Melanie Laurent French actress, director and screenwriter Date of Birth: 21.02.1983 Country: France

Biography of Mélanie Laurent

Mélanie Laurent is a French actress, director, and screenwriter. Born on February 21, 1983, in Paris, France, she grew up in a family of artists. Her mother, Annik, was a ballerina, and her father, Pierre Laurent, was a voice actor known for dubbing Ned Flanders in the French version of 'The Simpsons'.

Laurent comes from a Jewish background, with roots in both Ashkenazi and Sephardic sub-ethnic groups. Her Polish-Jewish grandfather was deported from Poland during the Nazi occupation. Her maternal grandparents were involved in creating movie posters.

At a young age, Laurent accompanied her father and his friend to the set of the popular film 'Asterix and Obelix'. It was there that she met Gérard Depardieu, who noticed her and asked if she would be interested in acting. Responding with enthusiasm, Laurent accepted Depardieu's advice not to attend acting classes as he believed she already possessed the necessary skills. Depardieu then helped her secure a role in the drama film 'Un pont entre deux rives'. This marked the beginning of her acting career.

In 2006, Laurent gained recognition for her role as the brooding Lily in the drama film 'Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas'. This role earned her the César Award for Most Promising Actress. She made her Hollywood debut in 2009 with the Quentin Tarantino blockbuster 'Inglourious Basterds', portraying the resilient Jewish girl Shosanna Dreyfus. Her performance received critical acclaim and earned her several awards, including the Austin Film Critics Association Award and the Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress.

While Laurent primarily appeared in independent films such as 'Paris' (2008) and 'Enemy' (2013), she also took part in commercially successful Hollywood projects like 'Beginners' (2011) and 'Now You See Me' (2013). Her versatility as an actress was further showcased in films such as 'La rafle' (2010), 'Et soudain, tout le monde me manque' (2011), and 'Night Train to Lisbon' (2013).

In addition to her film career, Laurent has been involved in theater productions in France. She made her stage debut in 2010 in Nicolas Bedos' play 'Promenade de santé'. Laurent also explored her skills as a director, making the short film 'De moins en moins' in 2008 and the feature film 'Respire' in 2014, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

As a singer, Laurent released her studio album 'En t'attendant' in May 2011. The album featured 12 songs, five of which were co-written with Irish folk musician Damien Rice.

Laurent was in a long-term relationship with French actor Julien Boisselier, but they broke up in 2009. In March 2013, she revealed that she was married but did not disclose her spouse's name, only mentioning that he worked on a film in which she acted. Laurent and her husband welcomed their son Léo in September 2013.

Despite her success in French cinema, Laurent expressed her contentment with staying in France and not pursuing an international career. She stated her love for France, its streets, its cafes, and the freedom of not needing a car.

Laurent is also known for her environmental activism. She visited an environmental camp in the Indonesian tropical forest with Greenpeace activists. She served as an ambassador for the Tck Tck Tck campaign of the Kofi Annan Global Humanitarian Forum. Laurent has been involved in campaigns against overfishing, including her collaboration with the Blue Marine Foundation and her contribution to the documentary film 'The End of the Line'.

With her talent, versatility, and passion for environmental causes, Mélanie Laurent continues to make her mark in the world of film and activism.