Maïwenn Le Besco
Encyclopedia
Maïwenn is a French actress and film director.
, who ushered her into the entertainment industry at a young age, an experience later chronicled by Le Besco in her one-woman shows "Le Pois Chiche" and "I'm an Actress". Maïwenn Le Besco starred in several films as a child and teenage actress, notably as "Elle as a child" (the child version of the lead role played by Isabelle Adjani
) in the hit film L'été meurtrier (One Deadly Summer, 1983). In 1991, due to her difficult relationship with her parents, she decided to use only her given name professionally
She met director and producer Luc Besson
in 1991. The two later began a relationship, after which Maïwenn, having lost her motivation as an actress, interrupted her career for several years. She lived in Beverly Hills raising the daughter she had had with Besson at the age of 16. During this period, she only appeared in a supporting part in Léon
, in which she was credited as Ouin-Ouin. She also directed the film's making-of
. Perhaps Maïwenn's most internationally-seen film role was her appearance as the alien diva Plavalaguna in Luc Besson
's The Fifth Element
(French and UK coproduction, 1997).
After her breakup with Luc Besson, Maïwenn returned to France and resumed her career as an actress. She performed as a standup comedian in an autobiographical one-woman-show, and reentered the movie business after several filmmakers saw her comedy routine in Paris. She appeared in several notable movies, including the horror film Haute Tension
(English title: High Tension), in which she starred opposite Cécile de France
. In 2006, she directed her first feature film, the semi-autobiographical Pardonnez-moi
.
Her latest film Poliss
won the Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival
.
. They were still engaged at the beginning of filming for The Fifth Element, during which Besson left her for Milla Jovovich
. Maïwenn later had a son, Diego, with her second husband, Jean-Yves Le Fur
.
Biography and career
She is the daughter of actress Catherine BelkhodjaCatherine Belkhodja
Catherine Belkhodja is a French artist, actress and film director.-Early life:Catherine Belkhodja was born in Paris to a Kabyle Algerian father and a French mother on 15 April 1955. She first lived and studied in Algiers where she started to write her first short stories...
, who ushered her into the entertainment industry at a young age, an experience later chronicled by Le Besco in her one-woman shows "Le Pois Chiche" and "I'm an Actress". Maïwenn Le Besco starred in several films as a child and teenage actress, notably as "Elle as a child" (the child version of the lead role played by Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Adjani
Isabelle Yasmine Adjani is a French film actress and singer. Adjani has appeared in 30 films since 1970. She holds the record for most César Awards for Best Actress with five, for Possession , One Deadly Summer , Camille Claudel , Queen Margot and Skirt Day...
) in the hit film L'été meurtrier (One Deadly Summer, 1983). In 1991, due to her difficult relationship with her parents, she decided to use only her given name professionally
She met director and producer Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
in 1991. The two later began a relationship, after which Maïwenn, having lost her motivation as an actress, interrupted her career for several years. She lived in Beverly Hills raising the daughter she had had with Besson at the age of 16. During this period, she only appeared in a supporting part in Léon
Léon (film)
Léon is a 1994 French thriller film written and directed by Luc Besson...
, in which she was credited as Ouin-Ouin. She also directed the film's making-of
Making-of
In cinema, a making-of, also known as behind-the-scenes, is a documentary film that features the production of a film or television program...
. Perhaps Maïwenn's most internationally-seen film role was her appearance as the alien diva Plavalaguna in Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
's The Fifth Element
The Fifth Element
The Fifth Element is a 1997 French science fiction film directed, co-written, and based on a story by Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Milla Jovovich...
(French and UK coproduction, 1997).
After her breakup with Luc Besson, Maïwenn returned to France and resumed her career as an actress. She performed as a standup comedian in an autobiographical one-woman-show, and reentered the movie business after several filmmakers saw her comedy routine in Paris. She appeared in several notable movies, including the horror film Haute Tension
Haute Tension
Haute Tension is a 2003 French horror film that was later released in 2004 in the United Kingdom and 2005 in the United States and Canada. The film, directed by Alexandre Aja, stars Cécile de France, Maïwenn and Philippe Nahon....
(English title: High Tension), in which she starred opposite Cécile de France
Cécile de France
Cécile de France is a Belgian actress. After achieving success in French cinema hits such as L'Art de la séduction and Irène , she gained international attention for her lead role in Haute Tension and Hereafter .- Career :Born in Namur, she left Belgium at the age of 17 to go to Paris where she...
. In 2006, she directed her first feature film, the semi-autobiographical Pardonnez-moi
Pardonnez-moi
Pardonnez-moi is a 2006 French film written and directed by Maïwenn, starring Maïwenn, Pascal Greggory, Hélène de Fougerolles, and Aurélien Recoing. The film was retitled Forgive Me for the English-language international market...
.
Her latest film Poliss
Poliss
Poliss is a 2011 French drama film written, directed by and starring Maïwenn. It also stars Joeystarr, Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle and Riccardo Scamarcio. The film centres on the Child Protection Unit in Paris, and a photographer who is assigned to cover the unit. The title is a...
won the Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival
2011 Cannes Film Festival
The 64th annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 11 to May 22, 2011. American actor Robert De Niro served as the president of the jury for the main competition and French filmmaker Michel Gondry headed the jury for the short film competition...
