Catherine Deneuve

Biography – her film career

Catherine Deneuve (born Dorleac; the name Deneuve is the last name of her mother) made her debut in the film "Les Collegiennes" when she was 13 years old. She got the role in the film through her elder sister, Francoise Dorleac, the famous actress at that time. Later, in 1976 Francoise died in a tragic car accident.

Catherine succeeded in making a good impression in the film, and later a lot of roles in other films would follow. The role in the musical "Les parapluies de Cherbourg" was a break through on her way to success. With the films "Repulsion" of Roman Polanski (1965) and "Belle de jour" of Bunuel (1967), came the international recognition of Catherine Deneuve as a super star. In the last 50 years she starred in more than 90 films, which resulted in an impressive list of French and international film rewards.

Biography – her beauty and her model work

Her famous roles gave her the image of an ice beauty queen. In real life Catherine Deneuve is different: much warmer, with a good sense of humor, and with a natural sense of elegancy.

In the 1960’s she was nominated by "Look" magazine as the most beautiful woman of the world. She is known to have been the muse of the designer Ives Saint Laurent, who made many clothes for her film roles, for her premieres and for her daily life.

In 1970 Deneuve was the face of Chanel Number 5. (Click here to read the story of Chanel number 5). At that time the sales of this perfume soared dramatically in the United States. Americans, charmed by Catherine, nominated her the most elegant woman of the world.

From 1985 to 1989 Catherine was the face of the French magazine "Marianne", named after the national symbol of France.

In 2007 she appeared in the advertisements of Louis Vuitton luggage.

With her strong character and admirable self-assurance, she is just beautiful as she is: with her love for life and eating well, her smoking habit, and her dislike of sport.

Biography – her personal life

She tries to keep her personal life as much as possible away from the spotlights. The commonly known facts about her private life are: she was married to the British photographer David Bailey from 1965 to 1972; she has a son Christian from her relationship with the French film director Roger Vadim, and a daughter Chiara from her relationship with the Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.

In 2005 Deneuve decided to publish her personal diary, where she had been writing her personal feelings and thoughts during her work in various films. The book was published under the name "The Private Diaries of Catherine Deneuve: Close Up and Personal".

According to Catherine, she enjoys the normality of life without bodyguards in France: going out with friends, standing in a queue, going to the cinema…

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Catherine Deneuve – Entrepreneur

Deneuve Photo Gallery

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