Melanie Laurent Biography 1983-

Melanie Laurent was born on February 21, 1983, in Paris, France. A chance meeting with one of France’s most celebrated actors in 1998 resulted in the launching of her own career as an actress soon after. During a visit to the set of Asterix et obelix contre Cesar, Gerard Depardieu noticed the then 15-year-old Melanie Laurent, and asked her to appear in his upcoming project Un pont entre deux rives (A Bridge Between Two Rivers), a TV-movie in which he would star.

In 1999, Melanie Laurent made her acting debut playing Lisbeth in Un pont entre deux rives. Bitten by the acting bug, she took on the part of Francesca in the 2000 telefilm Route de nuit before being cast as Clara in Ceci est mon corps (This Is My Body), her first feature film role. Costarring Jane Birkin, Ceci est mon corps was presented at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, and went on to receive 10 César nominations.

Melanie Laurent returned to the big screen to play the role of Carole in the 2002 comedy Embrassez qui vous voudrez (Summer Things) opposite Gaspard Ulliel. After appearing in Snowboarder and La Faucheuse in 2003, she reunited with Gaspard Ulliel for 2004′s Le dernier jour (The Last Day). Melanie Laurent’s portrayal of Louise proved to be her breakout role, and led to her appearance in a number of French box-office winners including 2005′s De battre mon coeur s’est arrêté (The Beat That My Heart Skipped).

With her career picking up steam, Melanie Laurent was offered the lead role in director Phillipe Lioret’s 2006 feature Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas (Don’t Worry, I’m Fine) with having to audition for it. Her powerful portrayal of Lili Tellier earned the actress much critical praise as well as a slew of awards, including a César and the Prix Romy Schneider. She also appeared in Dikkenek and Indigènes (Days of Glory) in 2006.

Now established as a major young talent in French cinema, Melanie Laurent was cast in leading roles in 2007′s Le tueur (The Killer), L’amour cache (Hidden Love) and the thriller La chambre des morts (Room of Death). In 2008, she played Laetitia in the feature Paris, as well as Chloe in Shoe At Your Foot, and she also wrote and directed the short film De moins en moins, which was screened at Cannes in May. Melanie Laurent’s resume for 2009 includes the role of Shosanna Dreyfus in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, starring Brad Pitt.