Cécile de France


Cécile de France is a Belgian actress. After achieving success in French cinema with hits such as L'Art (délicat) de la séduction and Irène, she gained international attention for her lead roles in High Tension and Hereafter.

Life and career

Born in Namur, she left Belgium at the age of 17 to go to Paris where she studied theatre for two years with actor Jean Paul Denizon, assistant to British director Peter Brook. She then spent three years at the acting academy ENSATT in the Département Comédie first at the Rue Blanche in Paris, then in Lyon. She was discovered by the agent Dominique Besnehard and appeared in French hit films such as L'Art de la séduction and Irène.
Her international breakthrough came with the horror film High Tension. She caught the eye of Hollywood producers and soon landed her first major role in a US feature, Around the World in 80 Days, in which she starred alongside Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan.
She won two César Awards for Most Promising Actress in L'Auberge espagnole, and Best Supporting Actress in Les Poupées russes. In 2014, she hosted the 39th César Awards ceremony.
She was selected to be on the jury for the Cinéfondation and short films sections of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. She was also selected to be on the jury for the main competition section of the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.
Internationally, she has appeared in Hereafter directed by Clint Eastwood and The French Dispatch directed by Wes Anderson.

Personal life

She has two children, Lino and Joy Siron, with musician Guillaume Siron.

Theatre

  • 1996: Dormez je le veux by Georges Feydeau, directed by Benoît Blanpain
  • 1996: Une palette rouge sang by Valeria Moretti, directed by Jean Paul Denizon
  • 1996: Le songe d'une nuit d'été by William Shakespeare, directed by Pierre Pradinas
  • 1997: Variations Strindberg-Feydeau, directed by Nada Strancar
  • 1998: Pour nous, directed by Serguei Issayev
  • 1998: Tu serais un ange tombé du ciel exprès pour nous by N. Sadour and A. Vampilov
  • 1999, 2000: Electre, by Sophocle, directed by Claudia Stavisky
  • 1999: Le baladin du monde occidental de John Millington Synge, directed by Philippe Delaigue
  • 2001: Mademoiselle Julie by August Strindberg, directed by Gwenaël Morin
  • 2001: SC35C, by Jean-Michel Frère

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2000Acting AwardWon
2002César AwardMost Promising ActressL'Auberge EspagnoleWon
2002Lumière AwardsMost Promising ActressL'Auberge EspagnoleWon
2003Sitges Film FestivalBest ActressHigh TensionWon
2003Shooting Stars AwardWon
2005César AwardBest Supporting ActressRussian DollsWon
2005Prix Romy SchneiderWon
2007Swann d'OrBest ActressAvenue MontaigneWon
2007César AwardBest ActressAvenue MontaigneNomitated
2007Globes de Cristal AwardBest ActressAvenue MontaigneNomitated
2007César AwardBest ActressWhen I Was a SingerNomitated
2007Bayard d'Or AwardBest ActressHand of the Headless ManWon
2008César AwardBest ActressA SecretNomitated
2008Globes de Cristal AwardBest ActressA SecretWon
2009Magritte AwardBest ActressSister SmileNomitated
2010Saturn AwardBest ActressHereafterNomitated
2011European Film AwardBest ActressThe Kid with a BikeNomitated
2011Magritte AwardBest ActressThe Kid with a BikeNomitated
2016César AwardBest ActressSummertimeNomitated
2018Magritte AwardBest ActressJust to Be SureNomitated
2019Magritte AwardBest ActressMademoiselle de JoncquièresNomitated
2020Magritte AwardBest ActressA Bigger WorldNomitated
2022César AwardsBest Supporting RoleLost Illusions