History of Mélanie Laurent in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: September 23, 2024

"Mélanie Laurent is a highly acclaimed French actress and filmmaker. Her exceptional talent has earned her prestigious awards, including two César Awards and a Lumières Award, establishing her as a prominent figure in the French film industry. Laurent's international recognition soared with her notable roles in blockbuster films such as 'Inglourious Basterds,' 'Now You See Me,' 'Operation Finale,' and '6 Underground.' Her captivating performances have captivated audiences worldwide, solidifying her status as a globally renowned actress."

July 1942: Release of "The Round Up"

In 2010, Mélanie Laurent starred in the French film "The Round Up". The film, set in July 1942, centers around the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, the mass arrest of Jews by French police who were Nazi accomplices.

February 1983: Birth of Mélanie Laurent

Mélanie Laurent was born in February 1983. She is a French actress and filmmaker.

February 1983: Birth and Family Background

Mélanie Laurent was born in Paris, France in February 1983. Her parents are Annick, a ballerina, and Pierre Laurent, a voiceover actor.

1998: Critical Acclaim and Mainstream Success

"Inglourious Basterds", which had been in development since 1998, brought Mélanie Laurent critical acclaim and mainstream success in North America.

1999: Acting Debut

At the age of sixteen, Mélanie Laurent made her acting debut in a small role in the film "The Bridge" in 1999.

2006: Breakthrough Role and Awards

Mélanie Laurent had her breakthrough role in the drama "Don't Worry, I'm Fine" in 2006, for which she won the César Award for Most Promising Actress and the Prix Romy Schneider. This same year, she also received the Étoiles d'Or for Best Female Newcomer for her performance in the comedy "Dikkenek".

2006: Breakthrough Role and Critical Acclaim

Mélanie Laurent's breakthrough role was in the 2006 film "Don't Worry, I'm Fine", where she played a young woman longing for her lost twin brother. Her performance earned her a César Award for Most Promising Actress. In the same year, she appeared in the Belgian cult comedy "Dikkenek", for which she won the Étoiles d'Or for Best Female Newcomer.

2007: Film Appearances and Award Nomination

In 2007, Mélanie Laurent appeared in films such as "Le tueur" and "Hidden Love". Her performance in "La Chambre des morts" earned her a nomination for the Lumières Award for Best Actress.

October 2008: De moins en moins, À ses pieds

Laurent made her directorial debut with the short film "De moins en moins," which she also wrote and starred in alongside her brother Mathieu, premiering in October 2008. The same month, she also directed an erotic short film titled "À ses pieds" for the French television channel Canal+.

2008: Appearance in "Paris"

Mélanie Laurent appeared in the comedy drama "Paris", directed by Cédric Klapisch, in 2008.

2008: Filmmaking Debut

Mélanie Laurent made her filmmaking debut with the short film "De moins en moins" in 2008.

January 2009: Casting in "Inglourious Basterds"

Mélanie Laurent was cast in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" in January 2009, where she played the role of Shosanna Dreyfus, a Jewish cinema owner seeking revenge against the Nazis.

2009: Postponement of Film Project

Due to her work on "Inglourious Basterds", Mélanie Laurent had to postpone directing her film "Putain de pluie!", which was originally scheduled for filming in the spring of 2009.

2009: Relationship with Julien Boisselier Ends

Laurent's long-term relationship with French actor Julien Boisselier ended in 2009.

2009: International Recognition

Mélanie Laurent gained international recognition for her role in "Inglourious Basterds" in 2009.

2009: Hollywood Debut

Mélanie Laurent made her Hollywood debut in the blockbuster war film "Inglourious Basterds" in 2009.

2010: Critical Acclaim for "The Round Up"

"The Round Up", released in 2010, was well-received by critics, with praise for Laurent's performance as a gentile nurse.

2010: Appearance in "The Round Up"

Mélanie Laurent appeared in the art-house drama "The Round Up" in 2010.

