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Léa Hélène Seydoux-Fornier de Clausonne (; born 1 July 1985) is a French actress. Prolific in both French cinema and Hollywood, she has received five
César Award Cesar or César may refer to: Arts and entertainment * César (film), ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama * César (film), ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt Places * Cesar, Portugal * Cesar Department, Colombia * Cesar R ...
nominations, two
Lumière Awards The Lumière Awards (), officially the Lumières de la presse internationale, are French film awards presented by the to honor the best in the French-speaking cinema of the previous year. The awards ceremony is organized by the Académie des ...
, a
Palme d'Or The (; ) is the highest prize awarded to the director of the Best Feature Film of the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festiv ...
and a
BAFTA Award The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs or BAFTA Awards, is an annual film award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to f ...
nomination. In 2009, she won the Trophée Chopard Award for Female Revelation of the Year at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
. In 2016, Seydoux was honoured with appointment as a Dame of the Order of Arts and Letters . In 2022, the
French government The Government of France (, ), officially the Government of the French Republic (, ), exercises Executive (government), executive power in France. It is composed of the Prime Minister of France, prime minister, who is the head of government, ...
made her a Dame of the National Order of Merit. She began her acting career with her film debut in '' Girlfriends'' (2006), with early roles in '' The Last Mistress'' (2007) and ''
On War ''Vom Kriege'' () is a book on war and military strategy by Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831), written mostly after the Napoleonic wars, between 1816 and 1830, and published posthumously by his wife Marie von Brühl in 1832. It ...
'' (2008). She won acclaim for her French roles in '' The Beautiful Person'' (2008), (2010), and '' Farewell, My Queen'' (2012). During this time, she expanded her career appearing in supporting roles in high-profile Hollywood films, including
Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American filmmaker, actor, and author. Quentin Tarantino filmography, His films are characterized by graphic violence, extended dialogue often featuring much profanity, and references to ...
's ''
Inglourious Basterds ''Inglourious Basterds'' is a 2009 epic film, epic war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars an ensemble cast including Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger ...
'' (2009),
Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer. He directs films in the Science fiction film, science fiction, Crime film, crime, and historical drama, historical epic genres, with an atmospheric and highly co ...
's ''
Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...
'' (2010),
Woody Allen Heywood Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades. Allen has received many List of awards and nominations received by Woody Allen, accolade ...
's '' Midnight in Paris'' (2011) and the action film '' Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'' (2011). Her breakthrough role came with the controversial and acclaimed film '' Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' (2013) for which she received the Lumière Award for Best Actress, as well as the at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
alongside her co-star Adèle Exarchopoulos. She received her second Lumière Award within the same year for the film '' Grand Central''. She gained international attention for her role as Bond girl
Madeleine Swann Madeleine Swann is a Bond girl, character in the James Bond films ''Spectre (2015 film), Spectre'' (2015) and ''No Time to Die'' (2021), played by actress Léa Seydoux. She is one of only two Bond girls to appear in two films and first in the film ...
in '' Spectre'' (2015), and '' No Time to Die'' (2021). She has appeared in the
Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. Wes Anderson filmography, His films are known for themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Due to his films' eccentricity, distinctive visual and narrative ...
films '' The Grand Budapest Hotel'' (2014) and '' The French Dispatch'' (2021). Other notable roles include ''
Beauty and the Beast "Beauty and the Beast" is a fairy tale written by the French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in (''The Young American and Marine Tales''). Villeneuve's lengthy version was abridged, rewritten, and publish ...
'' (2014), '' Saint Laurent'' (2014), '' The Lobster'' (2015), '' Zoe'' (2018), ''
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
'' (2021), '' Crimes of the Future'' (2022), '' One Fine Morning'' (2022), '' The Beast'' (2023) and '' Dune: Part Two'' (2024). Seydoux has also worked as a model. She has been showcased in '' Vogue Paris'', '' American Vogue'', '' L'Officiel'', ''
Another Magazine ''Another Magazine'', styled ''AnOther'', is an international fashion and culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, bel ...
'' and '' W magazine,'' among others. Since 2016, she has been a brand ambassador for
Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Malletier SAS, commonly known as Louis Vuitton (, ), is a French Luxury goods, luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton (designer), Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its products, ...
.


