Who is Catherine Deneuve?

Catherine Deneuve , born on October 22, 1943, in Paris, is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and her collaborations with some of the world's most renowned directors. Deneuve gained international recognition for her performance in Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). During the 1960s and 1970s, she was highly sought after by leading directors like Roman Polanski and Luis Buñuel, and she appeared in films such as Belle de jour (1967) and Tristana (1970). In 1992, she received an Academy Award nomination for best actress for Indochine . Deneuve continues to be a prominent figure in cinema, with notable roles in films such as 8 Women (2002) and On My Way (2013).

What country is Catherine Deneuve from?

Catherine Deneuve is a French actress, born in Paris, France, on October 22, 1943. Deneuve was one of four daughters born to French actors Maurice Dorléac and Renée Deneuve. She gained international recognition for her performance in the romantic classic Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964). Despite her international fame, most of Deneuve’s films were made in France. Some of the leading film stars of the 20th century in France include Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot, and Gérard Depardieu.

What is Catherine Deneuve known for in her career?

Catherine Deneuve, born in 1943, is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and performances in films by world-renowned directors. Deneuve gained international recognition for her role in Jacques Demy's romantic classic, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). During the 1960s and 1970s, she collaborated with directors such as Roman Polanski and Luis Buñuel, starring in Belle de jour (1967). In the 1990s, Deneuve's role in Indochine (1992) earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress. Her filmography includes a wide range of works, from 8 Women (2002) to Sage femme (2017).

What are some famous movies Cathy Deneuve has acted in?

Catherine Deneuve, born on October 22, 1943, is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and roles in films by renowned directors. Deneuve gained international recognition for her performance in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). During the 1960s and 1970s, she appeared in films such as Repulsion (1965), Belle de jour (1967), and Mississippi Mermaid (1969). Her sporadic appearances in American films include The April Fools (1969) and Hustle (1975). In the 1990s, she starred in Indochine (1992), which earned her an Academy Award nomination, and later in Dancer in the Dark (2000). Some of her more recent films include 8 Women (2002) and On My Way (2013).

How did Catherine Deneuve become an important figure in French cinema?

Catherine Deneuve is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and roles in films by world-renowned directors. Deneuve's international fame grew significantly after her performance in Jacques Demy's romantic musical, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg , in 1964. During the 1960s and 70s, she was sought after by leading directors such as Roman Polanski and Luis Buñuel. Deneuve starred in Belle de jour (1967), and worked with François Truffaut in Mississippi Mermaid (1969) and The Last Metro (1980). Her career includes a wide array of films, including Indochine (1992), which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Deneuve's extensive filmography solidified her status as a prominent figure in French cinema.

What awards or honors has Catherine Deneuve received for her acting?

Catherine Deneuve, a French actress celebrated for her beauty and talent, has received several awards and honors for her work in film . She gained international recognition in Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg . In 1992, Deneuve received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Indochine . In 2018, she was awarded the Praemium Imperiale prize for theatre/film by the Japan Art Association.

Catherine Deneuve

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Images

Actress Catherine Deneuve smiling and wearing a black fur coat, pearl earrings, and rings at the Cinema For Peace Gala in Berlin.

Jean Sorel and Catherine Deneuve as their characters lie side by side in bed, with Deneuve resting her head on Sorel's chest, in a scene from the film Belle de Jour.

French director Francois Truffaut stands at right speaking with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Deneuve during filming of La Sirene du Mississippi on a city street.

Catherine Deneuve sits at a vanity looking into a mirror, with Gerard Depardieu standing behind her, in a scene from the film The Last Metro.

At a Glance

Catherine Deneuve summary

Quick Facts

Original name:: Catherine Dorléac

Born:: October 22, 1943, Paris, France (age 83)

Awards And Honors:: Praemium Imperiale (2018)

Married To:: David Bailey (1965–1970)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Bonne pomme" (2017); "Je vous aime" (1980); "Mayerling" (1968); "Fête de Famille" (2019); "Dancer in the Dark" (2000); "Sage femme" (2017); "La femme aux bottes rouges" (1974); "Dans la cour" (2014); "The Musketeer" (2001); "Fréquence meurtre" (1988); "La fille du RER" (2009); "The Hunger" (1983); "Belle maman" (1999); "Mauvaises herbes" (2018); "La reine blanche" (1991); "Le chant du monde" (1965); "Le sauvage" (1975); "O Convento" (1995); "Mères et filles" (2009); "L'adieu à la nuit" (2019); "Les Parisiennes" (1962); "Le choc" (1982); "Fort Saganne" (1984); "The April Fools" (1969); "Généalogies d'un crime" (1997); "La vie de château" (1966); "Les yeux de sa mère" (2011); "Ils sont grands, ces petits" (1979); "À nous deux" (1979); "Liza" (1972); "Le petit poucet" (2001); "Bancs publics (Versailles rive droite)" (2009); "Hustle" (1975); "Ça n'arrive qu'aux autres" (1971); "La sirène du Mississipi" (1969); "Pola X" (1999); "Le choix des armes" (1981); "Indochine" (1992); "Um Filme Falado" (2003); "Est - Ouest" (1999); "Tristana" (1970); "L'argent des autres" (1978); "Speriamo che sia femmina" (1986); "L'homme qui voulait vivre sa vie" (2010); "Les créatures" (1966); "Palais royal!" (2005); "Les temps qui changent" (2004); "Le vent de la nuit" (1999); "Benjamin ou Les mémoires d'un puceau" (1968); "Le cancre" (2016); "Cyprien" (2009); "Les petits chats" (1965); "Ma saison préférée" (1993); "Astérix & Obélix: Au service de sa Majesté" (2012); "Manon 70" (1968); "Un flic" (1972); "Casotto" (1977); "Les plus belles escroqueries du monde" (1964); "3 coeurs" (2014); "Au plus près du paradis" (2002); "March or Die" (1977); "Drôle d'endroit pour une rencontre" (1988); "Linhas de Wellington" (2012); "La tête haute" (2015); "Le vice et la vertu" (1963); "Le tout nouveau testament" (2015); "Le dernier métro" (1980); "Les demoiselles de Rochefort" (1967); "Les collégiennes" (1957); "Das Liebeskarussell" (1965); "Fatti di gente perbene" (1974); "Repulsion" (1965); "Anima persa" (1977); "Les voleurs" (1996); "Potiche" (2010); "La dernière folie de Claire Darling" (2018); "Si c'était à refaire" (1976); "Zig Zig" (1975); "L'homme à femmes" (1960); "La chamade" (1968); "Les bien-aimés" (2011); "Le concile de pierre" (2006); "Mes stars et moi" (2008); "Absolument fabuleux" (2001); "Les portes claquent" (1960); "Je veux voir" (2008); "Un conte de Noël" (2008); "L'Africain" (1983); "Le temps retrouvé, d'après l'oeuvre de Marcel Proust" (1999); "Place Vendôme" (1998); "Écoute voir..." (1979); "L'homme qu'on aimait trop" (2014); "Les liaisons dangereuses" (2003); "La vérité" (2019); "Rois et reine" (2004); "Paroles et musique" (1984); "Après lui" (2007); "As Linhas de Torres Vedras" (2012); "8 femmes" (2002); "Courage fuyons" (1979); "La partie d'échecs" (1994); "La costanza della ragione" (1964); "Agent trouble" (1987); "Je rentre à la maison" (2001); "O Theos agapaei to haviari" (2012); "Vacances portugaises" (1963); "L'agression" (1975); "Un monsieur de compagnie" (1964); "Les parapluies de Cherbourg" (1964); "Nip/Tuck" (2006); "Belle de jour" (1967); "Peau d'âne" (1970); "Touche pas à la femme blanche" (1974); "Terrible Jungle" (2020); "L'événement le plus important depuis que l'homme a marché sur la Lune" (1973); "Tout nous sépare" (2017); "Le bon plaisir" (1984); "Persepolis" (2007); "Hôtel des Amériques" (1981); "La chasse à l'homme" (1964); "Et Satan conduit le bal" (1962); "Le lieu du crime" (1986); "Le héros de la famille" (2006); "Elle s'en va" (2013); "Les cent et une nuits de Simon Cinéma" (1995)

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Catherine Deneuve

French actress

Also known as: Catherine Dorléac

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 18, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who is Catherine Deneuve?
Catherine Deneuve, born on October 22, 1943, in Paris, is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and her collaborations with some of the world's most renowned directors.

Deneuve gained international recognition for her performance in Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). During the 1960s and 1970s, she was highly sought after by leading directors like Roman Polanski and Luis Buñuel, and she appeared in films such as Belle de jour (1967) and Tristana (1970). In 1992, she received an Academy Award nomination for best actress for Indochine. Deneuve continues to be a prominent figure in cinema, with notable roles in films such as 8 Women (2002) and On My Way (2013).
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2. Catherine Deneuve
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What country is Catherine Deneuve from?
Catherine Deneuve is a French actress, born in Paris, France, on October 22, 1943. Deneuve was one of four daughters born to French actors Maurice Dorléac and Renée Deneuve. She gained international recognition for her performance in the romantic classic Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964). Despite her international fame, most of Deneuve’s films were made in France. Some of the leading film stars of the 20th century in France include Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot, and Gérard Depardieu.
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1. France: The cinema of France
2. Catherine Deneuve
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is Catherine Deneuve known for in her career?
Catherine Deneuve, born in 1943, is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and performances in films by world-renowned directors. Deneuve gained international recognition for her role in Jacques Demy's romantic classic, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964).

During the 1960s and 1970s, she collaborated with directors such as Roman Polanski and Luis Buñuel, starring in Belle de jour (1967). In the 1990s, Deneuve's role in Indochine (1992) earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress. Her filmography includes a wide range of works, from 8 Women (2002) to Sage femme (2017).
2 Britannica Sources
1. Catherine Deneuve: Facts & Related Content
2. Catherine Deneuve
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some famous movies Cathy Deneuve has acted in?
Catherine Deneuve, born on October 22, 1943, is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and roles in films by renowned directors.

