Audrey Tautou was born on August 9, 1978 in Beaumont, Puy-de-Dôme, France. She grew up as the eldest of four children in a town called Montluçon where she graduated and got her university-entrace diploma (baccalauréat). Afterwards she decided to go to Paris and after two years, she received her DEUG. In the meantime she took acting classes at the “Cours Florent” and had a first underpart in the TV movie “Coeur de Cible” (1996), directed by Laurent Heynemann.

Several small roles in other French TV movies and series followed: 1997 she got a role in “La vérité est un vilain défaut” as a telephone operator and appeared in an episode of “Les Cordier, juge et flic” as Léa. A year later, 1998, Audrey could be seen in the short film “La Vieille Barrière”, in the TV dramas “Bébés Boum” (1998) and “Chaos Technique” (1998) and in an episode of “Julie Lescaut”. Besides, she starred next to Christine Gagnepain in the five minute short movie “Casting: Archi-dégueulasse”.

Audrey’s breakthrough followed in 2001: Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet casted her for “Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain” (The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain), a wonderful romantic comedy about an innocent and naive young woman in Paris who decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love. Audrey Tautou did an overwhelming performance as Amélie, the audience loved her and France had found her new star: the movie celebrated a huge success in France and also later in the States. Through her irresistible charme and her marvellous talent, Audrey enchanted critics and audiences all over the world.

Audrey became more and more famous and it didn’t come as much of a surprise when British director Stephen Frears wanted her to star in his new thriller “Dirty Pretty Things” (2002). In her first English-speaking movie she played Senay, a young Turkish immigrant who illegally works at a London hotel and discovers what dangerous activities are going on there. The movie received several awards and helped Audrey getting more famous in the international film business.

In 2003, Audrey appeared in three French movies: she played Lalla in the drama “Les Marins Perdus” (The Lost Seamen), Huguette Verberie in the musical “Pas sur la Bouche” (Not on the Lips) and Val Chipzik in the comedy “Nowhere to go but Up”. She worked steadily and continued her way to the top.

Her role as Sophie Neveu in the Hollywood blockbuster “The Da Vinci Code” (2006) finally marked Audrey’s international breakthrough: she starred alongside Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany and Jean Reno in Ron Howard’s fictional thriller.

After all the promotion and turbulences surrounding “The Da Vinci Code” Audrey decided to back out a little and consecrated herself to the French cinema again: she signed for the main part in the romantic comedy “Hors de Prix” (2006) and will also star in the movie adaption of Anna Gavalda’s novel “Ensemble, c’est tout” (2006).

Filmography

• Ensemble, c'est tout (2007)
• Hors de prix (2006)
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• Poupées russes, Les (2005)
• Un long dimanche de fiançailles (2004)
• Nowhere to Go But Up (2003)
• Pas sur la bouche (2003)
• Marins perdus, Les (2003)
• Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
• Auberge espagnole, L' (2002)
• À la folie... pas du tout (2002)
• Dieu est grand, je suis toute petite (2001)
• Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001)
• Battement d'ailes du papillon, Le (2000)
• Libertin, Le (2000)
• Voyous voyelles (2000)
• Épouse-moi (2000)
• Triste à mourir (1999)
• Vénus beauté (institut) (1999)
• Boiteux: Baby blues, Le (1999)
• "Julie Lescaut" (1 episode, 1998)
• Casting: Archi-dégueulasse (1998)
• Chaos technique (1998)
• Bébés boum (1998)
• Vieille barrière, La (1998)
• "Cordier, juge et flic, Les" (1 episode, 1997)
• Vérité est un vilain défaut, La (1997)
• Coeur de cible (1996)

Awards

• Chicago Film Critics Award Most Promising Performer 2002
• Lumiere Best Actress "Amelie" 2001
• Cesar Most Promising Female Newcomer "Venus Beaute (Institut)" 2000
• Lumiere Most Promising Young Actress "Venus Beaute Institut" 2000