Early life

Léa Seydoux was born on 1 July 1985, the daughter of businessman Henri Jérôme Seydoux-Fornier de Clausonne and philanthropist Valérie Schlumberger. She was born in Passy, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, and grew up in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement. She had a strict
Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
upbringing, but she is not religious. Seydoux is one of seven children; her siblings and half-siblings include stylist Camille Seydoux. Seydoux's parents are both partly of Alsatian descent. The Seydoux family is widely known in France and influential in the movie industry. Her grandfather, Jérôme Seydoux, is the chairman of
Pathé Pathé SAS (; styled as PATHÉ!) is a French major film production and distribution company, owning a number of cinema chains through its subsidiary Pathé Cinémas and television networks across Europe. It is the name of a network of Fren ...
; her great-uncle, Nicolas Seydoux, is the chairman of Gaumont; her other great-uncle, Michel Seydoux, also a cinema producer, is the chairman of the
Lille Lille (, ; ; ; ; ) is a city in the northern part of France, within French Flanders. Positioned along the Deûle river, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Prefectures in F ...
-based football club
Lille OSC Lille Olympique Sporting Club (), commonly referred to as LOSC, LOSC Lille or simply Lille, is a French professional association football, football club based in Lille, Northern France competing in Ligue 1, the top division of Football in Franc ...
; and her father is the founder and CEO of the French wireless company
Parrot Parrots (Psittaciformes), also known as psittacines (), are birds with a strong curved beak, upright stance, and clawed feet. They are classified in four families that contain roughly 410 species in 101 genus (biology), genera, found mostly in ...
. She has said that her family initially took no interest in her film career and did not help her, and that she and her influential grandfather were not close. As a child, she had no desire to act. She instead wanted to be an opera singer, studying music at the ''
Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), or the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (; CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue Jean Ja ...
''. Seydoux said: "I had a beautiful voice, but I lost it. I was too shy. I went to the ''
Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), or the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (; CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue Jean Ja ...
'', and I tried to learn how to properly sing. It was too difficult. You have to do all the breathing exercises. You have to have a very strict regimen". Seydoux's parents divorced when she was three years old and they were often away, her mother in Africa and her father on business, which, combined with her large family, meant that she "felt lost in the crowd... I was very lonely as a kid. Really, I always had the feeling I was an orphan". Through her family involvement in media and entertainment, Seydoux grew up acquainted with artists such as photographer
Nan Goldin Nancy Goldin (born 1953) is an American photographer and activist. Her work explores in snapshot-style the emotions of the individual, in intimate relationships, and the Bohemian style, bohemian LGBT subcultural communities, especially dealing w ...
, musicians
Lou Reed Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942October 27, 2013) was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Althoug ...
and
Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English musician. He is known as the lead singer and one of the founder members of The Rolling Stones. Jagger has co-written most of the band's songs with lead guitarist Keith Richards; Jagge ...
and footwear designer Christian Louboutin, who is her godfather. For six years, Seydoux went to
summer camp A summer camp, also known as a sleepaway camp or residential camp, is a supervised overnight program for children conducted during the summer vacation from school in many countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer residential camps ...
in
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
, at the behest of her father, who wanted her to learn to speak English. Her mother Valérie Schlumberger is a former actress-turned-philanthropist and the founder of the boutique ''Compagnie d'Afrique du Sénégal et de l'Afrique de l'ouest'' (CSAO), which promotes the work of African artists. Seydoux once worked as a model for their jewellery line ''Jokko''. Schlumberger, who lived in
Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...
as a teenager, is also the founder of the charitable organisations ''Association pour le Sénégal et l'Afrique de l'Ouest'' (ASAO) and ''Empire des enfants'', a centre for homeless children in
Dakar Dakar ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The Departments of Senegal, department of Dakar has a population of 1,278,469, and the population of the Dakar metropolitan area was at 4.0 mill ...
, of which Seydoux is the "godmother". Seydoux describes her youthful self as short-haired, slightly dishevelled, and viewed as a bit strange: "People liked me, but I always felt like a misfit". Still concerned about her shyness in adulthood, Seydoux has admitted to having had an anxiety crisis during the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, saying: 'I'll never be
Sophie Marceau Sophie Marceau (; born Sophie Danièle Sylvie Maupu, 17 November 1966) is a French actress. As a teenager, she achieved popularity with her debut films ''La Boum'' (1980) and ''La Boum 2'' (1982), receiving a César Award for Most Promising Act ...
, I'm too weird'. Later, she stated: "In the middle of the Cannes hysteria, I felt fragile and vulnerable. I made this comparison because I'll never be France's "petite fiancée".
Sophie Marceau Sophie Marceau (; born Sophie Danièle Sylvie Maupu, 17 November 1966) is a French actress. As a teenager, she achieved popularity with her debut films ''La Boum'' (1980) and ''La Boum 2'' (1982), receiving a César Award for Most Promising Act ...
represents anything, while I don't have a definite place. But it's not a problem, it's an observation".


Career


2005–2007: Career beginnings

Seydoux has stated that as a child she wanted to become an
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
singer, studying music at the
Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), or the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (; CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue Jean Ja ...
, but eventually her shyness compelled her to drop the idea. It was not until the age of eighteen that she decided to become an actress. One of her close friends was an actor, and Seydoux has said: "I found his life wonderful, I thought, 'Oh my God, you can travel, you're free, you can do what you want, you're the boss. She fell in love with an actor and decided to become an actress to impress him. Years later, Seydoux revealed that this actor was her longtime friend, Louis Garrel. She took acting classes at French drama school ''Les Enfants Terribles'', having Jean-Bernard Feitussi as her close friend and mentor, and in 2007 she took further training at New York's
Actors Studio The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights located on West 44th Street in Hell's Kitchen in New York City. The studio is best known for its work refining and teaching method actin ...
with Corinne Blue. In 2005, Seydoux appeared in the music video for Raphaël's single, "''Ne partons pas fâchés''". The following year, Seydoux played her first major screen role as one of the main characters in Sylvie Ayme's '' Girlfriends'' (''Mes copines''). She starred in Nicolas Klotz's short film ''La Consolation'', which was exhibited at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. In these years, she also did her first work as a model for '' American Apparel'', posing for their ''Pantytime'' campaign, and had a role in the films ''13 French Street'' and '' The Last Mistress''.


