Sylvie Testud
Encyclopedia
Sylvie Testud is a French actress, writer and director
. Her film career began in 1991. She was later highly acclaimed, and has twice won César Award
s.
quarter of Lyon, an area with many Portuguese, Spanish and Italian immigrants – her mother herself, an immigrant from Italy in the 1960s. Her mother married a Frenchman but he left the family when Sylvie was just two years old. In 2003 when asked if she thought of trying to meet him she said: "I don't see what it would give me. Either the guy is nice, and I shall have lost thirty years, or he is useless, and it is not worth the trouble."
In 1985, aged 14, she saw Charlotte Gainsbourg
in her role of the complex young girl in L'Effrontée
, the film of Claude Miller
, identified with her, and so took drama classes in Lyon with the actor and director Christian Taponard. In 1989, she moved to Paris and spent three years at the Conservatoire (CNSAD). In the early and mid 1990s, she landed her first small roles in films like L'Histoire du garcon qui voulait qu'on l'embrasse directed by Philippe Harel
, and Love, etc. director, Marion Vernoux. In 1997 she had great success in Germany with Caroline Link
's Jenseits der Stille for which she learnt German, sign language, and the clarinet. In 1998 she had her first major role in French cinema playing Béa in Thomas Vincent's Karnaval
. In 2000 she starred in Chantal Akerman
's La Captive
, an adaptation of La Prisonièrre, the fifth part of Marcel Proust's A La Recherche du Temps Perdu. In 2001 she won the César Award for Most Promising Actress
for her portrayal of Christine Papin, one of the Papin sisters
, in Les Blessures assassines (English title: Murderous Maids), The story concerned a young servant woman found guilty of the murder, with her sister's help, of her employer's wife and daughter; it had made sensational headlines in France in 1933.
In 2003, she published the autobiographical book Il n'y a pas beaucoup d'etoiles ce soir, with anecdotes of her day to day life as an actress. The French edition featured a cover designed by her sister Ghislaine.
One of her most noted performances was as the star of the film Stupeur et tremblements
, adapted from the novel by Amélie Nothomb
, for which she was awarded a César
and a Prix Lumière for best actress in 2004. She plays a woman struggling with the difference in culture between the Japanese business world and the western, Belgian world, from which she comes. In 2005 or 2006 she returned to her native Lyon (to the Théâtre de la Croix Rousse), where she played the rôle of Edith in Philippe Faure's adaptation of Stefan Zweig
's La Pitié dangereuse. She starred in 2007's two-time Academy Award-winning film La Vie en Rose
, as Momone, Edith Piaf's best friend. In the 2008 film Sagan
, she portrayed the writer Françoise Sagan
, earning unanimous praise for her hauntingly accurate portrayal and for which she was again nominated for the César
for best actress.
She was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite
in March 2009.
She has a son, Ruben, born on 15 February 2005, and a daughter Esther, born in January, 2011.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. Her film career began in 1991. She was later highly acclaimed, and has twice won César Award
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
s.
Biography
She grew up in La Croix-RousseLa Croix-Rousse
This zone is served by the metro line La Croix-Rousse is a hill in the town of Lyon, France, as well as the name of a quarter located on this hill . It is 254m at its peak...
quarter of Lyon, an area with many Portuguese, Spanish and Italian immigrants – her mother herself, an immigrant from Italy in the 1960s. Her mother married a Frenchman but he left the family when Sylvie was just two years old. In 2003 when asked if she thought of trying to meet him she said: "I don't see what it would give me. Either the guy is nice, and I shall have lost thirty years, or he is useless, and it is not worth the trouble."
In 1985, aged 14, she saw Charlotte Gainsbourg
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg is an Anglo-French actress and singer. After releasing an album with her father at the age of fifteen, more than twenty years passed before she released two albums as an adult to commercial and critical success...
in her role of the complex young girl in L'Effrontée
L'Effrontée
L'Effrontée is a 1985 French film directed by Claude Miller. It stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, who won the César Award for Most Promising Actress, and Bernadette Lafont, who won the César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role...
