Catherine Deneuve: the life and career of a cinema icon -

Born Catherine Fabienne Dorléac on October 22, 1943, Catherine Deneuve is one of cinema's most respected actresses. Since her screen debut in 1957, Deneuve has appeared in more than 130 films, most of them French productions. Hollywood has also been graced with her presence.

Deneuve has worked with some of the greatest names in European cinema. She's acted alongside the likes of Marcello Mastroianni, Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Isabelle Huppert, among many other respected names. She's also worked with some of the industry's most respected directors, including Roger Vadim, Luis Buñuel, and François Truffaut.

A 14-time César Award nominee (she won for 'The Last Metro' (1980) and 1992's 'Indochine'), Deneuve has also been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress (also for 'Indochine') and for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for 'Belle de Jour' (1967). Over the years, she has received numerous other accolades for her work.

Her career outside film has revolved around the world of fashion. As a model she was the face of Chanel No 5 in the late 1970s, and was considered by the American press as the world's most elegant woman. She has modeled for L'Oréal Paris, the M•A•C Beauty Icon series, and appeared in Louis Vuitton advertising campaigns.

Intrigued by this fascinating woman? Well then, click through the following gallery for an appreciation of the life and work of one of cinema's most endearing stars.

© BrunoPress/Reuters

'Les Collégiennes' (1957) - Deneuve made her film debut with a small role in André Hunebelle's 'Les Collégiennes.'

© BrunoPress

'Les Parisiennes' (1962) - The burgeoning actress portrayed Sophie in 'Les Parisiennes,' directed by Marc Allégret. By 1962 she was on the cusp of stardom.

© BrunoPress

'Vice and Virtue' (1963) - Deneuve's first noticeable role was also her first time working with film director Roger Vadim. The actress has a son, Christian Vadim, from her relationship with the director.

© Getty Images

'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' (1964) - Well-received by critics, 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' garnered several Academy Awards nominations, and won the Palme D'or at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival. The movie's entire narrative is sung rather than spoken.

© BrunoPress

'Repulsion' (1964) - Directed by Roman Polanski, this psychological thriller stars Deneuve as a young withdrawn woman who finds sexual advances repulsive.

© BrunoPress

'Repulsion' (1964) - Shot in London, it was Polanski's first English-language film and is considered one of the director's finest works. The actress is pictured with Polanski and producer Eugene Gutowski. 

© Getty Images

'Repulsion' (1964) - In effect a horror movie, 'Repulsion' is unusual in that it features a female killer, Deneuve's disturbed and detached Carol Ledoux.

© BrunoPress

Marriage to David Bailey -

Deneuve married British celebrity photographer David Bailey in 1965, the only time she has ever tied the knot. The couple divorced in 1972. 

© Getty Images

Marriage to David Bailey -

For a change, the photographer found himself on the other side of the camera, as the union generated enormous public interest. Witnesses included Deneuve's sister Françoise Dorléac, along with Mick Jagger.

© Getty Images

Royal Film Performance 1966 -

Always in the celebrity spotlight, the French actress is pictured with Julie Christie and Ursula Andress at the screening of 'Born Free' (1966) in London.

© Getty Images

'The Young Girls of Rochefort' (1967) - The actress returned to the musical genre in this Jacques Demy-directed tale, which co-starred Deneuve's elder sister Françoise Dorléac and American dancer and actor Gene Kelly.

© Getty Images

'The Young Girls of Rochefort' (1967) -

The real-life sisters portray twin sisters in the movie, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture. 

© Getty Images

Tragedy -

Shortly after completing the Michael Caine thriller 'Billion Dollar Brain' and on the brink of international stardom herself, Françoise Dorléac was killed in a car crash in France. Her sister Catherine was devastated.

© Getty Images

'Belle de Jour' (1967) - Directed by Luis Buñuel, Deneuve portrays a young woman who spends her midweek afternoons as a high-class prostitute while her husband is at work.

© BrunoPress

'Belle de Jour' (1967) -

One of Deneuve's most celebrated films—and one of Buñuel's most successful and famous films—'Belle de Jour' won the Golden Lion and the Pasinetti Award for Best Film at the 1967 Venice Film Festival.

© Getty Images

'Belle de Jour' (1967) - Deneuve received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Séverine Serizy, the beautiful but bored housewife who seeks pleasure elsewhere.

