History of Mélanie Laurent in Timeline
"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: Filmmaking Debut
Mélanie Laurent made her filmmaking debut with the short film "De moins en moins" in 2008.
2008: Appearance in "Paris"
Mélanie Laurent appeared in the independent film "Paris" in 2008.
2008: Appearance in "Paris"
Mélanie Laurent appeared in the comedy drama "Paris", directed by Cédric Klapisch, 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: 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: Appearance in "Beginners"
Mélanie Laurent appeared in the comedy drama "Beginners" in 2011.
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".
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.
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: Enemy
Laurent starred in "Enemy," a psychological thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve, which screened at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film, also starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Sarah Gadon, was adapted from José Saramago's 2002 novel "The Double."
2013: Role in "Enemy"
Mélanie Laurent appeared in the film "Enemy" in 2013.
2013: Appearance in "Now You See Me"
Mélanie Laurent appeared in the film "Now You See Me" in 2013.
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.
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: 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."
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.
2018: Role in "Operation Finale"
Mélanie Laurent starred in "Operation Finale" in 2018, a drama about the capture of Nazi Adolf Eichmann.
2018: Role in "Operation Finale"
Mélanie Laurent starred in the drama "Operation Finale" in 2018, a film about the capture of Nazi Adolf Eichmann.
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.
2021: The Mad Women's Ball
In 2021, Laurent directed and starred in "The Mad Women's Ball."
2023: Wingwomen
Laurent directed "Wingwomen" for Netflix, released in 2023.