2010: Theater Debut

Mélanie Laurent made her theatre debut in 2010 in the play "Promenade de santé".

May 2011: En t'attendant

Laurent made her singing debut with the studio album "En t'attendant" in May 2011, featuring collaborations with Irish musician Damien Rice.

2011: Appearance in "Beginners"

In 2011, Mélanie Laurent appeared in the comedy-drama "Beginners", directed by Mike Mills, marking her second English-speaking role in Hollywood.

2011: The Adopted

Laurent directed and starred in her first feature film, "The Adopted," in 2011.

2011: Environmental Activism and Sustainability

Laurent engaged in environmental activism, visiting a Climate Defenders Camp with Greenpeace and becoming a Climate Ambassador for Kofi Annan's "Tck Tck Tck" Campaign. Her time in Ireland while working on her 2011 album inspired her to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.

2011: Feature Film Directorial Debut and Music Album Release

Mélanie Laurent had her feature film directorial debut with "The Adopted" in 2011. This year also marked her singing debut with the release of her album "En t'attendant".

March 2013: Laurent Marries

Laurent revealed her marriage to a crew member in March 2013.

September 2013: Laurent's Son Born

Laurent gave birth to her first child, a son named Léo, in September 2013.

September 2013: Boomerang

Laurent starred in "Boomerang," a French drama film adapted from the bestseller "A Secret Kept" by Tatiana De Rosnay, released in September 2013 to positive reviews.

2013: Night Train to Lisbon

In 2013, Laurent starred in "Night Train to Lisbon" alongside Jeremy Irons, a drama film based on the novel of the same name and directed by Bille August.

2013: Now You See Me

Laurent appeared in Louis Leterrier's caper film "Now You See Me" in 2013 as a French Interpol agent, part of an ensemble cast that included Mark Ruffalo. The film was a commercial success.

2013: Appearance in "Now You See Me"

Mélanie Laurent appeared in the film "Now You See Me" in 2013.

2014: Aloft, Epic, Inside Out

In 2014, Laurent appeared in Claudia Llosa's drama "Aloft" alongside Jennifer Connelly and Cillian Murphy. The film premiered at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival. The same year, she provided the French voice dubbing for animated films "Epic" and "Inside Out."

2014: Laurent Discusses Love for Writing

In a 2014 interview, Laurent shared her passion for writing, describing it as "super exciting" and a crucial part of the filmmaking process.

2014: Breathe

Laurent's second feature film, "Breathe," premiered at the Critics' Week section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2014, receiving critical acclaim.

2014: Second Film Screened at Cannes Film Festival

Mélanie Laurent's second film as a director, "Respire", was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.

November 2015: By the Sea

In November 2015, Laurent starred in "By the Sea," an American drama film directed by and starring Angelina Jolie, also featuring Brad Pitt.

2015: Tomorrow

Laurent co-directed the documentary "Tomorrow" in 2015, which won her a César Award for Best Documentary Film.

2015: Voice Acting in "Inside Out"

Mélanie Laurent voiced the character Disgust in the French dub of the animated film "Inside Out" in 2015.

2018: Operation Finale

Laurent appeared in the 2018 drama film "Operation Finale," directed by Chris Weitz, about the Mossad operation to capture Adolf Eichmann.

2018: Galveston

Laurent made her English-language directorial debut in 2018 with "Galveston," a film adaptation of Nic Pizzolatto's novel, starring Ben Foster and Elle Fanning.

2019: Laurent's Daughter Born, Family Moves to Los Angeles

Laurent and her husband welcomed their second child, daughter Mila, in 2019. As of 2019, the family resides in Los Angeles.

2019: Appearance in "6 Underground"

Mélanie Laurent appeared in the film "6 Underground" in 2019.

October 2021: The Nightingale (cancelled)

In October 2021, "The Nightingale," an adaptation of Kristin Hannah's novel, which Laurent was set to direct and star Elle and Dakota Fanning, was removed from the release schedule with no further updates.