Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve
6.1
Catherine Deneuve photo 1 Catherine Deneuve photo 2 Catherine Deneuve photo 3 Catherine Deneuve photo 4
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Name:
Catherine Deneuve
Real name:
Catherine Fabienne Dorléac
Who is:
Birth date:
(81 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Paris
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Weight:
154 lb (70 kg)
Relationship:
single
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Catherine Deneuve

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Biography of Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve is a French actress and a global cinema diva. Anyone who truly loves cinema remembers "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and Michel Legrand's brilliant score whenever her name comes up. Chanel No. 5 devotees fell under its spell thanks to Catherine's iconic ads, while fashion lovers everywhere tried to capture even a hint of her effortless style. Deneuve never received an Oscar, but she has two César Awards, a Palme d'Or, and a Golden Bear, and her beauty and talent have enchanted three generations of devoted fans.
In the photo: Catherine Deneuve
In the photo: Catherine Deneuve

Childhood, Youth, Family

Catherine was born in fall 1943 to famous Parisian theater actors Renée Jeanne Simonot and Maurice Dorléac. Her full birth name was Catherine Fabienne Dorléac. The couple had four daughters. The eldest, Daniele, was from Renée's first marriage to actor Aimé Clariond. Françoise and Sylvie, Catherine's older and younger sisters, were Maurice's daughters, just like Catherine.
Catherine Deneuve as a child
Catherine Deneuve as a child
The girls grew up grounded, far from any bohemian lifestyle—their mother raised them with strict discipline. From early on, each girl had her household responsibilities. They attended the prestigious Lycée La Fontaine in Paris.
Catherine Deneuve with her sisters
Catherine Deneuve with her sisters
Unlike her sisters, Catherine skipped drama school due to stage fright, though she loved music and singing with her family. The family saw Françoise as their future star, expecting her to shine on both stage and screen. She'd already done some film work and pushed her beautiful sister to at least give the camera a try. So at fourteen, Catherine landed a role in André Hunebelle's drama "The Twilight Girls" in 1957. She was credited as Sylvie Dorléac.
Catherine Deneuve in the film 'The Twilight Girls'
Catherine Deneuve in the film 'The Twilight Girls'
The filming process hooked Catherine completely, and after talking it over with her family, she decided to continue acting—using her mother's maiden name as her stage name. In her next films "L'homme à femmes" and "Les portes claquent," she went by Deneuve, while Françoise kept the family name Dorléac. From that point on, the sisters would sometimes work together.
Catherine Deneuve in her youth
Catherine Deneuve in her youth
Their last joint work was Jacques Demy's musical "The Young Girls of Rochefort" (1967), where they played twin sisters Solange and Delphine.
Françoise Dorléac & Catherine Deneuve - Belgian TV Full Interview (March 1967)
They took separate flights to the London premiere. Françoise was driving to Orly Airport. At high speed, she lost control. The car slammed into a pole and burst into flames. The doors jammed—she couldn't escape and died in the fire.
Catherine Deneuve and her sister Françoise
Catherine Deneuve and her sister Françoise
Years later, Deneuve wrote a book called "Her Name Was Françoise" and successfully petitioned Rochefort's mayor to name the main square after her sister. She also cultivated a new camellia variety, naming it "Françoise Dorléac":
By giving the flower the name of someone I loved so much, I try to comfort myself. Such deep mourning, experienced in youth, stays with you forever. We live together with the departed – not as with the living, but they are still close.

Film Career

By then, the actress had already built an impressive filmography featuring French and Italian cinema masterpieces like "Vice and Virtue" (1963) by Roger Vadim, where she starred alongside Annie Girardot and Robert Hossein, and "La costanza della ragione" by Pasquale Festa Campanile, when Jacques Demy came calling with his new musical.
Catherine Deneuve in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Catherine Deneuve in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Catherine remembered how producers weren't sure about taking on "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" project. But when the film conquered Cannes and audiences worldwide fell in love with Michel Legrand's songs featuring Deneuve's voice, suddenly the idea didn't seem so crazy after all.
Les Parapluies de Cherbourg
At just twenty, Catherine's portrayal of lead character Geneviève Emery turned her into a fashion icon. Women everywhere rushed to recreate the Jacqueline Moreau dresses the actress wore on screen.
Catherine Deneuve in her youth
Catherine Deneuve in her youth
Deneuve delivered an unforgettable performance in Roman Polanski's psychological thriller "Repulsion," playing the mentally unstable and dangerous Carol Ledoux.
Catherine Deneuve and Roman Polanski
Catherine Deneuve and Roman Polanski
Next came "The Young Girls of Rochefort" and a personal family tragedy, leading Catherine to accept Luis Buñuel's offer to star in "Belle de Jour," where she played Dr. Séverine Serizy—a woman living a shocking double life as a respectable wife by night and a brothel worker by day. What made the film even more provocative was that they actually shot in a real brothel, complete with all its authentic details.
A shot from the movie Belle de Jour
A shot from the movie Belle de Jour
According to the actress, this film required her to bare herself completely—not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically. Though the experience was incredibly challenging for her, seeing the rough cut convinced Deneuve that they'd created something stunningly beautiful.

