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Isabelle Yasmine Adjani (born 27 June 1955) is a French actress and singer of Algerian and German descent. She has received various accolades, including five César Awards and a Lumière Award, along with nominations for two Academy Awards. Adjani was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 2010 and a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2014.
Adjani has won a record five Césars for Best Actress for Possession (1981), One Deadly Summer (1983), Camille Claudel (1988), La Reine Margot (1994), and La Journée de la jupe (2009). Her other César-nominated roles were in The Story of Adèle H. (1975), Barocco (1976), Subway (1985), and The World Is Yours (2018). Other notable films include The Slap (1974), The Tenant (1976), The Driver (1978), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), All Fired Up (1982), Deadly Circuit (1983), Ishtar (1987), Diabolique (1996), Adolphe (2002), Bon voyage (2003), French Women (2014), and Peter von Kant (2022).
Adjani came to international prominence for her portrayal of Adèle Hugo in The Story of Adele H., for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress at age 20, becoming the youngest nominee in the category at the time. She later collected a second Best Actress nomination for portraying Camille Claudel in Camille Claudel, thus becoming the first French actress to receive two Academy Award nominations for foreign-language films. Adjani also won the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress Award for her performances in Possession and Quartet (1981), which makes her the only actress to win a joint award for two films in the same competition slate, and the Berlinale's Silver Bear for Best Actress for Camille Claudel.
Adjani's parents met near the end of World War II, when her father was in the French Army and stationed in Germany. They married and her mother returned with him to Paris, despite not speaking a word of French.Isabelle Adjani : "Mon père, kabyle people, s'était engagé dans l'armée française à 16 ans, et c'est en remontant d'Italie jusqu'en Bavière à la fin de la seconde guerre mondiale qu'il rencontre et séduit ma mère" Interview with Isabelle Adjani, Télérama, 31 March 2009"A German woman met in Bavaria who was married at the end of the Second World War by Mohammed Adjani, a Kabyle soldier in the French army", Jean de La Guérivière, Amère Méditerranée: Le Maghreb et nous, Seuil, 2004, p.391 She asked him to take Cherif as his first name as she thought it sounded more "American"."My mother was Bavarian. She felt very uncomfortable in France, where she had arrived without speaking a word of French. She couldn't stand the fact that her husband was Algerian. She said he was of Turkish origin and I believed her. Between my parents, there was conjugal racism. My mother used to call my father a jerk and my father would say, "You dirty Kraut." His name was Mohammed but my mother had forced him to change his first name. On our mailbox, there was: Cherif Adjani. My mother thought it looked American." Adjani la vérité, Interview Isabelle Adjani, Le Nouvel Observateur, 1985
Isabelle grew up bilingual, speaking French and German fluently, in Gennevilliers, a northwestern suburb of Paris, where her father worked in a garage. After winning a school recitation contest, Adjani began acting by the age of 12 in amateur theater. She successfully passed her baccalauréat and was auditing classes at the University of Vincennes in 1976.
Adjani had a younger brother, Éric, who was a photographer. He died on 25 December 2010, aged 53.
After minor roles in several films, she enjoyed modest success in the 1974 film La Gifle ( The Slap), which François Truffaut saw. He immediately cast her in her first major role in The Story of Adèle H. (1975), a project that he had finished writing five years prior but had waited to cast the right actress for the part. Critics unanimously praised her performance, with the American critic Pauline Kael describing her acting talents as "prodigious".
Only 19 when she made the film, Adjani was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, becoming the youngest Best Actress nominee at the time (a record she held for almost 30 years). She quickly received offers for roles in Hollywood films, such as Walter Hill's 1978 crime thriller The Driver. She had previously turned down the chance to star in films like The Other Side of Midnight. She had described Hollywood as a "city of fiction" and said, "I'm not an American. I didn't grow up with that will to win an award." Truffaut on the other hand said, "France is too small for her. I think Isabelle is made for American cinema." She agreed to make The Driver because she was an admirer of Hill's first film Hard Times. Adjani said:
She played Lucy in the German director Werner Herzog's 1979 remake of which was well-received critically and performed well at box offices in Europe. Roger Ebert loved the film, calling Herzog's casting of Adjani one of his "masterstrokes" in the film. He wrote that she "is used here not only for her facial perfection but for her curious quality of seeming to exist on an ethereal plane." The cast and the crew filmed both English- and German-language versions simultaneously upon request of 20th Century Fox, the American distributor, as Kinski and Bruno Ganz could act more confidently in their native language.
In 1981, she received a double Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress award for her roles in the Merchant Ivory film Quartet, based on the novel by Jean Rhys, and in the horror film Possession (1981). The following year, she received her first César Award for Possession, in which she had portrayed a woman having a nervous breakdown.
In 1983, she won her second César for her depiction of a vengeful woman in the French blockbuster One Deadly Summer, and starred with Michel Serrault in the black diamond thriller Deadly Circuit directed by Claude Miller. That same year, Adjani released the French pop album Pull marine, written and produced by Serge Gainsbourg. She then starred in a music video for the hit title song, Pull Marine, which was directed by Luc Besson.
Adjani also drew controversy at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival when she refused to attend a traditional photocall after the press conference for One Deadly Summer. Adjani was annoyed at the time by the intrusion of photographers into her private life. The photographers in Cannes boycotted Adjani upon her arrival on the red carpet for the premiere, at which point they put down their cameras and turned their backs to her.
In 1988, she co-produced and starred in a biopic of the sculptor Camille Claudel. She received her third César and second Oscar nomination for her role in the film, becoming the first French actress to receive two Oscar nominations. The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
She received her fourth César for the 1994 film Queen Margot, an ensemble epic directed by Patrice Chéreau. She received her fifth César for Skirt Day (2009), the most that any actress has received. The film features her as a middle school teacher in a troubled French suburb who takes her class hostage when she accidentally fires off a gun she found on one of her students. It was premiered on the French Arte channel on 20 March 2009, attaining a record 2.2 million viewers) and then in movie theaters on 25 March 2009. The film was her return to the cinema after eight years of absence.
In 2010, she made an appearance in the social comedy Mammuth, from directors Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern, and in which she played the phantom of Gérard Depardieu's first love. The same year, she lent her voice to the character of Mother Gothel in the French version of the animated film Tangled. In 2011, she co-starred in De Force, the first film directed by Frank Henry. She embodied the commander Clara Damico, head of the brigade for the repression of banditry.
She became the first French actress to star in a Bollywood film, playing the mother of Preity Zinta in the 2013 romantic comedy Ishkq in Paris, directed by Prem Soni and alongside Shekhar Kapur.
She joined the comedy The World Is Yours, playing the eccentric Dany, directed by Romain Gavras alongside Vincent Cassel, which entered into the Directors' Fortnight during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2022, she played the movie star Sidonie von Grassenabb in the comedy drama Peter von Kant, tribute to Rainer Werner Fassbinder's The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, directed by François Ozon alongside Denis Ménochet, which entered as the opening film into the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival.
In 2023, Adjani released her second French pop album Bande originale, written and produced by Pascal Obispo, and arranged by Cécile DeLaurentis. She also joined the Netflix action film Wingwomen, directed by Mélanie Laurent, and then, the Netflix miniseries The Perfect Couple directed by Susanne Bier, alongside Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber.
During the mid-eighties, she had a relationship with Warren Beatty. He convinced her to appear with him in the epic comedy Ishtar, directed by Elaine May, co-starring Dustin Hoffman, and shot in Morocco.
From 1989 to 1995, she had a relationship with Daniel Day-Lewis, which ended before the birth of their son, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, in 1995.
Adjani was later engaged to the composer Jean-Michel Jarre; they broke up in 2004.
On 14 December 2023, Adjani was handed a two-year suspended sentence for tax fraud.
In September 2009, she signed a petition in support of Roman Polanski, calling for his release after he was arrested in Switzerland in relation to his sexual abuse case.
In 2017, Adjani was interviewed by on the French public radio station France Inter. During the interview, she expressed her vaccine hesitancy and opposition to mandatory vaccination.
In 2018 Adjani signed a letter calling to act "firmly and immediately" for stopping climate change and biodiversity loss.
I think he is wonderful, very much in the tradition of Howard Hawks, lean and spare. The story is contemporary but also very stylized, and the roles that Ryan and I play are like Bogart and Bacall. We are both gamblers in our souls and we do not show our emotions or say a lot. For us, talk is cheap. I am really quite a mysterious girl in this film, with no name and no background. And I must say that it is restful not to have a life behind me; this way, I don't have to dig deep to play the part. All I know is that life for me is gambling and I am a loser. I have what people call a poker face.
