Marie-Christine Barrault
Marie-Christine Barrault is a French actress. She is best known for her performance in Cousin Cousine for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. 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 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 and Madeleine Renaud. 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. She made her feature film debut in Éric Rohmer's My Night at Maud's. In 1970 Barrault was featured along with Pierre Richard in the comedy film Le Distrait. 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 in Perceval le Gallois and she also has a cameo in his Love 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. In 1988 she was nominated for a Genie Award for her performance in No Blame. In 1991 she portrayed Marie Curie 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.
Barrault's first husband was producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier, whom she married in 1965. With him, she had two children, David and Ariane. Barrault was married to director Roger Vadim from 1990 until his death from cancer in 2000. She herself is a breast cancer survivor.
In 2024, she returned to the silver screen in an Italian film, Per il mio bene, the debut feature by Mimmo Verdesca, in which she plays the complex role of “Anna”, a mother wounded and tormented by a disturbing past.
Select filmography
L'oeuvre ChristineMy Night at Maud's FrançoiseLancelot of the Lake La reine GuenièvreLe distrait Lisa GastierLe misanthrope CélimèneLes papiers d'Aspern Hélène PrestLe sagouin LéoneFigaro-ci, Figaro-là JulieLove in the Afternoon Dream SequenceLes intrus FrançoiseHistoire vraie RoseL'enlèvement Marie-JosèpheLe tour d'écrou Miss JesselLa famille Grossfelder Marie-Louise en 1930La confession d'un enfant du siècle BrigitteJohn Glückstadt Hanna HansenCousin Cousine MartheBy the Tennis Courts Marie-ChristineLe chandelier JacquelineThe Medusa Touch PatriciaThe Savage State LaurencePerceval le Gallois La Reine GuenevievreWoman Between Wolf and Dog LieveVestire gli ignudi ErsiliaThe Wonderful Adventures of Nils NarratorMy Dearest JeannePetit déjeuner compris Marie-Louise LerouxMême les mômes ont du vague à l'âme EvaStardust Memories IsobelL'amour trop fort Rose-Marie de BoiselAprès tout ce qu'on a fait pour toi JeanneLe village sur la colline Mme de CheillyMir reicht's – ich steig aus Table for Five MarieA Love in Germany Maria WylerLes mots pour le dire ElianeOrpheus La mortSwann in Love Madame VerdurinPianoforte La mère de MariaL'année terrible Louise... l'insoumise Mme RoyerLe passage RhonaJe suis à Rio, ne m'attends pas pour dîner ConstanceA Better Life La mère de VéroniquePower of Evil SylvieLe soulier de satin La luneL'été 36 LiseVaudeville MadeleineThe Lizard King Manuela's Loves ManuelaBonne fête maman Jeanne ThomasNo Blame SuzanneDaniya, jardín del harem AlmodísAdieu je t'aime Nicole DupréThe Abyss HilzondeSanguine NedieWomen in Prison DessombesUne femme tranquille MarianneJesus of Montreal Dubbing actressUn été d'orages AnneGallant Ladies Jacquette de BourdeilleMoi, général de Gaulle Mme CostalL'enfant des loups LeubovèreMarie Curie, une femme honorable Marie CurieNecessary Love ValentinaJenny Marx, la femme du diable Jenny MarxAmour Fou LouiseNext Time the Fire ElenaBonsoir Marie WileskaLes maîtresses de mon mari ElisaLa nouvelle tribu JeanneTendre piège FrançoiseMon père avait raison Germaine BellangerUn coup de baguette magique JeanneObsession Ella BeckmannLes braconniers de Belledombre Françoise SampaingLove, Math and Sex La prof de mathsLe grand Batre ThérèseMaison de famille Françoise CornierThe Dilettante Thérèse RambertAzzurro Elizabeth BroyerLe vieil ours et l'enfant La DuchesseLes amants de Mogador Le Don fait à Catchaires JeanneLa deuxième vérité MathildeRêves en France Madame LabourdetteDroit d'asile ChristineSaint-Germain ou La négociation Catherine de MédicisParlez-moi d'amour ÉlisaAnge de feu Janine CordeyPassés troubles BéatriceTrivial Mélanie BérangèreMaking Plans for Lena AnnieL'Art de la fugue NellyShades of Truth Sister Maria AngelicaBlind Willow, Sleeping Woman Komura's motherFiasco 'The Ties That Bind Us Per il mio bene Anna