Marie-Christine Barrault (born 21 March 1944) is a French actress. She is best known for her performance in '' Cousin Cousine'' (1975) for which she was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year. ...

. In 2010, she released her autobiography, titled ''This Long Way To Get To You''.

Life and career

Marie-Christine Barrault was born in Paris, France, the daughter of Martha (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Valmier) and Max-Henri Barrault. Her parents later divorced. Barrault's father, who worked in the theatre, died while she was a teenager. With no support, her mother was unable to care for her and her brother, Alain. Barrault was raised by her grandmother, Felicite. She was mentored in acting by her aunt and uncle, French performers

Jean-Louis Barrault Jean-Louis Bernard Barrault (; 8 September 1910 – 22 January 1994) was a French actor, director and mime artist who worked on both screen and stage. Biography Barrault was born in Le Vésinet in France in 1910. His father was 'a Burgundia ...

and

Madeleine Renaud Lucie Madeleine Renaud (; 21 February 1900 – 23 September 1994) was a French actress best remembered for her work in the theatre. She did though appear in several films directed by Jean Grémillon including ''Remorques'' (''Stormy Waters'' ...

. They initially did not support her dreams of becoming an actress. She performed in plays in secondary school and then enrolled in an acting conservatory. Barrault got her start on television in ''L'oeuvre'' (1967). She made her feature film debut in

Éric Rohmer Jean Marie Maurice Schérer or Maurice Henri Joseph Schérer, known as Éric Rohmer (; 21 March 192011 January 2010), was a French film director, film critic, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and teacher. Rohmer was the last of the post-World ...

's ''

My Night at Maud's ''My Night at Maud's'' (french: Ma nuit chez Maud), also known as ''My Night with Maud'' (UK), is a 1969 French New Wave drama film by Éric Rohmer. It is the third film (fourth in order of release) in his series of ''Six Moral Tales''. Over the ...

'' (1969). In 1970 Barrault was featured along with

Pierre Richard Pierre Richard (born Pierre-Richard Maurice Charles Léopold Defays; 16 August 1934) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter, best known for the roles of a clumsy daydreamer in comedy films. Pierre Richard is considered by many, such as ...

in the comedy film ''

Le Distrait ''Le Distrait'' ( en, Absent-minded, alternative English title: ''The Daydreamer'') is a 1970 French comedy film directed by Pierre Richard, starring Pierre Richard, Marie-Christine Barrault and Bernard Blier. The film combines elements of slapst ...

''. In 1975 Barrault starred in '' Cousin Cousine'', for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She worked with Rohmer once again in 1978, in the role of

Guinevere Guinevere ( ; cy, Gwenhwyfar ; br, Gwenivar, kw, Gwynnever), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First ment ...

in ''

Perceval le Gallois ''Perceval le Gallois'' () is a 1978 historical drama film written and directed by Éric Rohmer, based on the 12th-century Arthurian romance ''Perceval, the Story of the Grail'' by Chrétien de Troyes. Synopsis The film chronicles Percival's kni ...

'' and she also has a cameo in his '' Chloe in the Afternoon''. Barrault is not fluent in English and therefore has generally turned down offers to appear in English-language films. However, in 1980 she accepted an offer from Woody Allen to appear in his film ''

Stardust Memories ''Stardust Memories'' is a 1980 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen and starring Allen, Charlotte Rampling, Jessica Harper and Marie-Christine Barrault. Sharon Stone has a brief role, in her film debut. The film is abo ...

''. In 1988 she was nominated for a

Genie Award The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for scu ...

for her performance in ''No Blame''. In 1991 she portrayed

Marie Curie Marie Salomea Skłodowska–Curie ( , , ; born Maria Salomea Skłodowska, ; 7 November 1867 – 4 July 1934) was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first ...

in a television mini-series. In her later career, she has preferred acting on the stage in France. In 2015, she came to Los Angeles on tour to perform in the play ''Les Yeux Ouverts'', in which she portrays French author

Marguerite Yourcenar Marguerite Yourcenar (, , ; born Marguerite Antoinette Jeanne Marie Ghislaine Cleenewerck de Crayencour; 8 June 1903 – 17 December 1987) was a Belgian-born French novelist and essayist, who became a US citizen in 1947. Winner of the ''Prix Fem ...

. Barrault's first husband was producer

Daniel Toscan du Plantier Daniel Toscan du Plantier (7 April 1941 – 11 February 2003) was a French film producer. Educated at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques he became advertising manager for the ''France Soir'' daily newspaper in 1966 and between 1975 and 1985 was di ...

, whom she married in 1965. With him, she had two children, David and Ariane. Barrault was married to

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''Di ...

Roger Vadim Roger Vadim Plemiannikov (; 26 January 1928 – 11 February 2000) was a French screenwriter, film director and producer, as well as an author, artist and occasional actor. His best-known works are visually lavish films with erotic qualities, su ...

from 1990 until his death from cancer in 2000. She herself is a breast cancer survivor.Barrault biography interview
accessed 1-13-2016

Select filmography

* ''L'oeuvre'' (1967, TV movie) Christine * ''

'' (1969) Françoise * ''Lancelot of the Lake'' (1970, TV movie) La reine Guenièvre * ''

Le distrait ''Le Distrait'' ( en, Absent-minded, alternative English title: ''The Daydreamer'') is a 1970 French comedy film directed by Pierre Richard, starring Pierre Richard, Marie-Christine Barrault and Bernard Blier. The film combines elements of slapst ...