2008–2012: French cinema and Hollywood expansion

Seydoux came to widespread attention in 2008, when she appeared in Christophe Honoré's '' The Beautiful Person'', a role that earned her the 2009 Chopard Award at the Cannes Film Festival for ''Best Upcoming Actress'' and a
César Award Cesar or César may refer to: Arts and entertainment * César (film), ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama * César (film), ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt Places * Cesar, Portugal * Cesar Department, Colombia * Cesar R ...
nomination for ''Most Promising Actress''. In 2009, she had a major part in Jessica Hausner's ''
Lourdes Lourdes (, also , ; ) is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for its Château fort, a ...
'', and a small role in her first Hollywood film,
Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American filmmaker, actor, and author. Quentin Tarantino filmography, His films are characterized by graphic violence, extended dialogue often featuring much profanity, and references to ...
's ''
Inglourious Basterds ''Inglourious Basterds'' is a 2009 epic film, epic war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars an ensemble cast including Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger ...
''. In 2010, she starred alongside Russell Crowe in
Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer. He directs films in the Science fiction film, science fiction, Crime film, crime, and historical drama, historical epic genres, with an atmospheric and highly co ...
's ''
Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary noble outlaw, heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature, theatre, and cinema. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions o ...
'', playing Isabella of Angoulême. That same year, she appeared in Louis Garrel's short-film ''Petit Tailleur'', Rebecca Zlotowski's , which earned her a second
César Award Cesar or César may refer to: Arts and entertainment * César (film), ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama * César (film), ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt Places * Cesar, Portugal * Cesar Department, Colombia * Cesar R ...
nomination for ''Most Promising Actress'', and Raúl Ruiz's '' Mysteries of Lisbon''. Seydoux auditioned and was one of the four finalists, to play Lisbeth Salander in ''
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'' (original title in ) is a psychological thriller novel by Swedish author Stieg Larsson. It was published posthumously in 2005, translated into English in 2008, and became an international bestseller. ''T ...
'', but the part ultimately went to actress Rooney Mara. Seydoux recalled in an interview: "I got upset, but I don't think I'd be able to do anything to get that part. It was totally against my nature. I worked hard, but Lisbeth was almost anorexic. I wasn't like that". In 2011, she played Gabrielle in the romantic comedy '' Midnight in Paris''. Later, Seydoux participated in another Hollywood production, '' Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'', in which she played the assassin Sabine Moreau alongside stars
Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and film producer. Regarded as a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood icon, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Tom Cruise, various accolades, includ ...
and Jeremy Renner. She also played Elle in the short-film ''Time Doesn't Stand Still'' by
Benjamin Millepied Benjamin Millepied (; born 10 June 1977) is a French dancer and choreographer, who has lived and worked in the United States since joining the New York City Ballet in 1995, where he became a soloist in 1998 and a principal in 2002. He has als ...
and Asa Mader.' After ''Mission: Impossible'', Seydoux returned to French cinema, starring in '' My Wife's Romance'' (''Le Roman de ma femme'') and '' Roses à crédit''. More generally, Léa Seydoux's career accelerated from 2012 and allowed the actress to choose her projects from the requests she received, without necessarily having to go through screen tests. According to the specialist press, the young woman then appeared as one of the "essential French actresses in Hollywood", and even as "the most sought-after actress of her generation", who at only 26 years-old, "has always made the right choices and has tackled almost all genres". In the process, she became the image of the perfume ''Candy'' for the Italian luxury group Prada. In 2012, she starred in '' Farewell, My Queen''. The film opened the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, where it was met with critical acclaim. Critics praised director
Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having cont ...
's decision to cast Seydoux in the key-role of Sidonie, stating "her luminous but watchful eyes suggest a soul wise beyond her years." Kenneth Turan of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that Seydoux was an excellent choice for the part, calling her a remarkably versatile young actress and pointed to the stark difference in her characters from her previous roles in '' Midnight in Paris'' and '' Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol''. That same year, she appeared in the Swiss drama film, ''
Sister A sister is a woman or a girl who shares parents or a parent with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to ref ...
''. The film competed in competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Special Award, the ''Silver Bear'', and was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the
85th Academy Awards The 85th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2012 and took place on February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, beginning at 5:30 p ...
. Critics again praised Seydoux for bringing a strong array of emotions to a highly unsympathetic part and called her performance intensely moving. That year, Seydoux was attached to star in Michael Gondry's ''Mood Indigo'', but had to drop out before filming due to scheduling conflicts with '' Blue Is the Warmest Colour'', being replaced by Charlotte Le Bon. By the end of 2012, she had filmed '' Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' by Abdellatif Kechiche, and '' Grand Central'' by Rebecca Zlotowski, both exhibited at the 66th Cannes Film Festival.


2013–2018: ''Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' and critical acclaim

