Gorgeous and aloof, Catherine Deneuve was an icon of the French cinema in the 1960s and 1970s. Born into a family of actors, she made her film debut as a teenager, and as she grew into a woman 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 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 (1992, Oscar nomination). Deneuve also has a cult following for her portrayal of a vampire in The Hunger (1983, with Susan Sarandon) and has appeared in Dancer in the Dark (2000, starring Björk) and the campy musical 8 Femmes (2002).
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, 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).
A model of French 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[1][2][3].
Career
The daughter of French stage and film actor Maurice Dorléac and actress Renée Deneuve. Deneuve
was born Catherine Fabienne Dorléac, in Paris on October 22, 1943 as one of four daughters. She made her screen debut at
the age of 13, with a role in the 1956 film Les Collégiennes, and went on to make a string
of films with directors such as Roger Vadim before getting her breakthrough role in Jacques
Demy's musical, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964).
The burst of stardom that accompanied her portrayal led to two of her archetypal ice maiden roles, first in Roman Polanski's
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 as Séverine with Pierre Clementi in Luis Buñuel's Belle de Jour. This character turned her into an international movie superstar and beauty icon.
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, Marcello 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).
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, her performance won her an indelible cult status in the States among lesbians and
gothics.
In the 1990s, Deneuve garnered further international acclaim for her roles in several films, including the 1992 film
Indochine (for which she won a César Award
for Best Actress and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress) and two films directed by André Téchiné, Ma saison préférée (1993) and Les Voleurs (1995). In 1994 she was Vice President on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival [4]. 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. In 1998,
she won acclaim and the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film
Festival for her performance in Place Vendôme. Closing out the final
years of the 1990s Deneuve remained consistently working in numerous films; in 1999 alone she appeared in no less than five
films: Est-Ouest, Le temps
retrouvé, Pola X, Belle-maman, and
Le vent de la nuit, continuing to turn in compelling performances.
In 2000 Deneuve received much critical attention when cast alongside eccentric Icelandic singer Björk in Lars von Trier's melancholy musical Dancer in the
Dark. Though it polarized critics and audiences alike, Dancer in the Dark nevertheless won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2002, she shared the Silver Bear
Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the 2002 Berlin International
Film Festival for her performance in 8 Women. In 2005 Deneuve published her diary
"A l'ombre de moi-meme" (In My Shadow), 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, and can currently be seen in the film Après
Lui.
Deneuve is the third of four daughters born to French actors Maurice Dorléac and Renée Deneuve
(the French voice of Esther Williams and whose name she uses). She has three sisters; the actress Françoise Dorléac (who died in a car crash June 26, 1967), Sylvie Dorléac, & Danielle Dorléac [5].
Deneuve has been married once in 1965 to photographer David Bailey, the
couple divorced in 1972 and have remained friends [8]. She has had relationships with director Roger Vadim[9], director Francois
Truffaut[10], actor Marcello Mastroianni[11], & Canal+ tycoon Pierre Lescure[12].
Deneuve speaks fluent French, Italian, English, & is semi-fluent in German [13]. Some of her hobbies and passions include gardening, drawing, photography,
reading, music, cinema, fashion, antiques, and decoration [14].
Charities
Deneuve was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Safeguarding of Film Heritage in 1994. On November 12, 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 [15].
Deneuve asked that the rights owed to her from her representation of Marianne be given to Amnesty International[16].
Louis Vuitton made a donation to The Climate Project, spearheaded by Al Gore, on behalf of Deneuve [17].
Deneuve is also involved with Children Action, Children of
Africa, and Orphelins Roumains.
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 [14].
Handicap International - In the middle of July, 2005, Deneuve lent her voice
to the message of radio commercials, TV, and cinema which denounce the use of the BASM (cluster bombs) [19][20].
Voix de femmes pour la démocratie (Voice of women for democracy) - Deneuve read the text “Le
petit garcon” of Jean-Lou Dabadie on an entitled CD “Voix de femmes pour la démocratie,” which
was sold for the benefit of the female victims of the war and the fundamentalisms which fight for democracy [21].
Deneuve has also been involved with various charities in the fight against AIDS and Cancer [14].
Political Involvements
In 1971, Deneuve signed the “Manifesto of the 343.” The Manifesto was published in Le
Nouvel Observateur on 5 April 1971. In 1971 the feminist lawyer Gisèle Halimi
founded the group Choisir (“To Chose”), to protect the women who had signed the Manifesto of the 343 (Manifeste des 343 salopes,
Manifest of the 343 bitches) admitting to have practiced illegal abortions and therefore exposing themselves to judicial actions
and prison sentences [22].
Deneuve is involved with Amnesty International's Program to Abolish the Death
Penalty.
In 2001, Deneuve delivered a petition organized by the French-based group “Together Against the death penalty” to the U.S.
Embassy in Paris [23].
In April of 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[24].
Career Outside of Film
Modeling
Designer Yves Saint Laurent's muse, he dressed her in the films
Belle de Jour, La Chamade, La Sirène du Mississipi, Liza, & The Hunger.
Deneuve was the face of Chanel No. 5 in the seventies 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.
Her visage was used to symbolize Marianne (from 1985 to 1989), the national symbol of
France.
In 2001 Deneuve 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 M.A.C
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.
Entrepreneural
Introduced her own perfume, Deneuve in 1986.
Designer of glasses, shoes, jewelry, and greeting cards.
Complete Filmography
Les Collégiennes (Twilight Girls) (1957, by André Hunebelle) (credited as Catherine/Sylvie Dorléac)