, the film of Claude Miller
Claude Miller
Claude Miller is a French film director, producer and screenwriter.-Career:Claude Miller was born to a Jewish family. A student at Paris' IDHEC film school from 1962 through 1963, Miller had his first practical cinematic experience while he was in uniform, serving with the Service Cinéma de l'Armée...
, identified with her, and so took drama classes in Lyon with the actor and director Christian Taponard. In 1989, she moved to Paris and spent three years at the Conservatoire (CNSAD). In the early and mid 1990s, she landed her first small roles in films like L'Histoire du garcon qui voulait qu'on l'embrasse directed by Philippe Harel
Philippe Harel
Philippe Harel is a French film director, actor and screenwriter born in 1956.-Selected filmography:* La femme défendue * Extension du domaine de la lutte -External links:...
, and Love, etc. director, Marion Vernoux. In 1997 she had great success in Germany with Caroline Link
Caroline Link
Caroline Link , is a German film director and screenwriter.-Life and work:Caroline Link is the daughter of Jürgen and Ilse Link. From 1986 to 1990 she studied at the Munich Academy of Film and Television , and then worked as an assistant director and script writer.Link's early work includes the...
's Jenseits der Stille for which she learnt German, sign language, and the clarinet. In 1998 she had her first major role in French cinema playing Béa in Thomas Vincent's Karnaval
Karnaval
Karnaval is a French film directed by Thomas Vincent and was released 3 March 1999. The film was nominated for a César Award for Best Debut in 2000....
. In 2000 she starred in Chantal Akerman
Chantal Akerman
Chantal Anne Akerman is a Belgian film director, artist, and professor of film at the European Graduate School. Akerman's best-known film, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles , exemplifies a dedication to the ellipses of conventional narrative cinema.-Early life:Akerman was born to...
's La Captive
La Captive
La Captive is a 2000 drama filmdirected by Chantal Akerman. It features Olivia Bonamy, Sylvie Testud and Stanislas Merhar. This French language film is loosely based on Marcel Proust's novel La Prisonnière. It the story of a wealthy man, Simon , who holds his romantic interest Ariane captive in a...
, an adaptation of La Prisonièrre, the fifth part of Marcel Proust's A La Recherche du Temps Perdu. In 2001 she won the César Award for Most Promising Actress
César Award for Most Promising Actress
The following is the list of winners of the César Award for Most Promising Actress . Since its inception in 1983, the award is given as part of the French film industry's annual César Awards....
for her portrayal of Christine Papin, one of the Papin sisters
Papin sisters
Christine Papin and Léa Papin were two French maids who murdered their employer's wife and daughter in Le Mans, France, on 2 February 1933...
, in Les Blessures assassines (English title: Murderous Maids), The story concerned a young servant woman found guilty of the murder, with her sister's help, of her employer's wife and daughter; it had made sensational headlines in France in 1933.
In 2003, she published the autobiographical book Il n'y a pas beaucoup d'etoiles ce soir, with anecdotes of her day to day life as an actress. The French edition featured a cover designed by her sister Ghislaine.
One of her most noted performances was as the star of the film Stupeur et tremblements
Fear and Trembling (film)
Fear and Trembling is a French film based on the novel of the same name by Amélie Nothomb.- Synopsis :...
, adapted from the novel by Amélie Nothomb
Amélie Nothomb
Amélie Nothomb is a Belgian writer who writes in French.- Biography :Amélie Nothomb was born in Kobe, Japan to Belgian diplomats. She lived there until she was five years old, and then subsequently lived in China, New York, Bangladesh, Burma, Coventry and Laos...
, for which she was awarded a César
César Award for Best Actress
List of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actress .-Winners and nominees:...
and a Prix Lumière for best actress in 2004. She plays a woman struggling with the difference in culture between the Japanese business world and the western, Belgian world, from which she comes. In 2005 or 2006 she returned to her native Lyon (to the Théâtre de la Croix Rousse), where she played the rôle of Edith in Philippe Faure's adaptation of Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer. At the height of his literary career, in the 1920s and 1930s, he was one of the most famous writers in the world.- Biography :...
