Award for Most Promising Actress and thePrix Romy Schneider. Laurent made her Hollywood debut in 2009 with the role of Shosanna Dreyfus inQuentin Tarantino's blockbuster war filmInglourious Basterds. Her performance won theOnline Film Critics Society and theAustin Film Critics Association Best Actress Awards.
While she has worked mainly inindependent films, includingParis (2008) andEnemy (2013), Laurent also appeared in commercially successful international films, including the comedy dramaBeginners (2011), and the caper filmNow You See Me (2013), the former earning her a nomination at theSan Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her other notable works include the art-house dramaThe Round Up (2010), the comedy dramaThe Day I Saw Your Heart (2011), and the mystery thrillerNight Train to Lisbon (2013). She is also known for voicing Mary Katherine and Disgust in the French dubs ofEpic (2013) andInside Out (2015) respectively. Additionally, she starred inChris Weitz's 2018 dramaOperation Finale, telling the story of the capture ofNaziAdolf Eichmann.
In addition to her film career, Laurent has appeared in stage productions in France. She made hertheatre debut in 2010 inNicolas Bedos'sPromenade de santé. The short filmDe moins en moins (2008) marked her debut as a filmmaker. Her feature film directorial debut isThe Adopted (2011).Respire (2014), her second production as a director, was screened in theCritics' Week section at the2014 Cannes Film Festival. She made her singing debut with a studio albumEn t'attendant (Waiting For You) in 2011.
Laurent was born on 21 February 1983 in Paris, France the daughter of Annick (aballerina)[1] and Pierre Laurent (a voiceover actor, who dubs the characterNed Flanders in the French version ofThe Simpsons).[2][3] Her father is from Nancy and her mother is Jewish, of bothAshkenazi Jewish (Polish-Jewish) andSephardic Jewish (Tunisian-Jewish) descent.[4][5][6] Her grandfather was deported from Poland during theNazi occupation, but survived.[6] Her maternal grandparents were film poster editors.[1]She grew up in the9th arrondissement of Paris.[1]
Laurent visited the set ofAsterix and Obelix vs. Caesar with her friend and the latter's father. ActorGérard Depardieu, seeing Laurent there, asked her if she wanted to be in films. Laurent replied, "Why not?". He strongly advised her not to take acting classes because he believed she already had the necessary skills. When Laurent was 16, Depardieu gave her a part inThe Bridge, a drama he starred in and co-directed withFrédéric Auburtin.[7] Laurent played the role of Lisbeth Daboval, the daughter of one of the protagonists of the film, Claire Daboval.[8] Laurent also worked as a voiceover actor, dubbing the character Satsuki in the French version ofMy Neighbour Totoro, as well as the younger version of Madame de Fleurville in an animated adaptation ofSophie's Misfortunes.[9][10][11]
Laurent played minor roles in a number of films early in her career. She appeared inMichel Blanc's dramaSummer Things,Jackie Chan's comedy-dramaRice Rhapsody,Jacques Audiard's dramaThe Beat That My Heart Skipped and the war filmDays of Glory about theFree French Forces.[12]
Laurent's breakthrough role came in 2006, when she played a sullen 19-year-old who longed for her lost twin brother, inPhilippe Lioret'sDon't Worry, I'm Fine. She won aCésar Award for Most Promising Actress for her performance.[13][14] In a review forVariety, Ronnie Scheib praised Laurent and wrote that she, "makes her vibrant character's downward spiral totally believable without indulging in moody sullenness".[15] That same year, she and Belgian actorJérémie Renier were awarded France'sRomy Schneider andJean Gabin Prizes for most promising actor and actress.[16] Laurent then starred in the Franco-BelgianDikkenek, a comedy directed byOlivier Van Hoofstadt that has attained acult film over the years owing to its Belgian-style humour, in which she co-starred alongsideMarion Cotillard,Jérémie Renier,Jean-Luc Couchard andDominique Pinon.[17] For her performance in the film, Laurent won theÉtoiles d'Or for Best Female Newcomer.[18]
In 2007, Laurent appeared in films includingLe tueur andHidden Love.[19][20] She was nominated for theLumière Award for Best Actress for her performance inLa Chambre des morts.[18] Laurent next appeared inCédric Klapisch's 2008 comedy dramaParis, a French film concerning a diverse group of people. The film has an ensemble cast including Laurent,Juliette Binoche,Romain Duris,Fabrice Luchini, andFrançois Cluzet.[21] The film was well received and praised for the cast's performances.[22]
Laurent was scheduled to direct her first play,Mi-cuit cœur pistache (the name of a dessert she particularly likes) in January 2009 at theThéâtre Marigny in Paris. She had to abandon the project when she was cast as Shosanna Dreyfus, a Parisian who seeks revenge on Nazis in theQuentin Tarantino filmInglourious Basterds, alongsideBrad Pitt,Diane Kruger andChristoph Waltz. It was a French-language role for which she learned to speak English for a few scenes.[23][24][25] The film was a big commercial and critical success, grossing over $321 million in theaters worldwide.[26] Laurent's performance was praised by several critics. Kyle Buchanan ofMovieline wrote: "Mélanie Laurent providesInglourious Basterds its heart and soul. It falls to the 26-year-old French actress to anchor some of theWorld War II film's most challenging scenes as Shosanna."[27]
Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly wrote that Laurent should have received the nomination at the16th Screen Actors Guild Awards saying, "In drawing attention to one performer, in particular, whom they left out of theBest Supporting Actress category, [...] I flat-out adore this performance and I suspect that many others do too," and further lauding Laurent's performance he added, "[Laurent] is radiant and, in a unique Tarantino way, heartbreaking. Sexy and luminous in the heat of her valor. Putting out fire – and setting it. It becomes an anthem ofnoirish dread and excitement, a sign that Laurent, as Shosanna, has found her destiny."[28]
