Name: Audrey Justine Tautou

Introduction: Audrey Tautou is a highly acclaimed French actress who rose to international stardom with her whimsical and captivating portrayal of the title character in the 2001 film Amélie. Known for her distinct charm, expressive eyes, and ability to embody both comedic and dramatic roles, she has become one of France’s most recognizable and beloved cinematic exports.

Date of Birth: August 9, 1976

Height: 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)

Place of Birth: Beaumont, Puy-de-Dôme, France

Family:

• Parents: Bernard Tautou (father, a dental surgeon) and Évelyne Marie Laure (mother, a teacher).
• Spouse: Information about a current spouse is not publicly confirmed. She maintains a private personal life.
• Children: She has adopted a child, which she publicly shared in 2023.
• Siblings: Tifenn Tautou, Bathilde Tautou, Aurélien Tautou.

Profession: Actress, model.

Nationality: French

Religion: While her specific religious practices are not widely discussed, she has been noted to have explored themes of faith in some of her work and personal reflections.

College or University Attended:

• Cours Florent (acting school in Paris)
• Catholic University of Paris (studied modern literature)

Biography and What Famous For:
Audrey Tautou grew up in Montluçon, France, with a keen interest in acting from a young age. After studying literature at the Catholic University of Paris, she pursued her passion for performance at the prestigious Cours Florent drama school.

Her acting career began in television, but her breakthrough came with the 1999 film Venus Beauty Institute (Vénus Beauté (institut)), for which she won the César Award for Most Promising Actress (Meilleur espoir féminin).

However, it was her enchanting performance as the quirky and benevolent waitress Amélie Poulain in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 romantic comedy Amélie (Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain) that launched her to global fame. The film was a critical and commercial success worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing French-language film released in the U.S. and receiving five Academy Award nominations. Tautou’s endearing portrayal cemented her status as a major international star and a symbol of contemporary French cinema.

Following Amélie, Tautou showcased her versatility in various genres:

• Dirty Pretty Things (2002): An English-language thriller directed by Stephen Frears.
• A Very Long Engagement (2004): Reteaming with director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, this World War I drama earned her a César nomination for Best Actress.
• The Da Vinci Code (2006): Her highest-profile Hollywood role, starring opposite Tom Hanks, brought her to a wider global audience.
• Priceless (Hors de prix, 2006): A charming romantic comedy.
• Coco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel, 2009): A biographical drama where she played the legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel, earning another César nomination and critical acclaim for her sophisticated performance.

Tautou is known for carefully selecting her roles, often preferring French cinema and maintaining a private personal life away from the intense media spotlight. She has also had a successful career as a model, notably becoming a face of Chanel No. 5 fragrance in 2009, following in the footsteps of Nicole Kidman.

In addition to her film work, Tautou has appeared in theatre productions, including A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. In recent years, she has reduced her film appearances, expressing a desire to explore other interests, including photography.

Audrey Tautou is famous for her breakout role in Amélie, her captivating screen presence, her embodiment of “French charm,” and her successful balancing act between commercial international projects and critically acclaimed French films.

Have participated:

• Films (Selected):
  • Venus Beauty Institute (1999)
  • Amélie (2001)
  • Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
  • He Loves Me… He Loves Me Not (2002)
  • A Very Long Engagement (2004)
  • The Da Vinci Code (2006)
  • Priceless (2006)
  • Coco Before Chanel (2009)
  • Delicacy (2011)
  • Thérèse Desqueyroux (2012)
  • Mood Indigo (2013)
  • Chinese Puzzle (2013)
  • The Odyssey (2016)
  • The Trouble with You (2018)
  • The Jesus Rolls (2019)
• Television:
  • Various early television roles and films.
• Theatre:
  • A Doll’s House (by Henrik Ibsen)
• Modeling:
  • Face of Chanel No. 5 fragrance.
  • Modeled for various other brands.
• Awards (Selected):
  • César Award for Most Promising Actress (for Venus Beauty Institute, 2000)
  • Prix Suzanne Bianchetti (2000)
  • Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actress (for Amélie, 2002)
  • Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (for Amélie, 2002; for Coco Before Chanel, 2010)
  • Nominated for multiple César Awards for Best Actress (for Amélie, 2002; for A Very Long Engagement, 2005; for Coco Before Chanel, 2010)
  • Golden Orange Lifetime Honorary Award (2019)

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