Cécile de France (; born 17 July 1975) is a Belgian actress. After achieving success in French cinema with hits such as L'Art (délicat) de la séduction (2001) and Irène (2002), she gained international attention for her lead roles in High Tension (2003) and Hereafter (2010).
Life and career
Born in Namur, she left Belgium at the age of 17 to go to Paris where she studied theatre for two years with actor Jean Paul Denizon, assistant to British director Peter Brook. She then spent three years (1995–1998) at the acting academy ENSATT (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Techniques du Théâtre) in the Département Comédie first at the Rue Blanche in Paris, then in Lyon. She was discovered by the agent Dominique Besnehard and appeared in French hit films such as L'Art (délicat) de la séduction (2001) and Irène (2002).
Her international breakthrough came with the horror film High Tension (2003, UK title: Switchblade Romance, US title: High Tension). She caught the eye of Hollywood producers and soon landed her first major role in a US feature, Around the World in 80 Days (2004), in which she starred alongside Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan.
She won two César Awards for Most Promising Actress in L'Auberge espagnole (2002), and Best Supporting Actress in Les Poupées russes (2005). In 2014, she hosted the 39th César Awards ceremony.
She was selected to be on the jury for the Cinéfondation and short films sections of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. She was also selected to be on the jury for the main competition section of the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.
Internationally, she has appeared in Hereafter (2010) directed by Clint Eastwood and The French Dispatch (2019) directed by Wes Anderson.
Personal life She has two children, Lino and Joy Siron, with musician Guillaume Siron.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes 2000 Regarde-moi (en face) Dune 2001 Toutes les nuits The Prostitute L'Art (délicat) de la séduction Laure 2002 L'Auberge espagnole Isabelle Irene Irène A+ Pollux Pollux Lesiak 2003 I, Cesar Samantha Kaena: The Prophecy Kaena Voice High Tension Marie 2004 Around the World in 80 Days Monique La Roche La Confiance règne Chrystèle Burrel 2005 Russian Dolls Isabelle 2006 Avenue Montaigne Jessica When I Was a Singer Marion The Colonel Lieutenant Galois Bad Faith Clara Breitmann 2007 Snow White: The Sequel Snow White / Sleeping Beauty / Cinderella Voice Gone for a Dance Blanche Hand of the Headless Man Eva Sanders A Secret Tania Stirn / Grimbert 2008 Mesrine Jeanne Schneider 2009 Sister Smile Jeanine Deckers 2010 Gardiens de l'ordre Julie Hereafter Marie LeLay 2011 The Kid with a Bike Samantha A Butterfly Kiss Alice Cars 2 Sally Carrera Voice (French dubbed) 2012 Superstar Fleur Arnaud 2013 Chinese Puzzle Isabelle 2014 Möbius Alice 2015 In Harmony Florence Kernel Summertime Carole 2016 The Jungle Book Raksha French voice Fanny's Journey Madame Forman Term Life Lucy 2017 Django Louise De Klerk Just to Be Sure Anna 2018 Dolphin Reef The Narrator French voice Lady J Madame De La Pommeraye 2019 Rebelles Sandra Corine 2021 The French Dispatch Mrs. B Lost Illusions Louise de Bargeton Peaceful Eugénie 2022The Young LoversJeanne EscandeWild SeasChiara 2023 Bonnard, Pierre and Marthe Marthe Bonnard Second Tour Nathalie Pove2024Par amourSarahDes baleines, des tortues et des hommesNarratorVoice2025The ResidenceClarissaColours of TimeCalixte de La Ferrière2026Women on Trial (L'Affaire Marie-Claire)Michèle Chevalier
Short film Year Film1997Tous nos voeux de bonheur2000The Last DreamBon appétit!2001Le Mariage en papier2002Loup!3 jours, 3 eurosIl était une femme2003Nervous Breakdown2004La Nuit du 6 au 7Les Calamars n'écoutent plus la radi2008D'une vie à l'autre
Television Year Title Role Notes 1991 Cas de divorce Gabrielle Clément 1999 The Judge Is a Woman Anna 2001 Nana Christine Television film 2003 Petits mythes urbains The Woman 2007 La parure Mathilde Loisel 2011 Hard Herself 2014 Hidden Kingdoms Narrator (French dubbed) Documentary TV series 2015 Call My Agent! Herself TV series (1 Episode) 2016 The Young Pope Sofia Season 1 2019 The New Pope Sofia Season 2 2023 The Swarm Dr. Cécile Roche Greek SaladIsabelle2 episodes2024The Legends of ParisNarratorVoice
Theatre 1996: Dormez je le veux by Georges Feydeau, directed by Benoît Blanpain 1996: Une palette rouge sang by Valeria Moretti, directed by Jean Paul Denizon 1996: Le songe d'une nuit d'été by William Shakespeare, directed by Pierre Pradinas 1997: Variations Strindberg-Feydeau, directed by Nada Strancar 1998: Pour nous, directed by Serguei Issayev 1998: Tu serais un ange tombé du ciel exprès pour nous by N. Sadour and A. Vampilov 1999, 2000: Electre, by Sophocle, directed by Claudia Stavisky 1999: Le baladin du monde occidental de John Millington Synge, directed by Philippe Delaigue 2001: Mademoiselle Julie by August Strindberg, directed by Gwenaël Morin 2001: SC35C, by Jean-Michel Frère
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result2000Festival du Court Métrage de Bruxelles Acting Award2002César Award Most Promising Actress L'Auberge EspagnoleLumière Awards Most Promising Actress2003Sitges Film Festival Best ActressHigh TensionShooting Stars Award2005 César Award Best Supporting Actress Russian Dolls Prix Romy Schneider2007 Swann d'Or Best ActressAvenue Montaigne César Award Best Actress Globes de Cristal Award Best Actress César Award Best Actress When I Was a Singer Bayard d'Or Award Best Actress Hand of the Headless Man 2008 César Award Best ActressA Secret Globes de Cristal Award Best Actress 2009 Magritte Award Best Actress Sister Smile 2010 Saturn Award Best Actress Hereafter 2011 European Film Award Best ActressThe Kid with a Bike Magritte Award Best Actress 2016 César Award Best Actress Summertime 2018 Magritte Award Best Actress Just to Be Sure 2019 Magritte Award Best Actress Mademoiselle de Joncquières 2020 Magritte Award Best Actress A Bigger World 2022 César Awards Best Supporting Role Lost Illusions
References
External links
Official web site