© BrunoPress

Friendship with Yves Saint Laurent -

Much of Deneuve's wardrobe for 'Belle de Jour' was designed by Yves St. Laurent, and the film marked the beginning of a long friendship between them both. 

© Getty Images

Friendship with Yves Saint Laurent - In fact, she is considered the muse of the French fashion designer. Besides 'Belle de Jour,' he dressed her for 'La Chamade' (1968), 'Mississippi Mermaid' (1969), 'Un flic' (1972), 'Liza' (1972), and 'The Hunger' (1983). In 1992, she became a model for his skincare line.

© Getty Images

'La Chamade' (1968) - Co-starring with Michel Piccoli, this well-received film is also noted for the fact that filming was interrupted by riots in Paris.

© BrunoPress

'Mississippi Mermaid' (1969) - This romantic drama directed by François Truffaut brings together Deneuve and Jean-Paul Belmondo. It became one of the most popular movies at the French box office in 1969.

© BrunoPress

'Mississippi Mermaid' (1969) - A critical success, the movie's stars were praised for their performances, as was co-star Michel Bouquet.

© BrunoPress

'Tristana' (1970) -

'Tristana' was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and saw the actress once gain working with Spanish director Luis Buñuel.

© BrunoPress

'It Only Happens to Others' (1971) - Deneuve appeared alongside Marcello Mastroianni in this drama. The actress lived for a while with Mastroianni, who is the father of her daughter, Chiara Mastroianni.

© BrunoPress

'The Last Metro' (1980) -

One of Truffaut's most successful productions, this historical drama paired the actress with Gérard Depardieu. The film garnered numerous accolades, including César Awards for both of them, plus various nominations. 

© BrunoPress

'The Hunger' (1983) -

Co-starring David Bowie and Susan Sarandon and directed by Tony Scott, 'The Hunger' centers around a love triangle between a doctor and a vampire couple. Deneuve plays the sulfurous Miriam Blaylock in a film that, while lukewarm with the critics, has since found a cult following.

© Getty Images

'Indochine' (1992) - One of Catherine Deneuve's most memorable roles is her portrayal of French plantation owner Éliane Devries in this drama set in colonial French Indochina during the 1930s to the 1950s.

© BrunoPress

'Indochine' (1992) -

The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Deneuve received a nomination for Best Actress—her only to date. But...

© BrunoPress

César Award -

... her role in 'Indochine' garnered a prestigious César Award for Best Actress, and...

© Reuters

Golden Globe - ... a coveted Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. 

© Reuters

'8 Women' (2002) - Deneuve joined an all-star ensemble cast that included Danielle Darrieux, Isabelle Huppert, Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Béart, Virgine Ledoyen, Ludivine Sagnier, and Firmine Richard in this dark comedy musical film.

© BrunoPress

'8 Women' (2002) -

The film follows eight women as they gather to celebrate Christmas in an isolated, snowbound cottage. Problem is, the host is found dead with a knife in his back. It's a delightful whodunnit that won several awards and accolades.   

© BrunoPress

2006 International Istanbul Film Festival -

The French actress was recognized with a Cinema Honorary Award at the 25th Istanbul Film Festival. 

© Reuters

60th Cannes Film Festival - Deneuve and daughter Chiara Mastroianni arrive for the screening of 'Persepolis' at the annual film festival in the south of France.

© Reuters

A great loss -

In 2002 she joined Laetitia Casta on the runway to honor her great friend Yves Saint Laurent during a retrospective of the designer's work. This was his last major appearance at a show. He died in June 2008.

© Reuters

A Lifetime Achievement - Receiving her award for Lifetime Achievement during the European Film Awards ceremony in Berlin, 2013.

© Reuters

Prix Lumière -

Arriving at the 2016 Lumiere Grand Lyon film festival in Lyon, France, where she received the Lumière award. 

© Reuters

72nd Cannes Film Festival - A regular at Cannes since the 1960s, Deneuve was there in 2019 to present director Bong Joon-ho with the Palme d'Or for his film 'Parasite' (Gisaengchung).

© Reuters

Looking ahead -

Now in her late seventies, the actress has appeared in more than 130 films. Besides acting, she continues to move in fashion circles, and still involves herself in charitable causes.   

See also: Bizarre film facts you probably didn't know

© Reuters