Gorgeous and aloof, Catherine Deneuve has been an icon of the French cinema since the 1960s. Born into a family of actors, she made her film debut as a teenager, and as she matured her cool blonde charms began to turn moviegoers' heads. Though first promoted by filmmaker Roger Vadim in the early '60s, she found her breakthrough role in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). Her most famous movies from the era are Roman Polanski's Repulsion (1965), Belle du Jour (1967) and Tristana (1970). Since the 1970s she has made movies outside of France only infrequently, but was internationally famous as a pitchwoman for Chanel perfume in the 1980s and appeared in the critically acclaimed films The Last Metro (1980) and Indochine (1991). A popular figure in France and a legendary beauty of the big screen, Deneuve's best-known films include The Hunger (1983, with Susan Sarandon), The Last Metro (1980), Dancer in the Dark (2000, starring Björk) and A Christmas Tale (2008).
Career Highlights: Belle de Jour, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Last Metro
First Major Screen Credit: L'Homme à Femmes (1960)
Biography
A model of Gallic elegance, cultivated lust object for art house filmgoers everywhere, and one of the best-respected actresses in the French film industry, Catherine Deneuve made her reputation playing a series of beautiful ice maidens for directors such as Luis Buñuel and Roman Polanski. The daughter of French stage and film actor Maurice Dorléac, Deneuve was born in Paris on October 22, 1943. She made her screen debut at the age of 13, with a role in the 1956 film Les Collegiennes, and went on to make a string of films with directors such as Roger Vadim (with whom she had a child) before getting her breakthrough role in Jaques Demy's charming musical, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) (1964). The burst of stardom that accompanied her portrayal led to two of her archetypal ice maiden roles, first in Roman Polanski's terrifying Repulsion in 1965 and then in Buñuel's 1967 Belle de Jour. Deneuve's startling portrayal of an icy, sexually adventurous housewife in the latter film helped to establish her as one of the most remarkable and compelling actresses of her generation. She further demonstrated her talent that year in Demy's Umbrellas musical follow-up, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, which she starred in with her sister, Françoise Dorléac.
Deneuve continued to work steadily through the 1960s and 1970s in films such as the 1970 Tristana (her second collaboration with Buñuel) and A Slightly Pregnant Man (1973), in which she starred with her lover at the time, Marcello Mastrioanni (who would father her daughter, the actress Chiara Mastrioanni). Despite or perhaps because of her stardom, Deneuve chose to avoid Hollywood, limiting her appearances in American films to The April Fools (1969) and Hustle (1975). Tellingly, her most significant American screen work of that period was probably the series of commercials she did for Chanel perfume in the mid-'70s, which led to the creation of her own perfume a decade later. Deneuve also did prolific work through the 1980s, appearing in such films as François Truffaut's Le Dernier Métro (1980) and Tony Scott's The Hunger (1983). The latter film saw Deneuve playing a bisexual vampire alongside David Bowie and Susan Sarandon, and her performance won her an indelible cult status in the States among lesbians, goths, and artistically inclined teenage boys.
In the 1990s, Deneuve garnered further international acclaim for her roles in several films, including the 1992 film Indochine (for which she won a French Academy Award and a Best Actress Oscar nomination) and two films directed by André Téchiné in which she played Daniel Auteuil's sister, Ma Saison Préférée (1993) and Les Voleurs (1995). In 1996, she paid homage to the director who had first given her fame by taking part in the documentary L'Univers de Jacques Demy. Closing out the final years of the 1990's Deneuve remained consistantly working in numerous films (in 1999 alone she appeared in no less than six, including driector Leos Carax's controversial Pola X) and continuing to turn in compelling performances.
In 2000 Deneuve recieved much critical attention when cast alongside eccentric Icelandic singer Bjork in the Lars von Trier's melancholy musical Dancer in the Dark. Though it polarized critics and audiences alike, Dancer nevertheless won the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival and continued von Trier's tradition of creating difficult and challenging films that, like them or not, always seem to provoke a strong response. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
(born Oct. 22, 1942, Paris, France) French film actress. She appeared in films from age 13 and won fame with her role in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). Her cool blond beauty and skillful portrayals in Roman Polanski's Repulsion (1965) and Luis Buñuel's Belle de jour (1967) and Tristana (1970) made her an international star. Her numerous other films include The Last Metro (1980) and Indochine (1992).
Catherine Deneuve (French IPA: [katʁin dəˈnœv], born 22 October 1943) is a French actress. She gained recognition for her portrayal of beautiful ice maidens for various directors, including Luis Buñuel and Roman Polanski.[1][2] Deneuve won two César Awards for her performances in Le Dernier Métro (1980) and Indochine (1992). She has also received BAFTA and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress. In 2008, she appeared in her 100th film, Un conte de Noël.
Deneuve was born Catherine Fabienne Dorléac in Paris, as the third of four daughters to French stage and screen actor Maurice Dorléac and actress Renée Deneuve.
Deneuve was 13 when she began her film career with a very small role in Les Collégiennes (1956), subsequently working in several films including under director Roger Vadim. The film that brought her to stardom was Jacques Demy's 1964 musical Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, which led to additional prominent roles in Roman Polanski's Repulsion (1965) and Luis Buñuel's Belle de Jour (1967). In the Polanski film, Deneuve first portrayed the character archetype for which she would be nicknamed the "ice maiden", an emotionally distant and mysterious woman; her work for Buñuel would be her most famous.[3][4] She also appeared in Jacques Demy's musical Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967), with her elder sister, Françoise Dorléac.