.
Private life
Maïwenn had a daughter, Shana, in 1993 with director Luc BessonLuc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
. They were still engaged at the beginning of filming for The Fifth Element, during which Besson left her for Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich December 17, 1975)is an American model, actress, musician, and fashion designer. Over her career, she has appeared in a number of science fiction and action-themed films, for which music channel VH1 has referred to her as the "reigning queen of kick-butt".Milla Jovovich began...
. Maïwenn later had a son, Diego, with her second husband, Jean-Yves Le Fur
Jean-Yves Le Fur
Jean-Yves Le Fur is a French magazine publisher. He is the publisher of DS magazine and Numéro. He is also the former companion of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Marie Gillain, Karen Mulder and is now married to Maiwenn Le Besco. He is the son of Parisian auctioneer Rémy Le Fur.-References:...
.
Complete filmography
Actress
- 1981 : L'Année prochaine... si tout va bien de Jean-Loup Hubert : Prune
- 1983 : L'Été meurtrier de Jean Becker : Éliane (Isabelle AdjaniIsabelle AdjaniIsabelle Yasmine Adjani is a French film actress and singer. Adjani has appeared in 30 films since 1970. She holds the record for most César Awards for Best Actress with five, for Possession , One Deadly Summer , Camille Claudel , Queen Margot and Skirt Day...
) jeune - 1988 : L'Autre nuit de Jean-Pierre Limosin : Joan
- 1990 : Lacenaire de Francis GirodFrancis GirodFrancis Girod was a French film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 20 films between 1974 and 2006. His film L'enfance de l'art was entered into the 1988 Cannes Film Festival...
: Hermine - 1991 : La Gamine de Hervé Palud : Carole Lambert
- 1994 : The ProfessionalLéon (film)Léon is a 1994 French thriller film written and directed by Luc Besson...
: Blond Babe - 1997 : The Fifth ElementThe Fifth ElementThe Fifth Element is a 1997 French science fiction film directed, co-written, and based on a story by Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Milla Jovovich...
(dir Luc BessonLuc BessonLuc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
) : La Diva Plavalaguna - 2001 : 8, rue Charlot de Bruno GarciaBruno GarciaBruno Garcia da Silva is a Brazilian film, television and stage actor.-Filmography:*2006 - Saneamento Básico*2006 - Cleópatra*2005 - Sal de Prata*2003 - Bala na marca do Pênalti...
: Karine - 2003 : Haute TensionHaute TensionHaute Tension is a 2003 French horror film that was later released in 2004 in the United Kingdom and 2005 in the United States and Canada. The film, directed by Alexandre Aja, stars Cécile de France, Maïwenn and Philippe Nahon....
de Alexandre AjaAlexandre AjaAlexandre Aja is a French film director who rose to international stardom for his 2003 horror film Haute Tension .-Personal life:...
: Alex - 2004 : Osmose de Raphaël FejtöRaphaël FejtöRaphaël Fejtö is a French actor, director, and author. He is most famous for co-starring in Louis Malle's semi-autobiographical 1987 motion picture Au revoir, les enfants ....
: une amie à la fête - 2004 : Les ParisiensLes parisiensLes Parisiens , is a film directed by Claude Lelouch, released 15 September 2004.-Synopsis:...
de Claude Lelouch : la chanteuse Shaa - 2005 : Le Courage d'aimerLe courage d'aimerLe Courage d'aimer is a comedy drama directed by Claude Lelouch released on 29 June 2005. It is the result of a recutting of the first part of an unfinished trilogy - Le Genre humain with the scenes from the film that would have constituted the second film, called Le Bonheur, c'est mieux que la...
de Claude Lelouch : Shaa - 2006 : Pardonnez-moiPardonnez-moiPardonnez-moi is a 2006 French film written and directed by Maïwenn, starring Maïwenn, Pascal Greggory, Hélène de Fougerolles, and Aurélien Recoing. The film was retitled Forgive Me for the English-language international market...
de Maïwenn : Violette - 2008 : Le bal des actrices de Maïwenn
- 2011 : Polisse de Maïwenn
Screenwriter
- 2006 : Pardonnez-moiPardonnez-moiPardonnez-moi is a 2006 French film written and directed by Maïwenn, starring Maïwenn, Pascal Greggory, Hélène de Fougerolles, and Aurélien Recoing. The film was retitled Forgive Me for the English-language international market...
- 2008 : Le bal des actrices
- 2011 : Polisse
Director
- 2004 : I am an actrice (short)
- 2006 : Pardonnez-moiPardonnez-moiPardonnez-moi is a 2006 French film written and directed by Maïwenn, starring Maïwenn, Pascal Greggory, Hélène de Fougerolles, and Aurélien Recoing. The film was retitled Forgive Me for the English-language international market...
- 2008 : Le bal des actrices
- 2011 : Polisse