The costumes her old friend Yves Saint Laurent designed for her character Séverine helped cement this influence. The film sparked a fashion trend, with women everywhere copying Séverine's black vinyl coats and high-necked black dresses with white collars.
Yves Saint Laurent considered Catherine Deneuve his muse
Yves Saint Laurent considered Catherine Deneuve his muse
Catherine then starred in Stuart Rosenberg's "The April Fools" and François Truffaut's "Mississippi Mermaid," appearing opposite Jean-Paul Belmondo.
Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul Belmondo
Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul Belmondo
The 1970s proved to be Catherine's creative golden age. She became Chanel's face and even modeled for Marianne, France's national symbol. She took on roles as Tristana in the eponymous drama, Sophia in "The Lost Soul," Lisa in "The Bitch," and Nelly in "The Wild Child," earning a César Award nomination for the latter. Her co-star in this film was Marcello Mastroianni.
Catherine Deneuve in a Chanel No. 5 commercial
Catherine stayed busy throughout the 1980s, but it was her role as Eliane in Régis Wargnier's war drama "Indochine" (1992) that brought her newfound global fame. The film won an Oscar, and Catherine walked the red carpet at the Academy Awards alongside co-star Vincent Perez.
Elegant Catherine Deneuve in the movie Indochine
Elegant Catherine Deneuve in the movie Indochine
While Hollywood can be ruthless about aging actresses, Catherine has always been the exception. She was nearly sixty when she took on the role of Cvalda in Lars von Trier's musical drama "Dancer in the Dark" (2000)
Catherine Deneuve interview on Luis Buñuel's Belle de Jour (1995)
Audiences then witnessed Catherine's timeless beauty in François Ozon's comedy musical "8 Women." The ensemble cast was incredible: alongside Catherine, it featured Emmanuelle Béart, Fanny Ardant, and Isabelle Huppert. The director chose a unique flower for each actress to emphasize the archetype of each character. Catherine, playing the domineering family matriarch Gaby and looking incomparable in her leopard coat, was assigned an orchid.
A shot from the movie 8 Women
A shot from the movie 8 Women
Catherine then appeared in "In the Name of My Daughter" (as Renée Le Roux), "The Brand New Testament" (Martine), and "Standing Tall" (Judge Florence Blaque).
Catherine Deneuve in her youth and now
Catherine Deneuve in her youth and now
In 2019, the Venice Festival opened with the work of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, "The Truth." Catherine played Fabienne, a fading French film diva writing her memoirs in this family drama. The remarkable actress Juliette Binoche played her on-screen daughter, a screenwriter. Their relationship was complicated, made more so by the daughter's long years living in America. When the mother shared her manuscript, the daughter rejected her mother's version of events, believing it wasn't the real truth.
Catherine Deneuve in the film The Truth
Catherine Deneuve in the film The Truth
Deneuve commented on her role:
Playing an aging movie star was incredibly interesting for me – she is so unlike me and so far from my current lifestyle. Initially, it was even funny to watch how the Japanese director imagined the daily life of a once-famous French film diva.

Personal Life of Catherine Deneuve

The actress's first young love was director Roger Vadim, and she ran away from home to be with him. They had a son, Christian, and then Roger proposed to Catherine. But by then, the passion had cooled, and Deneuve said no.
Catherine Deneuve and Roger Vadim
Catherine Deneuve and Roger Vadim
Soon after, she married London photographer David Bailey, though they only lived together for just over a year. With typical wit, the actress once said the best thing about that marriage was getting to learn English.
Catherine Deneuve's husband David Bailey
Catherine Deneuve's husband David Bailey
She didn't divorce her husband for a long time but considered herself free from any family ties. When she met the brilliant Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni on the set of "Liza," they started a passionate romance that led to the birth of their daughter Chiara in 1972.
Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni
Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni
The devoted father wanted to marry Catherine, but she preferred staying free. Her other serious relationships included director François Truffaut, actor Gérard Depardieu, and TV mogul Pierre Lescure.
Catherine Deneuve and her daughter Chiara (1993)
Catherine Deneuve and her daughter Chiara (1993)
Though she'd divorced David Bailey by then, she never married any of her other partners. Deneuve now has six grandchildren. Her mother, who lived nearby, passed away in summer 2021 just before turning 110.
Catherine Deneuve's mansion
Catherine Deneuve's mansion
Catherine couldn't kick her smoking habit. She also enjoys the occasional glass or two of wine. Still, she looks much younger than her years. The actress is happy to share the habits that keep her looking so fresh:
  • getting at least eight hours of sound sleep and eating healthy food;
  • a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice every morning—Catherine believes it improves skin tone;
  • regular facial drainage massages;
  • frequent walks in the fresh air;
  • protecting her skin from UV rays even in cold weather;
  • light makeup in calm tones.

Catherine Deneuve Now

In late 2019, Catherine suffered an ischemic stroke. After recovering by summer 2020, she returned to filming Emmanuelle Bercot's "Peaceful," playing a mother whose son, portrayed by Benoît Magimel, has cancer. Catherine also starred in David Caviglioli's adventure comedy "Terrible Jungle" and later provided voiceover work for a Sigmund Freud documentary.
Catherine Deneuve Interview - Beau Geste Sept 24 2023
In September 2022, Catherine Deneuve was honored at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, receiving the Golden Lion for her contribution to world cinema. Notably, she first attended the festival presenting Luis Buñuel's "Belle de Jour," which also won this prestigious award. In 2006, Deneuve was a member of the festival's jury.
Catherine Deneuve in the movie 'Bernadette'
Catherine Deneuve in the movie 'Bernadette'
In October 2023, Deneuve celebrated her 80th birthday. That same year, the biographical comedy "Bernadette" was released, in which she played the lead role of Bernadette Chirac, a French politician and the widow of former President Jacques Chirac.