'' (1970) Lisa Gastier * ''Le misanthrope'' (1971, TV movie) Célimène * ''Les papiers d'Aspern'' (1971, TV movie) Hélène Prest * ''Le sagouin'' (1972, TV movie) Léone * ''

Figaro-ci, Figaro-là ''Figaro-ci, Figaro-là'' is a 1972 French film directed by Hervé Bromberger. Cast * Jean-François Poron - Beaumarchais * Marie-Christine Barrault - Julie * Yves Rénier - Gudin * Isabelle Huppert - Pauline * Alexandre Rignault - Caron, le p ...

'' (1972, TV movie) Julie * '' Love in the Afternoon'' (1972) Dream Sequence * ''Les intrus'' (1972) Françoise * ''

Histoire vraie ''Histoire vraie'' is a 1973 French film directed by Claude Santelli. Cast * Pierre Mondy as Varnetot * Marie-Christine Barrault as Rose * Denise Gence as Mère Paumelle * Claude Brosset as Le fils Paumelle * Isabelle Huppert as Adelaïde ...

'' (1973, TV movie) Rose * ''L'enlèvement'' (1973, TV movie) Marie-Josèphe * ''Le tour d'écrou'' (1974, TV movie) Miss Jessel * ''La famille Grossfelder'' (1974, TV movie) Marie-Louise en 1930 * ''La confession d'un enfant du siècle'' (1974, TV movie) Brigitte * ''

John Glückstadt ''John Glückstadt'' is a 1975 West German drama film directed by Ulf Miehe. It was entered into the 25th Berlin International Film Festival. Cast * Dieter Laser as John Hansen "Glückstadt" * Marie-Christine Barrault as Hanna Hansen * Johannes ...

'' (1975) Hanna Hansen * '' Cousin Cousine'' (1975) Marthe * ''By the Tennis Courts'' (1976) Marie-Christine * ''Le chandelier'' (1977, TV movie) Jacqueline * ''

The Medusa Touch ''The Medusa Touch'' is a 1973 novel by Peter Van Greenaway, which was adapted fairly faithfully into a feature film in 1978. The novel tells the story of a radically disenchanted novelist with highly destructive telekinetic powers. ''The Medu ...

'' (1978) Patricia * ''

The Savage State ''The Savage State'' (or L'état sauvage) is a French drama film directed by Francis Girod. Plot In 1960, Minister of Information of a progressive African state still under French colonial rule, the doctor Patrice Doumbe also fighting against the ...

'' (1978) Laurence * ''

'' (1978) La Reine Guenevievre * ''

Woman Between Wolf and Dog ''Woman Between Wolf and Dog'' ( nl, Een vrouw tussen hond en wolf, french: Femme entre chien et loup) is a 1979 Belgian-French drama film directed by André Delvaux. It was entered into the 1979 Cannes Film Festival and received the André Cav ...

'' (1979) Lieve * ''Vestire gli ignudi'' (1979, TV movie) Ersilia * ''The Wonderful Adventures of Nils'' (1980, TV series) Narrator * ''My Dearest'' (1980) Jeanne * ''Petit déjeuner compris'' (1980, TV mini-series) Marie-Louise Leroux * ''Même les mômes ont du vague à l'âme'' (1980) Eva * ''

'' (1980) Isobel * ''L'amour trop fort'' (1981) Rose-Marie de Boisel * ''Après tout ce qu'on a fait pour toi'' (1982, TV movie) Jeanne * ''Le village sur la colline'' (1982, TV mini-series) Mme de Cheilly * ''Mir reicht's – ich steig aus'' (1983) * '' Table for Five'' (1983) Marie * ''

A Love in Germany ''Eine Liebe in Deutschland'' (''A Love in Germany'') is a 1983 feature film directed by Andrzej Wajda. The film is based on the novel by Rolf Hochhuth about a woman who commits adultery with a prisoner of war while her husband serves as a soldier ...

'' (1983) Maria Wyler * ''Les mots pour le dire'' (1983) Eliane * ''Orpheus'' (1983, TV movie) La mort * ''Swann in Love'' (1984) Madame Verdurin * ''

Pianoforte The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

'' (1984) La mère de Maria * ''L'année terrible'' (1985, TV movie) * ''Louise... l'insoumise'' (1985) Mme Royer * ''Le passage'' (1985, TV movie) Rhona * ''Je suis à Rio, ne m'attends pas pour dîner'' (1985, TV movie) Constance * ''A Better Life'' (1985) La mère de Véronique * ''

Power of Evil ''Power of Evil'' (french: Le pouvoir du mal, it, Paradigma, also known as ''Paradigm'') is a 1985 French-German-Italian Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Krzysztof Zanussi. Cast * Vittorio Gassman: Gottfried * ...

