Catherine Deneuve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Deneuve
|
|
|---|---|
Deneuve in 2017
|
|
| Born |
Catherine Fabienne Dorléac
22 October 1943 Paris, France
|
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Roger Vadim (1961–1964) Marcello Mastroianni (1970–1974) Hugh Johnson (1982–1983) Pierre Lescure (1984–1991) |
| Children | Christian Vadim Chiara Mastroianni |
| Parent(s) | Maurice Dorléac Renée Simonot |
| Relatives | Françoise Dorléac (sister) |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born October 22, 1943), known to the world as Catherine Deneuve, is a famous French actress. Many people think she is one of the greatest European actresses of all time. In 2020, The New York Times even named her one of the best actors of the 21st century.
Deneuve started acting when she was just 13 years old. She became a major star during the New Wave, a time of exciting new styles in French filmmaking. For almost 70 years, she has appeared in more than 100 movies. She is especially known for her roles in musical films like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort.
She has worked with famous directors like Luis Buñuel and François Truffaut. Her movies have been very popular, selling nearly 99 million tickets in France. From 1985 to 1989, she was chosen to be the face of Marianne, the national symbol of liberty in France. Deneuve has won many awards for her acting, including France's César Award.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Catherine Fabienne Dorléac was born in Paris, France. Her parents, Maurice Dorléac and Renée Simonot, were both actors. Catherine had two sisters, Françoise and Sylvie, and a half-sister named Danièle.
To create her own identity as an actress, she decided to use her mother's maiden name, Simonot, but changed it to Deneuve for the stage. This helped people tell her apart from her sisters who were also in the acting world. She went to Catholic schools as a child.
Film Career
1957–1970: Becoming a Star
Deneuve's first movie role was a small part in Les Collégiennes (1957). She was only 12 when it was filmed. After a few more roles, she was noticed by director Jacques Demy. He cast her in the musical film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). This movie made her a huge star. It won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival.
She then starred in the horror film Repulsion (1965), which was her first movie in English. In 1967, she worked with Jacques Demy again on another musical, The Young Girls of Rochefort. In this film, she played the twin sister of her real-life older sister, Françoise Dorléac. Sadly, it was the only movie they made together, as Françoise died in an accident shortly after.
Deneuve also starred in Belle de Jour (1967), directed by the famous Luis Buñuel. This role earned her a nomination for a BAFTA Award. By the end of the 1960s, she had worked with other great directors like François Truffaut in the film Mississippi Mermaid.
1971–1989: An Established Actress
In the 1970s, Deneuve continued to star in many important films. She worked with famous actors like Burt Reynolds in the American crime film Hustle (1975). She also starred in the French adventure movie Le Sauvage (1975) with Yves Montand.
The 1980s were also a successful decade for her. She won the César Award for Best Actress for her role in The Last Metro (1980), directed by François Truffaut. She also starred in the popular film The Hunger (1983) with musician David Bowie and actress Susan Sarandon. Throughout the 80s, she received several more nominations for the César Award.
1990–Present: Continued Success
In the 1990s, Deneuve's career reached new heights. She starred in the movie Indochine (1992), which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress. For the same film, she won her second César Award. She also appeared in the music video for Joe Cocker's song N'Oubliez Jamais in 1997.
In 2000, she acted in the musical drama Dancer in the Dark with Icelandic singer Björk. The film won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2007, she provided the voice for Marjane Satrapi's mother in the animated film Persepolis.
Her 100th film was Un conte de Noël (A Christmas Tale), released in 2008. She has continued to act in many films, including the adventure comedy Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia (2012) and the drama The Midwife (2017).
Work Outside of Film
Besides acting, Catherine Deneuve has also been a successful model. In the 1970s, she was the face of the famous perfume Chanel No. 5. Her ads helped make the perfume very popular in the United States. She was often called one of the world's most elegant women.
She was a close friend and muse for the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. He designed her clothes for many of her films. In 2001, she became a face for L'Oréal Paris. She has also designed her own lines of glasses, shoes, and jewelry.
Charity Work
Catherine Deneuve has used her fame to help others. She has supported many charities over the years.
- She was a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO to help protect film history.
- She has supported Amnesty International, a group that works for human rights.
- She has worked with groups like Children Action and Children of Africa.
- She has helped raise awareness for Reporters Without Borders and Handicap International.
- She has also been involved in charities that fight against AIDS and cancer.
Personal Life
Deneuve speaks fluent French, Italian, and English. Her hobbies include gardening, drawing, photography, and reading. She has been married once, to photographer David Bailey from 1965 to 1972.
She has two children. Her son is actor Christian Vadim, from her relationship with director Roger Vadim. Her daughter is actress Chiara Mastroianni, from her relationship with actor Marcello Mastroianni. She also has five grandchildren.
In November 2019, Deneuve had a mild stroke. She recovered in a Paris hospital and was able to return home after five weeks.
Awards and Honors
Deneuve has won many awards for her acting. She has won two César Awards, which are like the French Oscars. She was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. She has also received lifetime achievement awards from major film festivals, including:
- The Golden Bear from the Berlin International Film Festival in 1998.
- The Honorary Palme d'Or from the Cannes Film Festival in 2005.
- The Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival in 2022.
In 2000, she was given a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in California.
See also
In Spanish: Catherine Deneuve para niños
- Cinema of France
- History of cinema