The film was seen more than 1.1 million times in Adjani's native France but did not do as well in the US.
Personal life
In 1979, Adjani had a son, Barnabé Saïd-Nuytten, with the cinematographer Bruno Nuytten. She later hired Nuytten to direct her project Camille Claudel, a biopic of the sculptor who was the lover of Rodin.
Political views
Adjani has been vocal against anti-immigrant and anti-Algerian sentiments in France. In 2009, she criticized statements by Pope Benedict XVI, who claimed that condoms are not an effective method of AIDS prevention.
Performances and works
Film
1970 Le Petit bougnat Rose Bernard Toublanc-Michel 1972 Faustine et le Bel Été Camille Nina Companeez Out of Competition – 25th Cannes International Film Festival 1974 The Slap Isabelle Doulean Claude Pinoteau Ariane Ariane Pierre-Jean de San Bartolomé 1975 The Story of Adele H. Adèle Hugo François Truffaut 1976 The Tenant Stella Roman Polanski In Competition – 29th Cannes International Film Festival Barocco Laure André Téchiné 1977 Violette et François Violette Clot Jacques Rouffio 1978 The Driver The Player Walter Hill 1979 Nosferatu the Vampyre Mina Harker Werner Herzog In Competition – 29th Berlin International Film Festival The Brontë Sisters Emily Brontë André Téchiné In Competition – 32nd Cannes International Film Festival 1981 Clara et les Chics Types Clara Jacques Monnet Possession Anna/Helen Andrzej Żuławski In Competition – 34th Cannes International Film Festival Quartet Marya "Mado" Zelli James Ivory L'Année prochaine... si tout va bien Isabelle Maréchal Jean-Loup Hubert 1982 All Fired Up Pauline Valance Jean-Paul Rappeneau The Last Horror Film Herself David Winters Antonieta Antonieta Rivas Mercado Carlos Saura 1983 Deadly Circuit Catherine Leiris/Lucie, 'Marie' Claude Miller One Deadly Summer Eliane known as 'Elle' Jean Becker In Competition – 36th Cannes International Film Festival 1985 Subway Héléna Luc Besson 1986 T'as de beaux escaliers tu sais Herself Agnès Varda Short film
Special Screenings section – 39th Cannes International Film Festival1987 Ishtar Shirra Assel Elaine May 1988 Camille Claudel Camille Claudel Bruno Nuytten 1990 Lung Ta: Les cavaliers du vent Narrator Marie-Jaoul de Poncheville
Franz-Christoph GierckeDocumentary 1993 Toxic Affair Pénélope Philomène Esposito Out of Competition – 46th Cannes International Film Festival 1994 La Reine Margot Margot Patrice Chéreau In Competition – 47th Cannes International Film Festival 1996 Diabolique Mia Baran Jeremiah S. Chechik 1998 Paparazzi Herself Alain Berbérian 2002 The Repentant Charlotte/Leïla Laetitia Masson Adolphe Ellénore Benoît Jacquot 2003 Bon Voyage Viviane Denvers Jean-Paul Rappeneau Gala Presentations section – 28th Toronto International Film Festival Monsieur Ibrahim The Star François Dupeyron Out of Competition – 60th Venice International Film Festival 2009 La Journée de la jupe Sonia Bergerac Jean-Paul Lilienfeld 2010 Mammuth The Lost Love of Serge Gustave Kervern
Benoît DelépineIn Competition – 60th Berlin International Film Festival Tangled Mother Gothel Nathan Greno
Byron HowardVoice dub for French version; animated film 2011 De Force Clara Damico Frank Henry 2012 David et Madame Hansen Madame Hansen-Bergmann Alexandre Astier 2013 Ishkq in Paris Marie Elise Prem Raj 2014 French Women Lili Audrey Dana 2016 Carole Matthieu Carole Matthieu Louis-Julien Petit Also associate producer 2018 The World Is Yours Dany Romain Gavras Director's Fortnight section – 71st Cannes International Film Festival 2021 Soeurs Zorah Yamina Benguigui 2022 Peter von Kant Sidonie von Grassenabb François Ozon In Competition – 72nd Berlin International Film Festival Masquerade Martha Nicolas Bedos Out of Competition – 75th Cannes International Film Festival 2023 Dammi Herself Yann Demange Short film
