Marion Cotillard

Marion-Cotillard-biography

Marion Cotillard was born on the 30th September 1975 in Paris, France. She grew up in an artistic family: her father Jean-Claude Cotillard is an actor, director and drama teacher, while her mother, Monique Theillaud, is an actress and drama teacher.

Cotillard began acting in her childhood, in her father's plays, but her big-screen career started in the 1990s. She appeared in numerous French movies, but her first significant film role was as "Lilly Bertineau" in ‘Taxi’ (1998/I). Olivier Dahan's movie 'La Môme', a biopic of the French signer Edith Piaf (in the US the film is known as 'La vie en rose') brought her worldwide fame and recognition. The actress was chosen by the director even before he had met her, because 'she had Piaf's eyes'. For her stunning portrayal of Piaf, Cotillard received both the César (the French equivalent of Oscar) and an Oscar for ‘Best Actress’.
Marion Cotillard soon became a Hollywood icon.

In a short period of time she appeared as the main antagonist ‘Mal Cobb’ in Christopher Nolan's movie ‘Inception’ (2010). In Woody Allen's ‘Midnight in Paris’ (2011) Cotillard played Adriana, Pablo Picasso's mistress. In the latest part of Nolan's Batman trilogy, ‘The Dark Night Rises’ (2012), she starred opposite Christian Bale as Miranda Tate.

Cotillard lives with French actor and director Guillaume Canet, with whom she has one son, Marcel. She is a passionate environmental activist and a spokesperson for Greenpeace.

Notable performances

Miranda Tate: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Adriana: Midnight in Paris (2011)
Marie: Little White Lies (2010)
Mallorie ‘Mal’ Cobb: Inception (2010)
Luisa Contini: Nine (2009)
Edith Piaf: La Môme (La Vie en Rose) (2007)
Tina Lombardi: A Very Long Engagement (2004)
Lili Bertineau: Taxi (1998), Taxi 2 (2000), Taxi 3 (2002)

Awards and recognitions

For her performance in the movie 'La Môme' in 2007, Cotillard received the Academy Award for ‘Best Actress’, becoming only the second French actress, after Simone Signoret in 1959, to win this award and the third overall to receive an Academy Award (after Juliette Binoche). Furthermore, she is the first 'Best Actress' winner in a non-English language performance since Sophia Loren (in 1961 for 'La Ciocara') and the first winning recipient in a French language performance. The same role brought her the French César in the 'Best Actress' category, a Golden Globe for ‘Best Actress’, and a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Actress’. She was also awarded a Satellite Award for ‘Best Actress-Motion Picture Drama’. Marion Cotillard also won a César Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for ‘A Very Long Engagement’ in (2004).

Nominations

She was nominated for numerous awards, including César Award for ‘Most Promising Actress’ for ‘Taxi’ (1998) and ‘Les Jolies choses’ (2001) and for a Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy’ for ‘Nine’ (2009).