In 2013, Seydoux was nominated for ''Best Actress'' at the 38th César Awards for her role as Sidonie Laborde in
Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having cont ...
's '' Farewell, My Queen''. Later that year at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, '' Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' won the and the jury, headed by
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg ( ; born December 18, 1946) is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is ...
, took the unusual move of awarding the prize not just to the director Abdellatif Kechiche, but also to the film's two stars, Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Seydoux stated: "Winning that honor was such a thing. It's engraved in me". Also remarking that "attending the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
will always remind me of that big moment of my life". In 2014, Seydoux won the ''Best Actress'' award at the 19th Lumière Awards for her role in ''Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' and '' Grand Central''. She was also nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award and the
César Award for Best Actress Cesar or César may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama * ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt Places * Cesar, Portugal * Cesar Department, Colombia * Cesar River, in Colombia * Cesa ...
in the same year. Her role in ''Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' earned her rave reviews, numerous accolades and international attention. Seydoux co-starred with
Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He has earned a César Awards, César Award and a Canadian Screen Awards, Canadian Screen Award as well as nominations for a European Film Awards, European Film Award and a Screen Ac ...
in ''
Beauty and the Beast "Beauty and the Beast" is a fairy tale written by the French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in (''The Young American and Marine Tales''). Villeneuve's lengthy version was abridged, rewritten, and publish ...
'', a Franco-German romantic fantasy film directed by Christophe Gans. Her other 2014 films were '' The Grand Budapest Hotel'', a
Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. Wes Anderson filmography, His films are known for themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Due to his films' eccentricity, distinctive visual and narrative ...
film in which she played Clotilde; and
Bertrand Bonello Bertrand Bonello (; born 11 September 1968) is a French film director, screenwriter, producer, composer and actor. His work has been associated with the New French Extremity. He wrote and directed ''Something Organic'' (1998), '' The Pornographe ...
's '' Saint Laurent'', in which she played the role of the titular designer's muse, Loulou de la Falaise. Seydoux was supposed to star in
Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having cont ...
's ''Three Hearts'', alongside Catherine Deneuve and Charlotte Gainsbourg, but ended up dropping out due to the worldwide press tour of ''Blue Is the Warmest Colour''. She was replaced by Deneuve's daughter, Chiara Mastroianni. In 2015, Seydoux starred with Vincent Lindon in '' Diary of a Chambermaid'', a period piece based on Octave Mirbeau's novel '' Le Journal d'une femme de chambre''. Originally, the film was announced with Marion Cotillard in the leading role, but the script was rewritten specifically for Seydoux, marking her second collaboration with
Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having cont ...
, after the 2012 film '' Farewell, My Queen''. Although the film was screened in competition at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival to mixed reviews, critics were generally receptive to Seydoux's performance. Peter Bradshaw of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' said that it was "a fine central performance from Seydoux", while critic Jordan Mintzer wrote that her performance is "robust and engaging throughout he film. Seydoux appeared alongside
Colin Farrell Colin James Farrell (; born 31 May 1976) is an Irish actor. A Leading actor, leading man in blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters and independent films since the 2000s, he has received various List of awards and nominations received by Col ...
and
Rachel Weisz Rachel Hannah Weisz (; born 7 March 1970) is an English actress. Known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Rachel Weisz, several awards, including an Academy Award, ...
in Yorgos Lanthimos's English-language debut '' The Lobster'' (2015), in which she played the ruthless leader of a group of rebels, the loners, who live in the woods. The film had its premiere at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the '' Jury Prize.'' She also appears as
Madeleine Swann Madeleine Swann is a Bond girl, character in the James Bond films ''Spectre (2015 film), Spectre'' (2015) and ''No Time to Die'' (2021), played by actress Léa Seydoux. She is one of only two Bond girls to appear in two films and first in the film ...
, the Bond girl in the 2015 film '' Spectre'', the 24th ''James Bond'' film. Seydoux was cast in
Valérie Donzelli Valérie Donzelli (born 2 March 1973) is a French actress, filmmaker and screenwriter. She has directed six feature films and two short films since 2008, including the film ''Declaration of War'' (2011). Early life Valérie Donzelli was born in ...
's '' Marguerite & Julien'', but dropped out before shooting, being replaced by Anaïs Demoustier. In 2022, Seydoux remembered the occasion, saying that she was against the fact that Donzelli seemed to approve the incestuous relationship between the two main roles, "she wanted to do a film where even you can fall in love with your biological brother. I was like, 'No. In 2016,
Minister of Culture A culture minister or a heritage minister is a common cabinet position in governments. The culture minister is typically responsible for cultural policy, which often includes arts policy (direct and indirect support to artists and arts organiza ...
Fleur Pellerin made her a Dame of the Order of Arts and Letters (). Seydoux later appeared in
Xavier Dolan Xavier Dolan-Tadros (; born 20 March 1989) is a Canadian filmmaker and actor. He began his career as a child actor in commercials before directing several arthouse feature films. He first received international acclaim in 2009 for his feature ...
's '' It's Only the End of the World'', based on Jean-Luc Lagarce's play ''Juste la fin du monde''. In 2018, Seydoux co-starred alongside Ewan McGregor in '' Zoe'', a sci-fi romance by
Drake Doremus Drake Doremus (; born March 29, 1983) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer best known for directing the films ''Like Crazy'' (2011), which won the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, ''Douchebag (film) ...
. The film had its world premiere at the
Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Enterprises. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive programming. The festival ...
on April. She also appeared in Thomas Vinterberg's ''
Kursk Kursk (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur (Kursk Oblast), Kur, Tuskar, and Seym (river), Seym rivers. It has a population of Kursk ...
'', a drama film about the 2000 Kursk submarine disaster. In May 2018, she served as a member of the jury at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. Also in May 2018, it was announced that Seydoux would star in Ari Folman's ''Horse Boy'' with Joel Kinnaman. Folman said that it was "a passion project" and that "he felt compelled to explore this important story in a cinematic way", but the movie was never shot. Seydoux was invited to join the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., with the stated goal of adva ...
within the same year.


