The Many Lives of Mélanie Laurent

A star in front of the camera and behind, her career has earned her fame on both sides of the pond.

Actress, director, climate campaigner – Mélanie Laurent is a woman of many talents. And while she’s one of France’s most recognisable stars, her career has put her in the spotlight in the Anglophone world too. Born in Paris in 1983 to a ballerina mother and a voice actor father, Laurent was discovered by chance at the age of 16. She was accompanying a friend to a film set when she caught the attention of Gérard Depardieu, who promptly cast her in Un pont entre deux rives (The Bridge). It was an auspicious start, although Laurent’s breakthrough role didn’t come until 2006, in Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas (Don’t Worry, I’m Fine), directed by Philippe Lioret, which won her the César Award for Most Promising Actress.

But, of course, it was Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (2009) that finally shot her to international fame. As Shosanna, she lit up the screen in a nuanced performance. Then, as Hollywood came calling, Laurent decided not to hang around waiting for the next big role, instead, switching gears and moving behind the camera. In 2011, she directed her first feature, Les adoptés (The Adopted). It was a strong debut – but it was her second film, Respire (Breathe), that really made people sit up. A taut, stylish tale of teenage obsession, it premiered at Cannes and confirmed that this wasn’t just a vanity project – Laurent really could direct.

Since then, she’s continued to mix it up, starring in American thriller Now You See Me (2013), directing Texan noir Galveston (2018) in English followed by dark period drama Le Bal des Folles (The Mad Women’s Ball, 2021) in French… She even co-directed a César-winning eco-documentary, Demain (Tomorrow), proving that she’s just as passionate about saving the planet as she is about storytelling.

Despite still only being in her 40s, Laurent already seems something of a veteran. And she’s full of surprises as well: whether she’s playing a freedom fighter, making films about institutionalised women, or standing up for the environment, she brings the same quiet intensity to everything she does. In an industry full of noise, Laurent is the real deal: thoughtful, talented and not at all easy to pin down.

10-second CV

Name: Mélanie Laurent

Born: February 21, 1983, in Paris

Early career: She was catapulted into the limelight by none other than Gérard Depardieu who spotted her when she was visiting a film set with a friend.

I know the name….

Laurent is one of a handful of actors who has made it big on both sides of the pond. You will probably know her from Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (2009) which made her a household name outside of France for the first time.

What should I watch?

La Rafle (2010) in which Laurent plays a nurse aiding Jewish children amidst the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup during WWII…

Where will we see her next?

This year, she is due to star in Joséphine Japy’s directorial debut The Wonderers, which follows a family dealing with the severe disability of their youngest daughter.

C’est pas vrai!

Laurent released an album called En t’attendant in 2011, co-written with musician Damien Rice.

From France Today Magazine

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