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Valerie DonzelliFrench actress and director
Date of Birth: 02.03.1973
Country:  France |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Valérie Donzelli was born on March 2, 1973, in Épinal, France. Her early childhood was spent in Créteil, a suburb of Paris, where she attended the École Hector Berlioz conservatory while working as a saleswoman at Ladurée.
Despite her artistic lineage, Donzelli initially pursued architecture. However, after meeting actor Jérémie Elkaïm, she discovered her passion for cinema. "I never learned how to treat cinema as a profession, I always thought of it as a game," she later said.
Acting and Directing
Donzelli began her acting career in the late 1990s, taking on minor roles in films such as "Les Démons de Jésus" and "Après la pluie." In 2009, she made her directorial debut with "La reine des pommes," a semi-autobiographical film in which she also starred.
Her 2011 film "Declaration of War" garnered critical acclaim and six César nominations, as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Donzelli wrote the screenplay with Elkaïm, who played her love interest.
Personal Life
Donzelli's personal life has been deeply intertwined with her work. Her 2011 film "Declaration of War" was inspired by her own experiences with her ex-partner and the father of her children, Jérémie Elkaïm. The film explores the challenges and resilience of a family coping with their son's cancer diagnosis.
Despite their separation, Donzelli and Elkaïm continue to collaborate on projects. They co-parent their two children, Rebecca and Gabriel, and Elkaïm frequently appears in her films.
Recent Work
In recent years, Donzelli has continued to expand her filmography as both an actress and director. She has starred in films such as "Notre Dame" and "Hot Men Paradise." In 2022, she directed "L'amour et les forêts," which features a non-disclosed male lead.