2019–present: Work with auteurs and continued acclaim

Seydoux stars in
Hideo Kojima is a Japanese video game designer. Regarded as one of the pioneering auteurs of video games, he developed a strong passion for film and literature during his childhood and adolescence, which in turn has had a significant influence on his game ...
's video game '' Death Stranding''. She provided the
voice The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound produ ...
,
performance A performance is an act or process of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function. Performance has evolved glo ...
and her likeness to the character Fragile, the head of ''Fragile Express''. ''Death Stranding'' released in November 2019 to positive reviews in which critics called her a "marvel", and described her performance as being among some of the "most nuanced performance capture ever seen in the medium". She will also star in the game's sequel, '' Death Stranding 2: On the Beach''. She also appeared in '' Oh Mercy!'', a French crime drama by director
Arnaud Desplechin Arnaud Desplechin (; born 31 October 1960) is a French film director and screenwriter. In 2016, he won the César Award for Best Director for ''My Golden Days'' (2015). He has also written and directed the films ''The Sentinel (1992 film), The Sen ...
. The film premiered at Cannes and was selected to compete for the
Palme d'Or The (; ) is the highest prize awarded to the director of the Best Feature Film of the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festiv ...
. In 2020, Seydoux collaborated with
Arnaud Desplechin Arnaud Desplechin (; born 31 October 1960) is a French film director and screenwriter. In 2016, he won the César Award for Best Director for ''My Golden Days'' (2015). He has also written and directed the films ''The Sentinel (1992 film), The Sen ...
for the second time on ''
Deception Deception is the act of convincing of one or many recipients of untrue information. The person creating the deception knows it to be false while the receiver of the information does not. It is often done for personal gain or advantage. Tort of ...
'' (2021). In June 2020, Seydoux was cast as the lead role in Arnaud des Pallières' ''Party of Fools'' (2023), alongside Charlotte Rampling and
Cécile de France Cécile or Cecile is a female given name or surname. People Given name * Ce'cile (Cecile Charlton, born 1976), Jamaican musician * Severin Cecile Abega (1955–2008), Cameroonian author * Cécile Aubry (1928–2010), retired French film actres ...
, but all three actresses dropped out of the movie before filming, with Seydoux being replaced by Mélanie Thierry. In September 2020, it was announced that Seydoux would be starring in Mia Hansen-Løve's film '' One Fine Morning''. For her performance in ''One Fine Morning'', Seydoux received critical acclaim, Justin Chang from ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' praised her: "Walking down the street in a sweater and a short-cropped Jean Seberg haircut, Seydoux dissolves into Sandra's world beautifully. What holds you, as much as the actor's natural magnetism, is her ability to hold things back, her talent for emotional reserve". Hansen-Løve declared herself to be a huge admirer of Seydoux as an actor, as well as her choices throughout her vast filmography, saying: "A lot of ercharacters are very sophisticated, very glamorous. In the past, it felt she was seen by male directors as a bit of a fantasy. I wanted her to be more down-to-earth, closer to us, closer to me. And I had the feeling there was a rawness about her that my film could maybe emphasize". In addition, Seydoux stated that "it's the first time that I really played a normal woman, the girl next door". In 2021, Seydoux reprised her role as
Madeleine Swann Madeleine Swann is a Bond girl, character in the James Bond films ''Spectre (2015 film), Spectre'' (2015) and ''No Time to Die'' (2021), played by actress Léa Seydoux. She is one of only two Bond girls to appear in two films and first in the film ...
in the
James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...
film '' No Time to Die''. The film's release was postponed worldwide due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. She starred in
Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. Wes Anderson filmography, His films are known for themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Due to his films' eccentricity, distinctive visual and narrative ...
's ensemble comedy-drama '' The French Dispatch'' (2021). She played Lizzy in Ildikó Enyedi's '' The Story of My Wife'' (2021), and starred in the film ''
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
'' (2021) by Bruno Dumont. In January 2021, it was announced that Seydoux would star in
Bertrand Bonello Bertrand Bonello (; born 11 September 1968) is a French film director, screenwriter, producer, composer and actor. His work has been associated with the New French Extremity. He wrote and directed ''Something Organic'' (1998), '' The Pornographe ...
's sci-fi melodrama '' The Beast'' (''La Bête''). Seydoux's performance in ''The Beas''t was called a "career-best" from critics, Yasmin Omar from ''Curzon'' wrote: "What keeps all of the film's sky-high concepts not only legible, but engrossing, is Seydoux; she is its grounding force, guiding us through the Dantean maze of mahogany-panelled ballrooms and neon-streaked dancefloors". In April 2021, '' Deadline'' reported that Seydoux would star alongside Kristen Stewart and
Viggo Mortensen Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. (; born October 20, 1958) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received nominations for three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. Mortensen made his film debut with a small role in ...
in David Cronenberg's sci-fi thriller '' Crimes of the Future''. Seydoux said in the film, she plays a surgeon in a dystopian future "where people eat plastic". The film premiered in competition at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
in May 2022. In January 2022, Seydoux was nominated as ''Best Actress'' at the 47th César Awards for her role in Bruno Dumont's ''France'' (2021). It was her fifth nomination. In June 2022, it was announced that Seydoux was cast as Lady Margot in
Denis Villeneuve Denis Villeneuve Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, OAL (; ; born October 3, 1967) is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. He has received seven Canadian Screen Awards as well as nominations for four Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and two ...
’s '' Dune: Part Two'', which released in March 2024. In 2023, Seydoux dropped out of two projects she was cast in 2022: David Cronenberg's '' The Shrouds'', being replaced by Diane Kruger and Audrey Diwan's '' Emmanuelle'', being replaced by Noémie Merlant. A year later, Seydoux said that the reason she dropped out of ''The Shrouds'' was because she wanted to have some time for herself, adding: "I loved working with David Cronenberg. I love him. I'm a huge fan, but then I thought, first of all, I was a bit tired. I wanted to have a break". In January 2024, Seydoux revealed in an interview with ''
Télérama ''Télérama'' is a weekly French language, French cultural and television magazine published in Paris, France. The name is a contraction of its earlier title: ''Télévision-Radio-Cinéma''. Fabienne Pascaud is currently managing editor. Ludovic ...
'' that she had recently completed two weeks of filming for an unannounced new film by Quentin Dupieux, then titled ''À notre beau métier'' (''To Our Beautiful Profession''), which would also star Louis Garrel, Raphaël Quenard and Vincent Lindon. Seydoux read the script in one sitting and quickly accepted the role out of admiration for Dupieux, who she described as an "extraordinary filmmaker" whose style of humour "hides an increasingly social depth, through imperfect and clumsy characters". She described the film as a '' mise en abyme'' about "actors who play in a lousy film" and confront their characters and lines, and appraised it as "crazy" and "very, very funny". Production for the film was kept fully secret from beginning to end. ''The Second Act'' was selected to be the opening film at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere out-of-competition on 14 May 2024. It was released theatrically in France on the same day by Diaphana Distribution and became a box-office hit with nearly 500,000 spectators, making it Dupieux's biggest success to date. In March 2024, it was announced that Seydoux would reunite for the second time with Ildiko Enyedi in ''Silent Friend''. In the film, she will play a scientist named Alice, opposite Tony Leung. Filming took place in
Marburg Marburg (; ) is a college town, university town in the States of Germany, German federal state () of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf Districts of Germany, district (). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has ...
, from April to May. Also in March 2024, it was announced that Seydoux would reunite with
Arnaud Desplechin Arnaud Desplechin (; born 31 October 1960) is a French film director and screenwriter. In 2016, he won the César Award for Best Director for ''My Golden Days'' (2015). He has also written and directed the films ''The Sentinel (1992 film), The Sen ...
for the third time, as she signed on to star in ''The Thing That Hurts'', alongside Golshifteh Farahani, John Turturro and Jason Schwartzman. In April 2024, it was announced that Seydoux will star opposite of Josh O'Connor in
Luca Guadagnino Luca Guadagnino (; born 10 August 1971) is an Italian film director and producer. His films are characterized by their emotional complexity, eroticism, and lavish visuals. Guadagnino has received numerous accolades, including a Silver Lion, alon ...
's ''Separate Rooms,'' an adaptation of the 1989 novel ''Camera separate'' by Pier Vittorio Tondelli. In May 2024, Seydoux signed on to star in ''The Unknown'', the next film by Arthur Harari, after being attached to the project since September 2023. Also in May 2024, the French magazine ''
Le Monde (; ) is a mass media in France, French daily afternoon list of newspapers in France, newspaper. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average print circulation, circulation of 480,000 copies per issue in 2022, including ...
'' revealed that Seydoux will star in
Leos Carax Alex Christophe Dupont (born 1960), best known as Leos Carax (), is a French film director, critic and writer. Carax is noted for his poetic style and his tortured depictions of love. His first major work was ''Boy Meets Girl (1984 film), Boy Me ...
's next project. In October 2024, it was announced that Seydoux would be part of the ensemble cast for the film ''Alpha Gang'' by the Zellner brothers, joining
Cate Blanchett Catherine Élise Blanchett ( ; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor and producer. Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for Cate Blanchett on screen and stage, her versatile work across stage and scre ...
, Steven Yeun, Zoe Kravitz,
Riley Keough Danielle Riley Keough ( ; born May 29, 1989) is an American actress. Born into the Presley family, she is the oldest daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and the eldest grandchild of Elvis Presley. She initially started her career as a model from 200 ...
,
Channing Tatum Channing Matthew Tatum (born April 26, 1980) is an American actor and producer. He made his film debut in the drama ''Coach Carter'' (2005), and had his Breakthrough role, breakthrough with the sports comedy film ''She's the Man'' (2006) and t ...
and Dave Bautista.