Deneuve remained active in European films during the 1960s and the 1970s, though she limited her appearances in American movies of the period to The April Fools (1969) and Hustle (1975). Her starring roles at the time were featured in such films as Tristana (1970, again with Buñuel) and A Slightly Pregnant Man (1973, opposite Marcello Mastrioanni). In the 1980s, Deneuve's films included François Truffaut's Le Dernier métro (1980, which garnered her the César Award for Best Actress) and Tony Scott's The Hunger (1983, as a bisexual vampire, co-starring with David Bowie and Susan Sarandon, a role which brought her a significant lesbian following).[5]
In the early 1990s, Deneuve's more significant roles included 1992's Indochine (which garnered her a second César Award for Best Actress, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress); and André Téchiné's two movies, Ma saison préférée (1993) and Les Voleurs (1995). In 1994 she was Vice President on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival.[6] In 1996, Deneuve joined the documentary L'Univers de Jacques Demy, to show tribute to the director who made the film that brought her to fame. In 1998, she won acclaim and the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for her performance in Place Vendôme. In the late 1990s Deneuve continued to appear in a large number of films such as 1999's five films, Est-Ouest, Le temps retrouvé, Pola X, Belle-maman, and Le vent de la nuit.
In 2000, Deneuve's part in Lars von Trier's musical drama Dancer in the Dark alongside Icelandic female singer Björk was subject to considerable critical scrutiny. The film was selected for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2002, she shared the Silver Bear Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the Berlin International Film Festival for her performance in 8 Women. In 2005, Deneuve published her diary A l'ombre de moi-meme ("In My Own Shadow", published in English as Close Up and Personal: The Private Diaries of Catherine Deneuve); in it she writes about her experiences shooting the films Indochine and Dancer in the Dark. In 2006, she headed the jury at the Venice Film Festival. Deneuve continues to work steadily making at least two or three films per year.
Deneuve was the face of Chanel No. 5 in the 1970s and caused sales of the perfume to soar in the United States – so much so that the American press, captivated by her charm, nominated her as the world's most elegant woman.[7]
Her image was used to represent Marianne, the national symbol of France, from 1985 to 1989.
In 2001, she was chosen as the new face of L'Oréal Paris.
In 2006, Deneuve became the third inspiration for the M•A•C Beauty Icon series. Deneuve and Make-up Art Cosmetics closely collaborated on the colour collection that became available at M•A•C locations worldwide in February 2006.
In late 2007, Deneuve began appearing in the new Louis Vuitton luggage advertisements.
Entrepreneurial
Deneuve introduced her own perfume, Deneuve, in 1986. She is also a designer of glasses, shoes, jewelry and greeting cards.
Charities
Deneuve was appointed UNESCOGoodwill Ambassador for the Safeguarding of Film Heritage in 1994. On 12 November 2003, she resigned her position as Goodwill Ambassador at UNESCO to protest the nomination of French businessman Pierre Falcone as the Angola representative, which enables him to escape justice and investigation for illegal arms dealing.[8]
Deneuve asked that the rights owed to her from her representation of Marianne be given to Amnesty International.[9]
Douleur sans frontiers (Pain Without Borders) - At the end of 2003, Deneuve recorded a radio commercial to encourage donations to fight against the pain in the world, notably for the victims of landmines.[12]
Handicap International - In the middle of July 2005, Deneuve lent her voice to the message of radio commercials, TV and cinema, which denounced the use of the BASM (cluster bombs).[13][14]
Voix de femmes pour la démocratie (Voice of women for democracy) - Deneuve read the text, "Le petit garçon," of Jean-Lou Dabadie, on the entitled CD, "Voix de femmes pour la démocratie." The CD was sold for the benefit of the female victims of the war and the fundamentalisms that fight for democracy.[15]
Deneuve has also been involved with various charities in the fight against AIDS and cancer.[12]
Political involvement
In 1971, Deneuve signed the Manifesto of the 343 (Manifeste des 343 salopes, Manifest of the 343 bitches). The manifesto was an admission by its signers to have practiced illegal abortions, and therefore, exposed themselves to judicial actions and prison sentences.[16] It was published in Le Nouvel Observateur on 5 April 1971. That same year, feminist lawyer Gisèle Halimi founded the group, Choisir (“To Choose”), to protect the women who had signed the Manifesto of the 343.
In 2001, Deneuve delivered a petition organized by the French-based group, "Together Against the death penalty," to the U.S. Embassy in Paris.[17]
In April 2007, Deneuve signed a petition on the internet protesting the "misogynous" treatment of socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal. More than 8,000 French men and women signed the petition, including French actress Jeanne Moreau.[18]
Personal life
Deneuve has three sisters: the actress Françoise Dorléac (who died in a car crash on 26 June 1967), Sylvie Dorléac and Danielle Dorléac.[19]
Deneuve speaks fluent French, Italian, English and is semi-fluent in German.[20] Her hobbies and passions include gardening, drawing, photography, reading, music, cinema, fashion, antiques and decoration.[12]
^ Block, Maxine; Anna Herthe Rothe, Marjorie Dent Candee, Charles Moritz (1978). Current Biography Yearbook. H.W. Wilson Co.. p. 98. ISBN 9997377028. "Catherine Deneuve has also...been called the "ice maiden" because of the aloof and enigmatic personality she has glacially portrayed in such classic art films as Polanski's Repulsion...."