's La Pitié dangereuse. She starred in 2007's two-time Academy Award-winning film La Vie en Rose
La Vie en rose (film)
La Vie En Rose is a 2007 French biographical film about the life of French chanteuse Édith Piaf co-written, and directed by Olivier Dahan. Marion Cotillard stars as Piaf. The title La Vie en Rose comes from Piaf's signature song...
, as Momone, Edith Piaf's best friend. In the 2008 film Sagan
Sagan (film)
Sagan is a 2008 French biographical film, directed by Diane Kurys, starring Sylvie Testud as French author Françoise Sagan and Pierre Palmade as a dancer and a society man, Jacques Chazot, who was very well known in France...
, she portrayed the writer Françoise Sagan
Françoise Sagan
Françoise Sagan – real name Françoise Quoirez – was a French playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. Hailed as "a charming little monster" by François Mauriac on the front page of Le Figaro, Sagan was known for works with strong romantic themes involving wealthy and disillusioned bourgeois...
, earning unanimous praise for her hauntingly accurate portrayal and for which she was again nominated for the César
César Award for Best Actress
List of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actress .-Winners and nominees:...
for best actress.
She was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
in March 2009.
She has a son, Ruben, born on 15 February 2005, and a daughter Esther, born in January, 2011.
Filmography
- MumuMumu (film)Mumu is a French film directed by fr:Joël Séria, released in 2010. The screenplay, of a largely autobiographical nature, was written by the director from 1993 - a long planned project for Séria who had not directed a full-length film since 1987.-Plot:...
(2010) - Avant l'aube (2010)
- The Round UpThe Round Up (film)The Round Up is a 2010 French film directed by Roselyne Bosch and produced by Alain Goldman. The film stars Mélanie Laurent, Jean Reno, Sylvie Testud and Gad Elmaleh...
(2010) - Louise Michel (2010) dir: Solveig AnspachSólveig AnspachSólveig Anspach is an Icelandic film director and screenwriter. She has directed eight films since 1998. Her film Stormy Weather was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:...
- Gamines (2009)
- Lucky Luke (2009)
- Je ne dis pas non (2009)
- LourdesLourdes (film)Lourdes is a 2009 film directed by Jessica Hausner. It received the 2009 Vienna International Film Festival's Vienna Film Prize for best film.-Plot:Christine is a wheelchair-using woman with severe multiple sclerosis...
(2009) - VengeanceVengeance (2009 film)Vengeance is a 2009 neo-noir crime film directed by Johnnie To from a screenplay written by Wai Ka-Fai. A co-production between Hong Kong and France, the film stars Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Lam Ka-Tung, Lam Suet, Simon Yam and Sylvie Testud. The film was produced by Milkyway Image, and...
(2009) - Le Bonheur de Pierre (2009)
- L'Idiot (2008)
- SaganSagan (film)Sagan is a 2008 French biographical film, directed by Diane Kurys, starring Sylvie Testud as French author Françoise Sagan and Pierre Palmade as a dancer and a society man, Jacques Chazot, who was very well known in France...
(2008) - Ce que mes yeux ont vu (2007)
- Mange, ceci est mon corps (2007)
- La FranceLa France (film)La France is a French film directed by Serge Bozon, released in 2007. It stars Sylvie Testud and Pascal Greggory. The film won the Prix Jean Vigo in 2007.-Synopsis:...
(2007) - La Môme (La Vie en RoseLa Vie en rose (film)La Vie En Rose is a 2007 French biographical film about the life of French chanteuse Édith Piaf co-written, and directed by Olivier Dahan. Marion Cotillard stars as Piaf. The title La Vie en Rose comes from Piaf's signature song...
in English) (2007) - L'Héritage (2006)
- La Vie est à nous! (2005)
- Les Mots bleus (2005)
- Victoire (2004)
- Cause toujours! (2004)
- Tout pour l'oseille (2004)
- Demain on déménage (2004)
- Dédales (2003)
- Filles uniques (2003)
- (Fear and Trembling) Stupeur et tremblementsFear and Trembling (film)Fear and Trembling is a French film based on the novel of the same name by Amélie Nothomb.- Synopsis :...