Other endeavours


Advertising campaigns and endorsements

Seydoux has modelled for numerous magazines and brands, but sees herself "always as an actress", not as a model.Topel, Fred
Cannes Roundtable: Lea Seydoux on Blue is the Warmest Colour
, ''
CraveOnline Mandatory (formerly CraveOnline Media) is a lifestyle website based in Los Angeles with sales offices in New York City, Chicago and San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial D ...
'', 26 May 2013
In 2007, she participated in the '' Levi's'' television advert "''Dangerous'' ''Liaison''" alongside Raphael Personaz, and has been seen in several photo editorials, including for '' Vogue Paris'', '' American Vogue'', '' Numéro'', '' L'Officiel'', '' CRASH'', ''
Another Magazine ''Another Magazine'', styled ''AnOther'', is an international fashion and culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, bel ...
'' and '' W magazine''. She fronted the 2013 campaign for South Korean-based but French-inspired jewellery line ''Didier Dubot'' and appeared in ''Rag & Bone'''s Fall 2013 campaign with Michael Pitt. She also appeared in a nude pictorial for French men's magazine '' Lui''. In addition, Seydoux and her '' Blue Is the Warmest Colour'' co-star Adèle Exarchopoulos were featured in Miu Miu's 2014 resort ad campaign. Seydoux advertised for Prada's 2012 ''Resort'' line; and is the face of its 2013 campaign for the fragrances ''Prada Candy'' (shot by Jean-Paul Goude), ''Prada Candy L'Eau'' (directed by
Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. Wes Anderson filmography, His films are known for themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Due to his films' eccentricity, distinctive visual and narrative ...
and Roman Coppola), and the 2014 campaign for ''Prada Candy Florale'' perfume (shot by
Steven Meisel Steven Meisel (born June 5, 1954) is an American fashion photographer, who obtained popularity and critical acclaim with his work in '' Vogue'' and '' Vogue Italia'' as well as his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book, '' Sex''. He is ...
). For most of the 2010s, the actress was dressed for her red carpet appearances by her own sister, fashion designer Camille Seydoux, whose career took off when she dressed Seydoux for the
César Awards The César Award is the national film award of France. It is delivered in the ' ceremony and was first awarded in 1976. The nominations are selected by the members of twelve categories of filmmaking professionals and supported by the French Min ...
ceremony in 2011. The duo then appeared several times in the rankings of the best dressed actresses in France and abroad. Since 2016, Seydoux has been a brand ambassador for
Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Malletier SAS, commonly known as Louis Vuitton (, ), is a French Luxury goods, luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton (designer), Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its products, ...
.


