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Audrey Tautou Profile |
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Birth Date: August 9, 1976
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Birth Place: Beaumont, Puy-de-Dôme, France
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Birth Name: Audrey Tautou
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Height: 5'3"
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Biography |
Audrey Tautou was born on August 9, 1978, in the tiny town
of Beaumont. She grew up in nearby rural Montluon, where, as
a teenage girl, she already aspired to be a comedian or
artist of some sort. With a high school diploma in hand, she
moved to the grand city of Paris. It was there that she
attended acting school at the Cours Florent and got a BA in
literature.
Shortly after graduation, she landed roles in films for the
French television network TF1, as well as in two short
feature films, a specialty of her homeland. One of those
projects, called Casting: Archi-dgueulasse, was featured in
the 1998 Cannes festival. The following year, Tautou won the
Best Newcomer prize from Canal Plus, after appearing in a
competition similar to Star Search.
Audrey Tautou quickly saw her career unfold thanks to her
onscreen candor. One day she was invited to an audition for
an upcoming feature film, Venus Beauty Institute. Luck was
against her that day, as she got lost in Paris' maze-like
streets and arrived more than one hour late. When she was
told she could no longer audition, she claims that she
drowned in tears for the first time in her life.
Director Tonie Marshall, however, was so taken by Audrey's
charm, that she gave the young actress another chance.
Tautou was so certain that she wouldn't get the role that,
upon receiving a call announcing that she did, Audrey told
the caller they must have the wrong person.
But it was no mistake. Her performance in 1999's Venus
Beauty Institute won her a Csar (France's Academy Award) for
Most Promising Actress.
With her insecurities now banished, Tautou worked steadily
in French movies, many roles for which she didn't even need
to audition. Some of her better-known works are Marry Me,
Pretty Devils, The Libertine, and The Beating of the
Butterfly's Wings, all in 2000.
But it was noted French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet that
would change Tautou's life. Jeunet, enchanted by Audrey,
asked her to read the script of his latest project, a
romantic flick called Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amlie Poulain
(The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain). It is said that
both director and producer were moved to tears by Audrey's
audition, asking her to redo certain scenes just for the
pleasure of it. Without hesitation, they cast her as the
title character.
In 2001, Amelie, as it was known internationally, became the
most successful French film in the U.S. and was nominated
for five Oscars. Tautou was nominated for eight awards for
her portrayal of a nave Parisian waitress, two of which she
won.
Suddenly Tautou was flooded with requests from Hollywood,
but she preferred to work in her native France and starred
in two films in 2001 and 2002. In the latter year, she
played a minor role in another international hit, as the
weepy girlfriend of the protagonist of L'Auberge Espagnole
(The Spanish Inn).
Tautou finally relented and took her first English language
role in Dirty Pretty Things (2002), a British film about the
seedy underworld of drugs, prostitution and the illegal
sales of organs among London's struggling immigrants.
In 2003, she appeared in Nowhere to Go But Up (aka Happy
End). It's clear that the best is yet to come from Audrey
Tautou, and that Audrey's onscreen luminosity may very well
make her a modern day Audrey Hepburn.
Following the footsteps of fellow French actors Catherine
Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu, Audrey Tautou finally decided
to extend her successful career to America, appearing in
2006's The Da Vinci Code, which filmed in her native France. |
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Other
Information |
She nearly never got the chance to play the wonderful Amélie
Poulain, as director Jean-Pierre Jeunet was considering
British actress Emily Watson for the role of Amélie.
Engaged to writer Lance Mazmanian.
Was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences (AMPAS) in June 2004. Is now a member.
She speaks excellent English.
Ranked #29 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the
World" (2002).
Grew up in Montlucon in central France.
Although invited, she did not attend the private screening
of Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001) organized and
attended by President Jacques Chirac. She had a previous
engagement with her brother.
When Emily Watson dropped out of Fabuleux destin d'Amélie
Poulain, Le (2001), director Jean-Pierre Jeunet cast Tautou
after seeing her on a billboard of the movie Vénus beauté (institut)
(1999) in Paris near his home in Bastille.
After Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001), she and
her sister went on a roadtrip in Indonesia where no one
recognized her.
Favourite authors are Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde and Paul
Auster.
Favourite poets are Charles Baudelaire and Tristan Tzara.
Favourite music composers are Ravel, Mozart and Frédéric
Chopin.
Once was told by a medium that she was going to be mother of
twins at age 30.
Studied at the Cours Florent in Paris.
Also studied literature at university.
Her father is a dental surgeon and her mother is a teacher.
She said that Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Juliette Lewis,
Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore are her idols.
Band Brand New has song named after her, titled 'Tautou'
featured on their album Deja Entendu.
French citizen.
Shares birthday with writer Robert Shaw, and soccer players
Filippo Inzaghi and Michael Silvestre.
Loves painting. Her favorite painters are Turner, Manet,
Schiele, Ingres and Delacroix.
Favourite movies are Barry Lyndon (1975) and À bout de
souffle (1960).
Grew up in Montluçon in central France. |
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Of a Truly Lovely girl!