It’s been nearly sixty years since 24-year-old Catherine Deneuve and her older sister Françoise Dorléac starred as twins in *The Young Girls of Rochefort*.
The movie, which also featured a young Gene Kelly, was the last film the sisters made together. Deneuve went on to become internationally famous, while Françoise’s life and career were tragically cut short.
Born into an acting family, Deneuve, now 79, made her first appearance in the 1957 French movie *The Twilight Girls*. Her big break came in 1960 when she starred in *The Umbrellas of Cherbourg*, a romantic musical that highlighted her French style and innocence, launching her into stardom. This was just the beginning of many films she would make with director Jacques Demy.
Her talent for dramatic roles caught the eye of legendary director Roman Polanski, who cast her in the psychological thriller *Repulsion*. Deneuve’s brilliant performance as Carol, a mentally troubled woman, earned her the nickname “ice maiden.” This image was solidified in her next film, *Belle de Jour*, where she played a housewife who secretly works as a prostitute—a role that won her awards and global fame.
In 1963, Deneuve became a mother, having a son with French screenwriter Roger Vadim. She later had the chance to star alongside her older sister, Françoise Dorléac, in the 1967 musical *The Young Girls of Rochefort*. The two sisters were very close, and with their similar looks, playing twins in the movie felt natural.
But just three months after *Rochefort* was released, tragedy struck. Françoise, at only 25, died in a car accident, a moment Deneuve describes as the most painful in her life.
“The day I lost my sister, I lost my joy of living… it is the most painful thing I have experienced,” she shared in an interview with *Paris Match*, a French weekly magazine.
The loss of her sister didn’t slow down Catherine Deneuve, who became the epitome of 1960s glamor, often seen as a femme fatale wrapped in Yves Saint Laurent.
Deneuve, known as the face of French cinema, has appeared in over 120 films throughout her 60-year career. Reflecting on how the industry has changed, Deneuve explained, “Human nature is vast. There are roles more suited to people of my generation. As you age, it’s the same in life—you gain experience and play characters you couldn’t when you were 30.” She added, “It’s hard to find the right path. You can age better in Europe than in America. But women today look younger than they did 50 years ago. Back then, a 50-year-old woman looked her age. Now, not so much.”
Despite her worldwide fame, Deneuve has mostly starred in French films, with only a few roles in English-language films.
Catherine Deneuve explained why she mostly supports French cinema, saying, “I feel very French, but I speak Italian and English, so I feel very European. However, I don’t feel close to English people. Even though England is not far, their sensibility and character are very different.” She added, “I feel closer to Spanish or Italian people because the Latin character is different from the Anglo-Saxon one. We have different educations and cultures.”
Some of her English-speaking roles include *The April Fools* with Jack Lemmon (1969), *Hustle* with Burt Reynolds (1973), *March or Die* with Gene Hackman (1977), and the 1983 cult classic *The Hunger*, where she played a lesbian vampire alongside David Bowie and Susan Sarandon.
In 1972, Deneuve divorced British photographer David Bailey, whom she married in 1965 after meeting at a Playboy shoot. Their wedding guests included Mick Jagger. From 1970 to 1974, she was in a relationship with Italian film icon Marcello Mastroianni, with whom she had a daughter in 1972.
In 1980, Catherine Deneuve delivered an award-nominated performance in *The Last Metro*, starring alongside another famous French actor, Gérard Depardieu. This marked the beginning of a successful collaboration, as they would appear in 15 films together.
Deneuve mentioned that she and Depardieu have similar work styles, saying, “We are both instinctive actors. We prefer to arrive on set and figure things out in the moment rather than rehearse ahead of time.”
In the 1990s, Deneuve received an Oscar nomination and a César Award (France’s national film award) for her role in the French period drama *Indochine*. The film, released in 1992, also won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
The 2000s introduced Catherine Deneuve to new roles, including the award-winning musical drama *Dancer in the Dark*, where she starred alongside the unique Icelandic singer Björk. In 2010, she reunited with Gérard Depardieu for the eighth time in the film *Potiche*.