Public image

Regularly present on the big screen in the 2010s and 2020s with nearly four films shot per year, Léa Seydoux has earned a reputation for excelling in ambiguous and minimalist acting, in restraint, inviting the viewer to invest themselves in trying to unravel the mystery of her characters. Directors, screenwriters and on-screen partners see in her an actress who does a lot with little, and who makes her scenes richer than they appear through her presence and vulnerability. At the beginning of her career, the actress oscillated between two types of characters in particular, "inconsolable melancholic" or "poisonous solar". The precision of her diction, despite the "machine-gun flow" she can adopt is noted, as is her indifference to having to sometimes undress in front of the camera, which she attributes to the fact of having been raised by a mother "with a loving gaze". Her characters are regularly objects of desire, filmed from the point of view of a male fantasy; since the filming of '' Blue Is the Warmest Colour'', however, she has been more attentive to the shots of these nude scenes and checks the shots on the monitor. According to her directors, the actress has a timeless physique that would allow her to project all kinds of narrative issues and social origins onto her characters, and would particularly facilitate her casting in period films, whether she is a maid to Marie Antoinette or a chambermaid. The variety in her choice of films and roles leads ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' to recognize that it is difficult to place her in a single register, even if she is always identified with her "presence at once seductive and discreet". Seydoux is seen as a "director's actress", whose performance closely follows the direction adopted by the film's director to adapt to the chosen style. This approach explains the fact that a large part of her filmography is made up of collaborations with the same people:
Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. Wes Anderson filmography, His films are known for themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Due to his films' eccentricity, distinctive visual and narrative ...
(four),
Bertrand Bonello Bertrand Bonello (; born 11 September 1968) is a French film director, screenwriter, producer, composer and actor. His work has been associated with the New French Extremity. He wrote and directed ''Something Organic'' (1998), '' The Pornographe ...
(three), Rebecca Zlotowski (two), Ildikó Enyedi (two),
Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having cont ...
(two),
Arnaud Desplechin Arnaud Desplechin (; born 31 October 1960) is a French film director and screenwriter. In 2016, he won the César Award for Best Director for ''My Golden Days'' (2015). He has also written and directed the films ''The Sentinel (1992 film), The Sen ...
(two). Several directors design or write their films with Seydoux in mind, such as Anderson, Desplechin or Mia Hansen-Løve. She compares her philosophy to a statement by Isabelle Huppert, in which the actress said that she made her own film within each film she made, and considers the actor as co-author of the film in the same way as the director. The actress does not rely entirely on her instinct, as she continually searches for the character of her character, demanding additional takes to move from one mood to another, and is completely invested in satisfying the director's vision. Ursula Meier, who won the Silver Bear in Berlin as a director in ''Sister'', said that "she has a grace, something unique. You can project whatever you want onto her, as a spectator or as a director. That's why she is so desired".


Acting style

Seydoux is praised by her versatility and her bold choices as an actor. Yasmin Omar from ''Curzon'' wrote in 2024: "You never know what you're going to get when you sit down to watch a Léa Seydoux film. She could be a tattoo-sleeved pothead, a sexually reawakened widow or a gun-toting assassin. She could be a misbehaving nun, a mentally unstable news anchor or a disfigured performance artist". ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' places Seydoux in a line of actresses that includes
Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau (; 23 January 1928 – 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française. Mo ...
and Paulette Goddard. For the Swiss daily ''
Le Temps ' (, ) is a Swiss French-language daily newspaper published in Berliner format in Geneva by Le Temps SA. The paper was launched in 1998, formed out of the merger of two other newspapers, and (the former being a merger of two other papers), ...
,'' the actress, "at ease in blockbusters and art films, with her undeniably feline beauty, a little lunar, even stubborn, and the veil of melancholy tempering the disapproval of her gaze, is as beautiful as a prey as a predator, as common as an aristocrat". ''
The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...
'' sees her as "always captivating", hiding layer after layer of vulnerability. Physically, ''
Libération (), popularly known as ''Libé'' (), is a daily newspaper in France, founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968 in France, May 1968. Initially positioned on the far left of Fr ...
'' detects in her "pale similarities to Anna Karina"; for ''
Télérama ''Télérama'' is a weekly French language, French cultural and television magazine published in Paris, France. The name is a contraction of its earlier title: ''Télévision-Radio-Cinéma''. Fabienne Pascaud is currently managing editor. Ludovic ...
'', her complexion and her blondness evoke the young women in the paintings of Renoir or
Botticelli Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi ( – May 17, 1510), better known as Sandro Botticelli ( ; ) or simply known as Botticelli, was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance. Botticelli's posthumous reputation suffered until the late 1 ...
. Her easily recognizable smile, with a space between the two central incisors, also reminded several newspapers of the appearance and presence of Brigitte Bardot. Thierry Frémaux, general delegate of the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
, where Seydoux was one of the most frequent guests in the 2010s, states that she "owes nothing to a recognized lineage, she came out of nowhere and remains unpredictable, inventing herself, according to her wishes, the multiple requests of which she is the subject: from pure French auteur cinema to American blockbusters. Léa is Brigitte Bardot, plus Juliette Binoche, plus
Kate Moss Katherine Ann Moss (born 16 January 1974) is an English model. Arriving towards the end of the "supermodel era", Moss rose to fame in the early 1990s as part of the heroin chic fashion trend. Her collaborations with Calvin Klein brought her t ...
, and sometimes all three at the same time". Seydoux says she is a big admirer of Catherine Deneuve, whose acting she considers "full of instinctive intelligence and self-mockery", and Isabelle Huppert, for the same intelligence, culture and sensitivity. In return, Deneuve sent her congratulations in 2022 for her role in ''The Story of My Wife''. In interviews, Seydoux says she watches few films, and generally films that are not from contemporary cinema, such as her favourite film, ''A Place in the Sun'' by
George Stevens George Cooper Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for ''A Place in the Sun (1951 film), A Place in the Sun'' (1951) ...
. She mentions
Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick filmography, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or sho ...
,
Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 â€“ 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film and theatre director and screenwriter. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential film directors of all time, his films have been described as "profoun ...
,
Robert Bresson Robert Bresson (; 25 September 1901 – 18 December 1999) was a French film director. Known for his ascetic approach, Bresson made a notable contribution to the art of cinema; his non-professional actors, Ellipsis (narrative device), ellipses, an ...
,
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-war, p ...
and
Pedro Almodóvar Pedro Almodóvar Caballero (; born 25 September 1949) is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and author. His films are distinguished by Melodrama (film genre), melodrama, irreverent humour, bold colour, glossy décor, quotations from popular c ...
as her favourite directors.


