GIRARDOT, ANNIE

(1931- )

Actress. Annie Girardot was born in Paris and graduated from the Paris Conservatoire d'art dramatique with honors. She began her career on the stage, appearing at the Comédie Française from 1954 to 1957 and in cabarets before making her debut inAndré Hunébelle'sTreize à table(1956). Her early major roles were inJean Delannoy'sMaigret tend un piège(1957) alongsideJean Gabin,Marc Allégret'sL 'amour est en jeu(1957), and Jean-Charles Dudrumet'sLa corde raide(1960). She debuted in Italian cinema under the direction of Luchino Visconti, who had directed Girardot in the playDeux sur la balançoire. She also appeared in Visconti'sRocco e i suoi fratelli(1960) with her husband Renato Salvatori.

In the 1960s, Girardot established a career in both French and Italian cinema. She starred in Franco Rossi'sSmog(1962), Denys de La Patellière'sLe Bateau d'Emile(1962), Marco Ferreri'sLa Donna scimmia(1963), Robert Thomas'sLa Bonne soupe(1963), François Villiers'sL 'Autre femme(1963),Roger Vadim'sLe Vice et la vertu(1963), Ugo Gregoretti'sLe Belle famiglie(1964), and Philippe Clair'sDéclic et des claques(1965). She also appeared with a multinational cast inLa Guerre secrete, directed byChristian-Jacqueand others, in 1965. She won a Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her performance inMarcel Carné'sTrois chambres à Manhattan(1965). Later in the 1960s, she acted withYves MontandinClaude Lelouch'sVivre pour vivre(1967) and starred withJean-Paul Belmondoin Lelouch'sUn Homme qui me plaît(1969).In the 1970s, Girardot was one of France's most beloved and versatile actresses. She starred in André Cayatte'sMourir d'aimer(1970), Michel Audiard'sElle boit pas,elle fume pas,elle drague pas,mais. . .elle cause! (1970), andElle cause plus,elle flingue(1972), Guy Casaril'sLes Novices(1970),Edouard Molinaro'sLa Mandarine(1972), Jean-Pierre Blanc'sLa vieille fille(1972), Alain Jessua'sTraitement de choc(1973), Cayatte'sIl n'y a pas de fumée sans feu(1973), Rémo Forlani'sJuliette et Juliette(1974), andClaude Pinoteau'La Gifle(1974). Girardot won aCésarfor Best Actress in Jean-Louis Bertucelli's 1975 film,Docteur Françoise Gailland. She landed further leading roles in Cayatte'sA chacun son enfer(1977) andL 'Amour en question(1978),Philippe de Broca'sTendre poulet(1977),Claude Zidi'sLa Zizanie(1978), Nicole de Buron'sVas-y maman(1978), Yves Boisset'sLa Clé sur la porte(1978), Molinaro'sCause toujours. . .tu m'intéresses(1979), and Walter Bal'sBobo Jacco(1979).

In the early 1980s, Girardot added to her repetoire with leading roles in films such as de Broca'sOn a volé la cuisse de Jupiter(1980), Franck Apprenderis'sLe Coeur à l'envers(1980), José Giovanni'sUne robe noire pour un tueur(1981), Moshé Mizrahi'sLa Vie continue(1981), Pierre Lary'sLa Revanche(1981), Alain Bonnot'sListe noire(1984), and Lelouch'sPartir,Revenir(1984). She also appeared in Jean-Claude Tramont'sAll Night Long(1981) with Gene Hackman and Barbara Streisand. Later in the 1980s she was less active in cinema, but appeared on television. She also starred in Bob Decout'sAdieu blaireau(1985), Charlotte Silvera'sPrisonnières(1988), and Michel Legrand'sCinq jours en juin(1989).

Later in her career, Girardot was awarded two Césars for Best Supporting Actress in Lelouch'sLes Misérables(1995) and Michael Haneke'sLa Pianiste(2000). She also appeared in Lelouch'sIl y a des jours. . .et des lunes(1990),Bertrand Blier'sMerci la vie(1991), Gérard Mordillat'sToujours seuls(1991), Italian director Aldo Lado'sAlibi perfetto(1992), Jean-Paul Salomé'sLes Braqueuses(1994), Leduc'sL'Age de braise(1998), Grégoire Delacourt'sPréférence(1998), Haneke'sCaché(2003), and Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache'sJe préfère qu'on reste amis(2005).