We know, we know, beauty is only skin deep…except, when we talk about actors and actresses. After all, most actresses are hired for their looks to portray these epic females in movies! French women have always been synonymous with having ‘effortless style’, for being ‘mysterious’, ‘elegant’, ‘cool’, etc. Here are 15 of some of the most beautiful French actresses (alive… or sadly deceased) that have appeared in some of history’s greatest films, have graced countless magazine covers and have inspired countless women (and men) in fashion, art, and in life!
Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard is one of the 21st century’s best actresses. She effortlessly transitioned from the Francophone movie scene to Hollywood. She has appeared in some great movies like La Vie en Rose, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Rust and Bone, and Allied. Marion Cotillard has been with her boyfriend, actor and film director Guillaume Canet, since 2007, and is the face of Dior since 2008. She works with Greenpeace, WWF, and other noteworthy causes.
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot is one of the most iconic French women in the world. Her blond hair, pouty lips and dark eyes have made her an international star and a true sex symbol. She starred in many films including And God Created Woman, Le Mépris, and Viva Maria! She’s known for her great animal rights activism but also for her controversial criticising of Islam immigrants in France. This actress is a huge influence in pop culture and continues to inspire even today at 83 years old.
Eva Green
Even though she doesn’t have the most French name, Eva Green is born and bred in Paris, France. She was a Bond girl in the 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale which automatically puts her in the beautiful women category. She transitioned to Hollywood very well and has appeared in some great American films like Kingdom of Heaven, Sin City, Dark Shadows, etc. Fashion brands love her. She’s had endorsements for Montblanc, Breil, Emporio Armani, Lancôme, Heineken, and Christian Dior.
Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve film debut started with her work in Jacques Demy’s Les Parapluies de Cherbourg. This movie propelled her to stardom. She then appeared in critically-acclaimed films like Repulsion, Belle de Jour, Place Vendôme, and many other films. She transitioned easily to Hollywood from France. Catherine Deneuve is considered as one of Yves Saint-Laurent’s fashion muses and has appeared in Louis Vuitton, L’Oréal, and M•A•C advertisements. She has a number of charities and is quite politically active.
Jane Birkin
OK. So technically, Jane Birkin is British. But, she had such a big career as a French actress and singer that we decided to include her on this list because she does reside in France now. She started her acting career and met her long-time work partner and lover Serge Gainsbourg when they were filming Slogan. She appeared in two Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun, and her last film was the 2016 short-film La femme et le TGV. Jane Birkin also had a huge singing career (with Gainsbourg). If you know anything about fashion, you know Hermes named one of their iconic bags the ‘Birkin Bag’.
Audrey Tautou
Audrey Tautou started acting at 18 and was featured in her first film debut at 19 with Venus Beauty Institute. Then, she appeared in other French films like Le Libertin, Happenstance, and Amélie. She transitioned into American films very easily, appearing in The Da Vinci Code and A Very Long Engagement. She has been the face of numerous fashion and beauty brands like Chanel, Montblanc and L’Oréal.
Emmanuelle Béart
Emmanuelle Béart is one of the most known French actresses of the 20th century. She appeared in over 60 films and television series. One of her biggest roles was in Manon des Sources, since she won a César for Best Supporting Actress for the role. She also appeared in Les Enfants du désordre, La Belle Noiseuse, Un cœur en hiver, Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud, and Les Destinées Sentimentales. She transitioned into American cinema with her appearance in the 1991 Mission: Impossible starring opposite Tom Cruise. Finally, she is an ambassador for UNICEF and defends the rights of “without papers” immigrants.
Anna Karina
Anna Karina was born in Denmark but she’s a true French woman. She is known as the muse of New Wave film director Jean-Luc Godard and is considered as one of the prominent figures of 1960s cinema. She appeared in a number of his films like Le Petit Soldat, Une femme est une femme, Vivre sa vie, Bande à part, and Pierrot le Fou. Apart from acting, she made her directorial debut in 1973, wrote many French books, modelled for Pierre Cardin and Coco Chanel, and sang. A true French New Wave icon.
Vanessa Paradis
This gap-tooth beauty was a child star, starting her music career at 14. She continued her singing career which was quite lucrative and then she started acting, winning a César for Most Promising Actress for the 1990 movie Noce Blanche. Her other film Élisa was another huge success. She is known for her relationship with the famous French fashion house Chanel.
Leslie Caron
Leslie Caron is a Franco-American actress. Her full lips, beautiful eyebrows and ballerina body propelled her to stardom. Gene Kelly, an American actor discovered her while she was performing in the Ballet des Champs Elysées and quickly cast her in the hit musical An American in Paris. She had a long-term contract with MGM and appeared in a number of their movies: Daddy Long Legs, Gigi, Lili, and The L Shaped-Room. Leslie Caron was a successful actress and received some awards for her work.
Léa Seydoux
Léa Seydoux is part of the next generation of beautiful French actresses. At only 32 years old, this woman has already (and easily) transitioned to Hollywood. She’s appeared in many blockbuster films like Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Inglourious Basterds, Spectre, and Midnight in Paris just to name a few. Her first real break in French cinema came with her performance in La Belle Personne in 2008 and was nominated. She is a fashion favourite, appearing in every international magazine and has been the face of the Prada perfume Candy since 2013.
Anouk Aimée
This exotic, dark-haired French actress has appeared in more than 70 films. She started her acting career at 14 but her first real big break was appearing in Federico Fellini’s critically-acclaimed film La Dolce Vita. After the movie came out, she exploded and was everywhere. She appeared in another one of Fellini’s films 8½, Lola by Jacques Demy, and A Man and a Woman. She has won many awards including a César for Best Actress in 1980 and an Oscar for Best Actress in 1967.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Charlotte Gainsbourg is Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s daughter, so already, she has the cool and beauty factors going for her. She was born right in the middle of her parents peek stardom so she has been in the public spotlight for most of her life. Her acting career started with Paroles et musique starring Catherine Deneuve’s daughter. She then won a César for Most Promising Actress in L’effrontée. She has easily transitioned into America cinema, playing in Melancholia, Nymphomaniac, and Independence Day: Resurgence. Charlotte Gainsbourg also had a prominent singing career.
Laetitia Casta
This French beauty is known for the acting career but also for her very lucrative modelling career. She started working with GUESS? in the 90s, was a Victoria’s Secret angel, a spokesperson for L’Oréal and appeared on Vogue, Elle, Glamour, etc. Her acting career started with Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar. She then appeared in other movies like Les Ames Fortes, Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) in which she received a César nomination. She became a UNICEF Ambassador in 2016. In addition to be one of the most beautiful French actresses, she is one of the most famous internationally.
Emmanuelle Riva
This natural beauty died in 2017, but she stayed beautiful until her final days. Known for her performances in Hiroshima mon amour and Amour, she was nominated and won awards for both performances. She started acting at 26 against her parents’ wishes but had a great film and theatre career. She led a very quiet and simple life, never married or had any children. Her final film, Alma, was filmed in Iceland in 2016, just before she died.
Are these women the most beautiful french actresses, or do you have more favorites?
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