In the media

The most sought-after French actress of her generation, Léa Seydoux is often compared to Marion Cotillard, ten years her senior, with whom she shares a similar international career and critical success. ''
Télérama ''Télérama'' is a weekly French language, French cultural and television magazine published in Paris, France. The name is a contraction of its earlier title: ''Télévision-Radio-Cinéma''. Fabienne Pascaud is currently managing editor. Ludovic ...
'' also unites them by acclaiming them in 2021 as the "two best renchexports". In the French cinema landscape, the actress emerges as a discreet star, absent from the tabloid press and social media, and uncomfortable in interviews. When campaigning for her films, the actress can be disarming with her spontaneity and her tendency to go beyond promotional conventions, for example by talking about a film other than the one she is supposed to discuss with a journalist or expressing surprise at the marketing resources made available to promote a film. During the 2010s, the actress's career became almost inseparable from the prestigious
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
: the business magazines ''
Le Figaro () is a French daily morning newspaper founded in 1826. It was named after Figaro, a character in several plays by polymath Pierre Beaumarchais, Beaumarchais (1732–1799): ''Le Barbier de Séville'', ''The Guilty Mother, La Mère coupable'', ...
'', ''
The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' and '' Deadline'' noted that she had become one of its biggest regulars, presenting at least one film in competition almost every year, which often won one of the prizes at stake, when she herself was not a member of the jury; appearing in four films selected for the festival in 2021 would also constitute a record of 18. In 2021, '' Deadline'' noted that since Seydoux's first invitation to the festival, she had achieved the status of "one of France's most beloved exports". The international news agency ''
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
'' echoes many media in summarizing in 2022 that Léa Seydoux, who has become one of the most famous faces of European cinema and a notable actress in each of her forays into Hollywood, "reigns at Cannes".


Personal life

Seydoux's godfather is footwear designer, Christian Louboutin. Seydoux lives in Paris. She has been in a relationship with André Meyer since 2013. They have one child. In the wake of the
Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases In October 2017, ''The New York Times'' and ''The New Yorker'' reported that dozens of women had accused the American film producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse over a period of at least 30 years. Over 80 women i ...
and the MeToo movement in 2017, she accused
Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein (, ; born March 19, 1952) is an American film producer and convicted sex offender. In 1979, Weinstein and his brother, Bob Weinstein, co-founded the entertainment company Miramax, which produced several successful independent ...
of
sexual assault Sexual assault is an act of sexual abuse in which one intentionally Physical intimacy, sexually touches another person without that person's consent, or Coercion, coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their w ...
. In 2019, ''
Reader's Digest ''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his wi ...
'' named her in their list of "Amazing French actresses in film history". In 2020, Seydoux was included on '' Vogue''s list of "The most beautiful French actresses of all time". In 2022, she was made a Dame of the National Order of Merit by the French government. In July 2021, Seydoux missed the 74th Cannes Film Festival, where she had four films at that year's selection, due to testing positive for COVID. In September 2023, Seydoux was absent from the premiere of '' The Beast'' at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, in support of the
2023 SAG-AFTRA strike From July 14 to November 9, 2023, the American actors' union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) went on strike over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Pro ...
. In June 2024, Seydoux signed a petition addressed to French President
Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017. He was Ministry of Economy and Finance (France), Minister of Economics, Industr ...
demanding that France officially recognize the
State of Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...
. In May 2025, Seydoux signed an open letter criticizing the film industry's "passivity" during the ongoing Gaza genocide.


Filmography


Film


Television


Video games


Accolades

In 2016, Seydoux was honoured with the Dame of the Order of Arts and Letters. In 2018, Seydoux was invited to join the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., with the stated goal of adva ...
.


References


External links

* *
Léa Seydoux
at The Filmaholic

at Agence Adéquat
Léa Seydoux
at Models.com

at Agences Artistiques {{DEFAULTSORT:Seydoux, Lea 1985 births 21st-century French actresses Actresses from Paris People from Alsace Conservatoire de Paris alumni Best Actress Lumières Award winners Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite Former Protestants French female models French film actresses French people of German descent Living people Chopard Trophy for Female Revelation winners