(2003) - Vivre me tue (2002)
- Aime ton pèreA Loving FatherA Loving Father is a 2002 French film starring Gérard Depardieu, Guillaume Depardieu and Sylvie Testud. It was directed by Jacob Berger.- Plot :...
(2002) - Tangos volés (2002)
- Les Femmes... ou les enfants d'abord (2002)
- Un moment de bonheur (2002)
- Jedermanns Fest (2002)
- Der Gläserne Blick (2002)
- Je rentre à la maison (2001)
- The Château (2001)
- Ce qui compte pour Mathilde (2001)
- Julie's Geist (2001)
- La Chambre obscureLa Chambre obscureLa Chambre obscure is a 2000 French drama film directed and written by Marie-Christine Questerbert.-Cast:*Caroline Ducey as Aliénor*Melvil Poupaud as Bertrand*Mathieu Demy as Thomas*Sylvie Testud as Azalaïs...
(2000) - Les Blessures assassines (2000)
- SadeSade (film)Sade is a 2000 French film directed by Benoît Jacquot, adapted by Jacques Fieschi and Bernard Minoret from the novel La terreur dans le boudoir by Serge Bramly.- Plot :...
(2000) - Faux contact (2000)
- La CaptiveLa CaptiveLa Captive is a 2000 drama filmdirected by Chantal Akerman. It features Olivia Bonamy, Sylvie Testud and Stanislas Merhar. This French language film is loosely based on Marcel Proust's novel La Prisonnière. It the story of a wealthy man, Simon , who holds his romantic interest Ariane captive in a...
(2000) - Scénarios sur la drogue (2000)
- LucieLucieLucie is the French and Czech form of the female name Lucia. Lucie may refer to:-First name:* Lucie Ahl, British former tennis player* Lucie Arnaz, American actress* Lucie Aubrac, member of the French Resistance...
(2000) - Pünktchen und Anton (1999, after a children's novel by Erich KästnerErich KästnerEmil Erich Kästner was a German author, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known for his humorous, socially astute poetry and children's literature.-Dresden 1899–1919:...
) - KarnavalKarnavalKarnaval is a French film directed by Thomas Vincent and was released 3 March 1999. The film was nominated for a César Award for Best Debut in 2000....
(1999) - Marée haute (1999)
- Les Pierres qui tombent du ciel (1999)
- The Misadventures of MargaretThe Misadventures of MargaretThe Misadventures of Margaret is a 1998 French-British romantic comedy film directed by Brian Skeet and starring Parker Posey, Jeremy Northam and Craig Chester. It was based on the novel Rameau's Niece by Cathleen Schine. The bored wife of a Professor decides to write an erotic novel.-Cast:* Parker...
(1998) - In Heaven (1998)
- Sentimental EducationSentimental EducationSentimental Education was Gustave Flaubert's last novel published during his lifetime, and is considered one of the most influential novels of the 19th century, being praised by contemporaries George Sand, Emile Zola, and Henry James.-Plot introduction:The novel describes the life of a young man ...
(1998) - Flammen im Paradies (1997)
- Jenseits der Stille (1996)
- Love, etc. (1996)
- Le Plus bel âge... (1995)
- Éternelles (1995)
- Délit mineur (1995)
- Maries Lied: Ich war, ich weiß nicht wo (1994)
- L'Histoire du garçon qui voulait qu'on l'embrasse (1994)
- Couples et amants (1993)
- De montagne (1991)
- La Violoniste (1991)
External links
- Sylvie Testud at Actricesdefrance.org
- CSOJ - Alain Badiou Sylvie Testud appears on French television's program Ce Soir (En direct, channel 3) in conversation with militant philosopher Alain BadiouAlain BadiouAlain Badiou is a French philosopher, professor at European Graduate School, formerly chair of Philosophy at the École Normale Supérieure . Along with Giorgio Agamben and Slavoj Žižek, Badiou is a prominent figure in an anti-postmodern strand of continental philosophy...
. The topic of this episode is "Faut-il réinventer l'amour?". Ms Testud appears 46:18 minutes into the program and is in conversation with Badiou and the program host for about 24 minutes (no commercials, this show is in French).