After appearing in the 2019 film *The Truth* with Ethan Hawke and Juliette Binoche, Deneuve was filming the French movie *Peaceful* when she was hospitalized due to a stroke. Although her family described it as a “very limited” ischemic stroke, production on the film was delayed until July 2020, when the then 76-year-old actress was able to return. Deneuve, who had smoked since she was 16, finally quit after her month-long hospital stay.
Honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, the French icon, who celebrates her 80th birthday this year, continues to thrive, and we look forward to seeing her in many more films!
People Wondered about the Purpose of These 6 Things & Got Unexpected Answers
The world is a captivating realm, teeming with enigmatic objects that never cease to astound individuals with their appearance and, of course, their elusive purposes. After all, not everything can be unraveled through a simple Google search, especially when you’re not entirely sure what you’re seeking.
Two hands holding a question mark sign | Source: Shutterstock
In our everyday lives, mysteries constantly pique our curiosity, compelling us to unravel their secrets. The internet, our boundless portal to knowledge, connects us with online communities of investigators passionate about exploring these enigmas. Through the digital realm, the pursuit of understanding has transcended physical boundaries, offering us a wealth of information and expertise at our fingertips.
A man in a white shirt scratching his head | Source: Shutterstock
Every click delves deeper into the fascinating tapestry of the world, revealing hidden stories and captivating facts. Yet, amidst these discoveries, a universal truth emerges: often, things are not as extraordinary as they first seemed to be. Here are six mystery finds that people wondered about and received unexpected answers.
6. Junk or Something More?
An original poster shared this picture online after finding what they decided to call a “scoopy doodad” in a junk drawer. Holding the mysterious item in both their hands, they turned to the virtual world for help and, of course, answers.
The Answer: According to netizens, the classic Sunbeam Mixmaster came with a juicer attachment, a bowl that could attach to the top of the mixer. The strange object happened to be the spout the juice would pour out of, with the wire part holding a small strainer to filter out the pulp.
5. An Old Cabinet Find
One user stumbled upon something in an old cabinet, which they said was made entirely of glass and had narrow holes throughout its length. Hoping to find out what it was, they shared the peculiar object’s photo online, and fortunately, many people were quick to solve the puzzle.
The Answer: The odd-looking glass object turned out to be a flower frog, used for holding a flower arrangement in a vase. The person who shared the answer said it had been made obsolete by foam and gels.
4. A Heavy Glass Object
This person turned to Reddit to share a picture of a glass object lying on a wooden table. They said it was extremely heavy, came with no markings, and bore a very narrow hole on its top. What could it be?
The Answer: The mystery of the bizarre-looking glass object was cracked by a genius netizen who used two words to solve the puzzle: Oil candle. We bet you didn’t see that one coming, or did you?
3. The Mystery Object Hiding inside a Bedroom Drawer
A Reddit user didn’t expect to find this unusual object while opening their bedside drawer. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that its bottom appeared to be made of suede or soft leather. But that was all they could manage to guess or conclude.
The Answer: Nobody could have guessed what it was until one user shared the answer and solved the mystery: It was a nail buffer. Even the original poster was shocked and said they clearly didn’t pay much attention to their nails.
2. What’s Hiding underneath the Floorboards?
Sharing the picture of a silver-colored object, somewhat resembling an antique scissor of sorts, one user couldn’t help but wonder what it could be. They said they found the bizarre thing under the floorboards in an 1800’s era home
The Answer: The mystery of the puzzling item was cracked by one netizen, who shared it was used to remove the top of soft-boiled eggs. Another user quickly confirmed that the answer was correct.
1. A Baffling Hotel Room Find
A guest staying in a hotel room was baffled when they stumbled upon a vertical slot inside their bedside table. They couldn’t help but wonder what it was used for, and when they struggled to find the answer, they decided to ask the online community for help.
The Answer: It turned out that the slot was used for storing a laptop or tablet while charging them overnight, so they didn’t occupy too much room on the entire nightstand. The user who shared the answer said they asked about it at their hotel’s front desk. They also pointed out that the hotel seemed familiar to the one they booked in Philly, and OP was quick to respond in the affirmative.
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