In an interview, Laurent stated that she went intoInglourious Basterds with adoration for Quentin Tarantino. "[The French] don't see him like an independent director; we just see him as the best director, ever, [from the United States]." About the process of auditioning, Laurent said that she knew right from the start that this was a film she had to be in, as she felt a connection to her role in the film, because of the history of her Jewish family.[24][29]
In addition, Laurent won a number of accolades for her portrayal of Shosanna includingAustin Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress andOnline Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress, and nominations at theDetroit Film Critics Society Awards,Empire Award for Best Actress, andSaturn Award for Best Actress among others. The highly anticipated film, which had been in development since 1998, marked Laurent's first major role in an American film and Laurent found herself pushed into mainstream success in North America.[30]
Laurent's partner Julien Boisselier, as well as Marie Denarnaud,Mélanie Doutey, and Louise Monot were to act in the production while short film clips were to be projected on stage, some of them shot at the nightclub Le Baron, which Laurent used to frequent during the writing period.[31]
In 2010, Laurent starred inThe Round Up, a French film directed byRoselyne Bosch, and produced byAlain Goldman, alongsideJean Reno,Sylvie Testud, andGad Elmaleh. Based on the true story of a young Jewish boy, the film depicts theVel' d'Hiv Roundup, the mass arrest of Jews by French police who were Nazi accomplices in Paris in July 1942.[32] The film and Laurent's performance were well received by the critics, with Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian deeming it "well acted".[33][34] John Anderson ofNewsday lauded Laurent saying that she gave an "inspiring performance as a gentile nurse".[35]
Laurent had also planned another feature film,Putain de pluie!, produced by Alain Attal's Productions du Trésor, whose script she co-wrote with Morgan Perez and which she intended to direct. Originally set for filming in the spring of 2009, it was postponed because of her work onInglourious Basterds.[31][36] Knowing that she could speak French, and had already acted in French in one of the short films inParis, je t'aime, she offered the first role toNatalie Portman, who declined because of the script's language.[37]
Laurent played the part of the violinist inRadu Mihăileanu'sLe Concert—she called it "a smart movie and a popular movie", and added that she was, "glad because French people wanted to watch a movie with classical music."[38][39] Mick LaSalle ofSan Francisco Chronicle called it a "role with great technical demands" and praising Laurent wrote, "she's extremely subtle and reserved ... "The Concert" constitutes a breakthrough for her, in that it unlocks her emotional floodgates".[40]
Laurent hosted both the opening and closing ceremonies of the64th Cannes Film Festival.[41] In 2011, she teamed withMike Mills, appearing oppositeEwan McGregor andChristopher Plummer inBeginners, a comedy drama that marked Laurent's second English-speaking role inHollywood. Laurent plays Anna, an irreverent French actress. Loosely based on Mills' own life, the film depicts the story of a father coming out of the closet at the age of 75 after the death of his wife of 45 years.[42] The film opened to critical acclaim and Laurent's performance was well received, with Calvin Wilson ofSt. Louis Post-Dispatch remarking that Laurent imbued a "soulful charisma" into the role.[43][44]
Laurent then starred oppositeJeremy Irons inNight Train to Lisbon, a 2013drama film based on the novel of the same name directed byBille August.[45] Jessica Kiang ofIndie Wire noted that Laurent was "given less to do" but lauded her performance writing that she, "makes the most of her truncated screen time".[46]
Laurent appeared in theLouis Leterrier's 2013 caper filmNow You See Me as a FrenchInterpol agent who investigates the bank theft alongsideMark Ruffalo and an ensemble cast. The film was a major commercial success grossing over 351.7 million dollars, receiving mixed reviews but praise for the performances of the entire cast.[47][48] Todd McCarthy ofThe Hollywood Reporter gave Laurent the highest praise and wrote, "[Laurent] is responsible for the only measurable amount of warmth the film exudes."[49]
Laurent's next release, the Canadian-Spanishpsychological thriller filmEnemy, directed byDenis Villeneuve, was screened at the Special Presentation section at the2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[50] Loosely adapted by Javier Gullón fromJosé Saramago's 2002 novelThe Double, the film opened to critical acclaim.[51] The film starredJake Gyllenhaal as two men who are physically identical, but different in terms of personality. Laurent andSarah Gadon co-star as the romantic partners of the men.[51]
In 2014, Laurent appeared inAloft, a 2014 drama film written and directed byClaudia Llosa, alongsideJennifer Connelly andCillian Murphy. The film premiered in competition at the64th Berlin International Film Festival. Laurent voiced Mary Katherine in Blue Sky Studios'Epic, and Disgust in Pixar'sInside Out in the French dubs of the animated films.[52][53]
In 2015, Laurent starred alongsideLaurent Lafitte, inFrançois Favrat's French drama filmBoomerang adapted from the bestseller entitledA Secret Kept by Tatiana De Rosnay. The film released on 23 September 2013 to positive critical reviews.[54]The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Boomerang is a solid if somewhat conventionally made whodunit that benefits from a strong cast and a plot that hooks you for most of the running time."[55] Laurent then starred as Léa inAngelina Jolie'sBy the Sea, an American drama film, written and directed by Jolie. The film also stars Jolie and Brad Pitt, and was released on 13 November 2015, byUniversal Pictures.[56] Laurent later appeared in the 2018 dramaOperation Finale directed byChris Weitz, which revolved around theMossad operation to captureAdolf Eichmann.