'' (1985) Sylvie * '' Le soulier de satin'' (1985) La lune * ''L'été 36'' (1986, TV movie) Lise * ''Vaudeville'' (1986) Madeleine * ''The Lizard King'' (1987, TV movie) * ''Manuela's Loves'' (1987) Manuela * ''Bonne fête maman'' (1987, TV movie) Jeanne Thomas * ''No Blame'' (1988, TV movie) Suzanne * ''Daniya, jardín del harem'' (1988) Almodís * ''Adieu je t'aime'' (1988) Nicole Dupré * ''

The Abyss ''The Abyss'' is a 1989 American science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron and starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. When an American submarine sinks in the Caribbean, a US search and recovery team ...

'' (1988) Hilzonde * ''Sanguine'' (1988) Nedie * ''Women in Prison'' (1988) Dessombes * ''Une femme tranquille'' (1989, TV movie) Marianne * ''Jesus of Montreal'' (1989) Dubbing actress * ''Un été d'orages'' (1989) Anne * ''Gallant Ladies'' (1990) Jacquette de Bourdeille * ''Moi, général de Gaulle'' (1990, TV movie) Mme Costal * ''L'enfant des loups'' (1991, TV movie) Leubovère * ''Marie Curie, une femme honorable'' (1991, TV mini-series) Marie Curie * '' Necessary Love'' (1991) Valentina * ''Jenny Marx, la femme du diable'' (1993, TV movie) Jenny Marx * ''

Amour Fou "Amour Fou" is the 38th episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the 12th of the show's third season. Its teleplay was written by Frank Renzulli from a story idea by series creator, David Chase. It was directed by Tim Van Patten a ...

'' (1993, TV movie) Louise * '' Next Time the Fire'' (1993) Elena * ''

Bonsoir ''Bonsoir'' is a 1994 France, French film directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky. Plot Having first lost his wife, then his job as a tweed tailor, Alex Ponttin (Michel Serrault) has devised a novel way to keep himself in touch with society. He admits hi ...

'' (1994) Marie Wileska * ''Les maîtresses de mon mari'' (1995, TV movie) Elisa * ''La nouvelle tribu'' (1996, TV mini-series) Jeanne * ''Tendre piège'' (1996, TV movie) Françoise * ''Mon père avait raison'' (1996, TV movie) Germaine Bellanger * ''Un coup de baguette magique'' (1997, TV movie) Jeanne * '' Obsession'' (1997) Ella Beckmann * ''Les braconniers de Belledombre'' (1997, TV movie) Françoise Sampaing * ''

Love, Math and Sex ''Love, Math and Sex'' (french: C'est la tangente que je préfère) is a 1997 French drama film directed by Charlotte Silvera. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival. Cast * J ...

'' (1997) La prof de maths * ''Le grand Batre'' (1997, TV movie) Thérèse * ''Maison de famille'' (1999, TV movie) Françoise Cornier * ''

The Dilettante ''The Dilettante'' (french: La Dilettante) is a 1999 French comedy film directed by Pascal Thomas and starring Catherine Frot, Sébastien Cotterot and Barbara Schulz. The film was entered into the 21st Moscow International Film Festival where Cat ...

'' (1999) Thérèse Rambert * ''

Azzurro "Azzurro" is an Italian pop song composed by Paolo Conte and Vito Pallavicini. Its most famous version was recorded by Adriano Celentano in 1968. Background Conte and Pallavicini wrote "Azzurro" especially for Celentano. The song describes a ...

'' (2000) Elizabeth Broyer * ''Le vieil ours et l'enfant'' (2001, TV movie) La Duchesse * ''Les amants de Mogador'' (2002) * ''Le Don fait à Catchaires'' (2003, TV movie) Jeanne * ''La deuxième vérité'' (2003, TV movie) Mathilde * ''Rêves en France'' (2003, TV movie) Madame Labourdette * ''Droit d'asile'' (2003, TV movie) Christine * ''Saint-Germain ou La négociation'' (2003, TV movie) Catherine de Médicis * ''Parlez-moi d'amour'' (2005, TV movie) Élisa * ''Ange de feu'' (2006, TV movie) Janine Cordey * ''Passés troubles'' (2006, TV movie) Béatrice * ''

Trivial Trivia is information and data that are considered to be of little value. It can be contrasted with general knowledge and common sense. Latin Etymology The ancient Romans used the word ''triviae'' to describe where one road split or forked ...

'' (2007) Mélanie Bérangère * ''

Making Plans for Lena ''Making Plans for Lena'' (french: Non ma fille, tu n'iras pas danser) is a 2009 French drama film directed by Christophe Honoré, who co-wrote the screenplay with Geneviève Brisac. It stars Chiara Mastroianni, Marina Foïs, Marie-Christine Bar ...

'' (2009) Annie * '' L'Art de la fugue'' (2014) Nelly * ''Shades of Truth'' (2015) Sister Maria Angelica

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Barrault, Marie-Christine 1944 births Living people Actresses from Paris French film actresses French television actresses French National Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni French stage actresses 20th-century French actresses 21st-century French actresses Audiobook narrators