Foreign Cinema: French Stars - page 2

10 months ago 14th Jan 13:58

One of the biggest stars throughout the fifties and sixties was model, singer and actress Bridgitte Bardot who was one of very few European actresses who gained attention in America.

She made her film debut in 1952 in Le Trou Normand, a comedy, before going on to appear in some English movies such as Doctor at Sea and Helen of Troy.

But her husband Roger Vadim was not happy with the level of Bardot's success and went on to showcase her And God Created Woman in which she played an immoral teenager.

The film shot her to overnight stardom as the 1956 picture went on to be an international success. But America did not welcome her with open arms as her sex siren image was in keeping with American cinema at the time and she stayed in Europe.

Jean-Paul Belmondo was part of the New Wave of French cinema that swept the industry during the sixties making his debut in Jean Luc Goddard's Breathless in 1960 which short him to stardom.

He followed this success up with Leon Morin, Priest and The Fingerman before switching to more mainstream movies. Similarly Gerard Depardieu has had a very successful career moving between art-house movies to more commercial roles, as well as finding success in Hollywood.

But the French movie industry is riding on a new wave of talent as a string of actor and actresses have taken over Hollywood with great success. Leading the way is Amelie actress Audrey Tatou who moved into English speaking movies when she starred alongside Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code.

2008 was also a hit for the French actress as Marion Cotillard scooped the Best Actress Oscar for her role in La Vie En Rose and she to has moved into English speaking films as she stars alongside Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in this summer's Public Enemies.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw