Isabelle Huppert
Isabelle Huppert studied the russian language at the institute Langues O, as well as acting at the École Dramatique de la Rue Blanche and at Conservatoire National d’ Art Dramatique, with Jean-Laurent Cochet and Antoine Vitez.
She impressed from the very beginning of her career with her participation in Bertrand Blier’s “Going places”, Lilliane de Kermadec’s “Aloise” and in Bertrand Tavernier’s “The judge and the assassin”. For her interpretation at Claude Gorreta’s “The Lacemaker” she received BAFTA’s Rising Star Award. During her collaboration with Claude Chabrol she interpreted all kind of roles: in a comedy like “Rien ne va plus”, in a drama like “Story of women” in a film noir like “Nightcap”, in a novel adaptation like “Madame Bovary” or in a political fiction like “Comedy of power”. For the movies directed by Claude Chabrol she received various awards: Prix d’ Interprétation in Cannes festival for “Violette Nozière”, in Venice festival for “Story of women” in the Moscow festival for “Madame Bovary” and Prix d’ Interprétation in Venice festival and César of best actress for “La Cérémonie”.
She collaborated with directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, André Téchiné, Maurice Pialat, Patrice Chéreau, Michael Haneke, Raoul Ruiz, Benoit Jacquot, Jacques Doillon, Claire Denis , as well as with Christian Vincent, Laurence Ferreira Barbosa, Olivier Assayas, François Ozon, Anne Fontaine, Eva Ionesco, Joachim Lafosse, Serge Bozon, Catherine Breillat, Guillaume Nicloux and Samuel Benchetrit. Her international collaborations include Michael Cimino, Joseph Losey, Otto Preminger, Taviani brothers, Marco Ferreri, Hal Hartley, David O’ Russell, Werner Schroeter as well as Andrzej Wajda, Rithy Panh, Brillante Mendoza, Joachim Trier and Hong Sang Soo.
In Venice festival, the jury honored her with a special Golden Lion for Patrice Chéreau’s “Gabrielle”, and for her entire career. In Cannes she received twice the Prix d’ Interpretation, the second time for Michael Haneke’s “The Pianist”. In Cannes she has been member of the jury and Master of Ceremony and at the 62nd edition of the Festival president of the jury.
Beside her cinema career, Huppert continues her international theatre career. Her collaborations include Virginia Wolf’s “Orlando” and Heiner Müller’s “Quartet” directed by Bob Wilson, “Measure for Measure” directed by Peter Zadek, “4.48 Psychosis” by Sarah Kane directed by Claude Régy, “Jeanne au bucher” by Paul Claudel, “Medea” by Euripides directed by Jacques Lasalle in the Avignon Festival, “Hedda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen directed by Eric Lacascade, “The God of Carnage” by Yasmina Reza, “A Tramway” based on Tennessee Williams directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski at Theatre de l’ Odeon and on European and international tour, “The Maids” by Jean Genet directed by Benedict Andrews, with Cate Blanchett at Sidney Theatre Company and at the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City Center. She played as well in “False Confessions” by Marivaux directed by Luc Bondy at Theatre de l’ Odeon and on European tour, in "Phaedra(s)" by Wajdi Mouawad, Sarah Kane and J.M. Coetzee directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski at Theatre de l’ Odeon and on European and international tour. This year in New York she played in the American adaptation of Florian Zeller’s “The Mother” and in Paris “Mary said what she said” directed by Bob Wilson. This production is now on European tour.
Recently she received the Molière Award for her entire career, as well as the 16th European Theatre Prize in Rome. Her recent films include: MiaHansen Love‘s “L’avenir”, Pascal Bonitzer’s “Right here right now”, Paul Verhoeven’s “Elle” presented at Cannes festival and Bavo Devurne’s “Souvenir”. She received several prizes in the U.S. such as the Gotham Award, the Golden Globe award and the Spirit Award for “Elle”, for which she was awarded the César Award and was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar Award.
Recent films include Michaël Haneke’s “Happy End”, Benoit Jacquot’s “Eva”, Hong Sang Soo’s “Claire’s camera” and Serge Bozon’s “Mrs Hyde” for which has received prix d’interprétation feminine, Neil Jordan’s “Greta”, Eva Ionesco’s “Golden Youth”, Anne Fontaine’s “White as snow”, Ira Sachs’s “Frankie”.
This year she participated in Flora Lau’s “Luz” and in Jean-Paul Salomé’s “La Darone”.
Isabelle Huppert is an officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, of the French Order of Merit and of the Order of Art and Letters.