Piazza Grande section – 76th Locarno Film FestivalWingwomen Marraine Mélanie Laurent Wish Queen Amaya Chris Buck
Fawn VeerasunthornVoice dub for French version; animated film 2025 Natacha, presque hôtesse de l'air Mona Gherardini Noémie Saglio
Television
1973 L'école des femmes Agnès Raymond Rouleau Television film produced by the Comédie-Française 1974 The Miser Mariane René Lucot Le Secret des Flamands Maria Robert Valey Miniseries; 4 episodes 1975 Ondine Ondine Raymond Rouleau Television film produced by the Comédie-Française 2008 Figaro Countess Almaviva Jacques Weber Television film 2011 Aïcha Doctor Assoussa Yamina Benguigui Episode: "Job à tout prix" 2017 Call My Agent! ( Dix pour cent) Herself Jeanne Herry Episode: "Isabelle" 2018 Capitaine Marleau Isabelle Laumont Josée Dayan Episode: "Ne plus mourir jamais" 2022 The King's Favorite ( Diane de Poitiers) Diane de Poitiers Miniseries; 2 episodes 2023 Adieu Vinyle Eve Faugère Television film 2024 The Perfect Couple Isabel Nallet Susanne Bier Miniseries; 5 episodes 2025 Soleil noir TBA Marie Jardillier Edouard Salier Miniseries; 6 episodes
Stage
1972 The House of Bernarda Alba Adela Maison de la culture de Reims 1972 Le Bourgeois gentilhomme Lucile Comédie-Française 1973 The School for Wives Agnès Comédie-Française 1973 The Miser Marianne Comédie-Française 1973 Port-Royal Sister Marie-Françoise de l’Eucharistie Comédie-Française 1974 Ondine Ondine Comédie-Française 1974 The House of Bernarda Alba Adela Comédie-Française 1983 Miss Julie Julie Théâtre Édouard VII 2000 The Lady of the Camellias Marguerite Gautier Théâtre Marigny 2006 Mary Stuart Mary Stuart Théâtre Marigny 2014 Carey Perloff She Théâtre de Paris 2017 L'amour et les forêts Various voices Le Quai in Angers, French Tour 2019–2020 Opening Night Myrtle Gordon Théâtre de Namur, Le Quai Angers, Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Teatro Argentina, L'Alliance New York 2022–2023 Le Vertige Marilyn Marilyn Monroe / Herself Maison de la poésie, Théâtre de l'Atelier, Festival de Ramatuelle, Festival de Lacoste, Vaucluse, Théâtre Anthéa Antibes, Centre événementiel de Courbevoie, Salle Pleyel, Teatro Goldoni (Venice), Nuits de Fourvière, L'Alliance New York
Music videos
As lead artist
As featured artist
As guest appearance
Discography
Bibliography
Accolades and honours
Adjani was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour on 14 July 2010 for her contributions to the arts. "Légion d'honneur : Aubrac, Bouygues, Pérol, Adjani, Bolling parmi les promus", Le Monde, 14 juillet 2010 She was appointed Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2014.
1990 Camille Claudel 1977 Barocco 1982 Possession 1984 One Deadly Summer 1986 Subway 1989 Camille Claudel 1995 La Reine Margot 2010 La Journée de la jupe 2019 Best Supporting Actress The World Is Yours 1976 Best Foreign Actress The Story of Adele H. 1982 Possession 1987 Subway 2007 Mary Stuart 2020 Opening Night
See also
Notes
Further reading
External links
Categories: 1955 Births, Living People, People From Gennevilliers, Actresses From Île-de-france, Actresses From Paris, Best Actress César Award Winners, Cannes Film Festival Award For Best Actress Winners, David Di Donatello Winners, French Women Singers, French Women Pop Singers, French Film Actresses, French People Of German Descent, Best Actress Lumières Award Winners, Troupe Of The Comédie-française, Lounge Musicians, 20th-century French Actresses, 21st-century French Actresses, Silver Bear For Best Actress Winners, English-language Singers From France, German-language Singers Of France, Knights Of The Legion Of Honour, French Stage Actresses, Cours Florent Alumni, Commandeurs Of The Ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres, French People Of Kabyle Descent, French Expatriates In Switzerland, Actresses Of Algerian Descent, Day-lewis Family
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