Deneuve gained international recognition for her performance in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). During the 1960s and 1970s, she appeared in films such as Repulsion (1965), Belle de jour (1967), and Mississippi Mermaid (1969). Her sporadic appearances in American films include The April Fools (1969) and Hustle (1975). In the 1990s, she starred in Indochine (1992), which earned her an Academy Award nomination, and later in Dancer in the Dark (2000). Some of her more recent films include 8 Women (2002) and On My Way (2013).
2 Britannica Sources
1. Catherine Deneuve: Facts & Related Content
2. Catherine Deneuve
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Catherine Deneuve become an important figure in French cinema?
Catherine Deneuve is a French actress celebrated for her beauty and roles in films by world-renowned directors. Deneuve's international fame grew significantly after her performance in Jacques Demy's romantic musical, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, in 1964.

During the 1960s and 70s, she was sought after by leading directors such as Roman Polanski and Luis Buñuel. Deneuve starred in Belle de jour (1967), and worked with François Truffaut in Mississippi Mermaid (1969) and The Last Metro (1980). Her career includes a wide array of films, including Indochine (1992), which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Deneuve's extensive filmography solidified her status as a prominent figure in French cinema.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What awards or honors has Catherine Deneuve received for her acting?
Catherine Deneuve, a French actress celebrated for her beauty and talent, has received several awards and honors for her work in film. She gained international recognition in Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. In 1992, Deneuve received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Indochine. In 2018, she was awarded the Praemium Imperiale prize for theatre/film by the Japan Art Association.
1 Britannica Source
1. Catherine Deneuve
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Catherine Deneuve (born October 22, 1943, Paris, France) is a French actress noted for her archetypal Gallic beauty as well as for her roles in films by some of the world’s greatest directors.

Deneuve was the third of four daughters born to the French actors Maurice Dorléac and Renée Deneuve. She landed a small role in the 1957 film Les Collégiennes (The Twilight Girls) and began her film career in earnest in 1960 with an appearance in Les Petits Chats (“The Little Cats,” released in English as Wild Roots of Love). She became an international star with her acclaimed performance in director Jacques Demy’s romantic classic Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964; The Umbrellas of Cherbourg).

During the 1960s and ’70s, Deneuve was in great demand by several of the world’s leading directors, such as Roman Polanski (Repulsion, 1965) and Terence Young (Mayerling, 1968). She worked for Luis Buñuel on the highly acclaimed French-Italian coproduction Belle de jour (1967) and the equally acclaimed French-Italian-Spanish coproduction Tristana (1970). She appeared sporadically in American films, perhaps most memorably in The April Fools (1969) with Jack Lemmon and in Hustle (1975) with Burt Reynolds.

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Despite her international résumé, most of Deneuve’s films were made in France. She worked with François Truffaut in La Sirène du Mississippi (1969; Mississippi Mermaid) and Le Dernier Métro (1980; The Last Metro) and also appeared in Demy’s Peau d’éâne (1970; Donkey Skin), Jean-Pierre Melville’s Un Flic (1971; Dirty Money), and Claude Berri’s Je vous aime (1980; I Love You All).

Her films of the 1990s included Indochine (1992), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for best actress, and O convento (1995; The Convent), which was directed by acclaimed Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira. Deneuve enjoyed the film Breaking the Waves (1996) so much that she asked its director, Lars von Trier, for a part in one of his films. The result was her supporting role as a factory worker and confidant to the lead character (played by Björk) in Dancer in the Dark (2000).

Among her notable work in the early 21st century was a bravura performance at the head of a star-studded cast in François Ozon’s 8 Femmes (2002; 8 Women) and smaller roles in Oliveira’s Je rentre à la maison (2001; I’m Going Home) and Une Filme falado (2003; A Talking Picture). She later reteamed with Ozon for the farcical comedy Potiche (2010). Deneuve starred as a woman who embarks upon a road trip after a love affair dissolves in Elle s’en va (2013; On My Way) and evinced incipient mental illness in Dans la cour (2014; In the Couryard). She played a casino owner whose daughter disappears amid an attempted takeover of her business in the true-crime thriller L’Homme qu’on aimait trop (2014; In the Name of My Daughter). La Tête haute (2015; Standing Tall) featured Deneuve as a family court judge attempting to steer a juvenile delinquent away from self-destruction. Her films from 2017 included Sage femme (The Midwife), in which she played a hard-living gambler with brain cancer. Among Deneuve’s later credits were Mauvaises herbes (2018; Bad Seeds) and La vérité (2019; The Truth).

In addition to the fame she accrued for her beauty and talent, Deneuve also attracted attention for her relationships with director Roger Vadim and actor Marcello Mastroianni. Both relationships produced children, including actress Chiara Mastroianni, with whom Deneuve performed in several films, including the Demy-inspired musical Les Bien-Aimés (2011; Beloved) and 3 Coeurs (2014; 3 Hearts). Deneuve’s older sister, Françoise Dorléac, was also a successful actress. The sisters appeared together in one film, Demy’s Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967; The Young Girls of Rochefort).