Yasmina Reza French playwright, actress, screenwriter and novelist Country: France

Biography of Yasmina Reza

Yasmina Reza, a renowned contemporary French actress, screenwriter, writer, and playwright, was born in 1959 (or 1960) in Paris, France. She comes from a Jewish family, with her father's family being Iranian Jews who left Russia during the Bolshevik era, and her mother, a violinist, coming from a family of Hungarian Jews.

Reza's passion for music led her to pursue studies at the Conservatoire de Paris, where she graduated with honors. Following her graduation, she started her acting career. Her early acting works include films such as "Que les gros salaires lèvent le doigt!" in 1982 and the short film "Le goûter chez Niels," among others. Reza also ventured into screenwriting, with her first works being the films "Jusqu'à la nuit" in 1983, in which she also acted, and "À demain" in 1992.

However, it was Reza's debut play, "Conversations After a Burial" (French: "Conversations après un enterrement"), that brought her immense success and earned her the prestigious Molière Award. Following that, Reza translated Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and received another Molière Award for "Best Translation." Her second play, "The Passage of Winter" (French: "La Traversée de l'hiver"), also received a Molière Award.

In 1995, Reza premiered her critically acclaimed play, "Art," which was subsequently translated into 30 languages and performed worldwide. The play explores the story of three friends and delves into themes of success, failure, and relationships. It garnered Reza numerous awards, including the Laurence Olivier Award, Evening Standard Award, and Tony Award.

Reza continued her success with her play "Life X 3" (French: "Trois versions de la vie"), which presented three different versions of the same evening. The play premiered in 2000 and received positive reviews. In 2006, Reza's play "God of Carnage" (French: "Le Dieu du Carnage") became a major hit, earning her even more acclaim and awards. It was adapted into a film in 2011 by Roman Polanski, with Reza also contributing to the screenplay.

Apart from her plays, Reza has also written novels. She has authored at least six books, with her latest novel, "L'Aube le soir ou la nuit," being published in 2007. Today, Yasmina Reza is considered one of the brightest stars in the global theater scene. Her plays are performed on renowned stages worldwide, including in Russia. She is hailed as a best-selling theater author and a "theatrical hit-maker."