In 2025, Laurent will star inJoséphine Japy's directorial debut,The Wonderers.[57]
Laurent made her debut as a director and starred her brother Mathieu with the 2008 short filmDe moins en moins, which she also wrote, a 7-minute film about a patient who "remembers less and less" in front of her psychiatrist.[37] The film was nominated forBest Short Film atthe 61st AnnualCannes Film Festival. She also directedÀ ses pieds, an erotic short film aired on the French television channelCanal+ on 25–26 October 2008, as part of a series of short films, calledX Femmes.[58]
In 2011, she directed and self-starred in her first feature film,The Adopted. Her second film,Breathe, was screened at theCritics' Week section at the2014 Cannes Film Festival and was highly acclaimed.[59][60] She then co-directed the 2015 documentaryTomorrow, which earned her aCésar Award for Best Documentary Film.
In an interview withIndiewire in 2014, Laurent admitted that she loves writing: "[Writing is] especially super exciting because you have everything to do and most of your ideas come from that first part... you just imagine things, and you imagine actors." She described the shooting process as "the fun part" because of "working with people I love—it's always a great human moment because we're sharing things and it's good to see people who are here for you and your story, to tell your story. It's really beautiful, it's why I love making movies."[61]
Laurent made her English-language directorial debut in 2018 withGalveston, the film adaptation ofNic Pizzolatto's novel of the same name. It starredBen Foster andElle Fanning.
Laurent directed and self-starred inThe Mad Women's Ball in 2021.[62]
Laurent next directedWingwomen forNetflix in 2023[63][64] andLibre forAmazon Prime Video in 2024.
Laurent was announced to directThe Nightingale, an adaptation ofnovel of the same name byKristin Hannah, which was set to star Elle andDakota Fanning.[65][66] However, filming never commenced, and the film was completely removed from the release schedule in October 2021.[67] The film was ultimately taken over byMichael Morris in 2025.[68]
Laurent made her singing debut in May 2011 with a studio albumEn t'attendant, under the label of Atmosphériques. Produced by Joel Shearer, the album contains twelve songs, five of which are co-written and co-produced by Irishfolk musicianDamien Rice. The album peaked at number 22 and number 35 on theBelgian Albums Charts andFrench Albums Charts respectively.[69][70][71] She recorded the album with Rice, who lives betweenWoodstock, New York, and his home in Ireland.
Laurent was in a long-term relationship with fellow French actorJulien Boisselier which ended in 2009. In March 2013, she revealed that she had married but refused to name her spouse. She toldThe Independent, "he was a crew member and I was an actress."[72] Her first child with her husband, a son named Léo, was born in September 2013.[73][74] In 2019, she gave birth to their second child together, a girl named Mila. As of 2019[update], the family lives in Los Angeles.[75][76][77]
Laurent visited a Climate Defenders Camp in the peatlands of the Indonesianrainforest withGreenpeace activists. She is one of the Climate Ambassadors forKofi Annan'sGlobal Humanitarian Forum "Tck Tck Tck" Campaign.[78] She joined the campaign againstoverfishing at the invitation of theBlue Marine Foundation, and was cast for the voice-over of the French documentarySurpêche (based on the bookThe End of the Line) about the hazards of overfishing. She was also one of the leading celebrities in the successful campaign Fish Fight France, which asked for a new European law lowering the level of fish discards in European seas.[79] Laurent revealed that spending time at musicianDamien Rice's home in Ireland, while working on her 2011 album, inspired her to maintain a compost heap and eat organic food.[1][80]
Laurent has appeared in over 40 films and directed 10 films. For her role inDon't Worry, I'm Fine, Laurent won theCésar Award andLumière Award in the Most Promising Actress category.[18] She received numerous accolades for her role inInglourious Basterds, including Best Actress awards at theAustin Film Critics Association Awards andOnline Film Critics Society Awards among others.[81] Laurent's filmTomorrow (2015) won theCésar Award for Best Documentary Film.[82]
| Year | Album details | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEL | FRA | ||
| 2011 | En t'attendant.[69]
| 23[71] | 35[70] |
