Melanie Laurent

The English - French actress Melanie Laurent was born on 21st February 1983, in Ile-de-France, France. Melanie was born as the daughter of a voice-over actor Pierre-Laurent and a ballerina, Annick. Born into a Jewish family, she has both Ashkenazi Jewish and Sephardic Jewish ancestry. Laurent has a younger brother, Mathieu.

Melanie commenced her acting career at the age of 16, with the movie 'The Bridge.’ Even Though the role was a small one, it sparked her interest in taking acting as a professional career. She performed minor roles in several films at the start of her career. A few of her movies include 'Summer Things’ by Michel Blanc, a comedy - drama 'Rice Rhapsody’ with Jackie Chan and so on. Laurent got her break from the movie 'Don’t Worry, I’m Fine’ by Philippe Lioret in 2006. She received the César Award for Most Promising Actress and also won Romy Schneider and Jean Gabin Prizes along with her co-actor Jérémie Renier.

Melanie won the Étoiles d’Or for Best Female Newcomer for her role in 'Dikkenek’ a Franco-Belgian movie directed by Olivier Van Hoofstadt. She rose to international fame with the Hollywood movie ‘Inglorious Bastards’ in 2009. Laurent got nominated for Lumieres Award for Best Actress for the film ‘La Chambre des morts.’ In addition to acting, Melanie was also interested in directing. Her first play as a director, ‘Mi-cuit Coeur Pistache,’ had to be abandoned as she got cast in the movie ‘Inglorious Bastards.’ Laurent didn’t speak or learn English till the filming ‘Inglorious Bastards.’

The picture went on to be a commercial success, and her performance got highly praised by critics. She received several awards and nominations for her soulful portrayal of the character in the movie. Laurent next appeared in the film ‘The Round Up,’ a film based on a true story about the mass arrest of the Jews by French police who were the accomplice of the Nazis in 1942. ‘Putain de Pluie,’ in which she had co-written the script, is another feature film she had to abandon for her role in ‘Inglorious Bastards.’ She appeared in the movie ‘By the Sea’ directed and written by Angelina Jolie. Laurent got to host the opening and closing function of the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Teaming with Mike Mills, she appeared in ‘Beginners’ a comedy – drama in which she plays the character of a French Actress, Anna.

Melanie’s other notable performances include ‘Night Train to Lisbon,’ ‘Now You See Me,’ ‘Enemy,’ ‘The Double,’ ‘Aloft’ and so on. Laurent provided the voice for Mary Katherine in ‘Epic’ and Disgust in ‘Inside Out,’ the French dub of the animated movies. Melanie’s Debut as a director was a 7-minute film ‘De moins en moins.’ The short film got nominated at the 61st Cannes Film Festival for the Best Short Film. Few other movies directed by Laurent are ‘AN ses pieds,’ ‘X Femmes,’ ‘The Adopted,’ ‘Respire,’ and so on.

She went on to win the Cesar Award for the Best Documentary Film for ‘Demain’ in 2015. She made her debut in singing with the album ‘En t’attendant’ in 2011. She is also a Climate Ambassador for Global Humanitarian Forum ‘Tck Tck Tck’ campaign. She is a member of the Fish Fight France for lowering the fish discards in European seas. Her long-term relationship with French actor Julien Boisselier ended in 2009. Melanie Laurent got married in 2013 and had a son Leo.