Age: 62
female
Juliette Binoche (born 9 March 1964) is a French actress, artist and dancer. She has appeared in more than 40 feature films, been recipient of numerous international accolades, is a published author and has appeared on stage across the world. Coming from an artistic background, she began taking acting lessons during adolescence. After performing in several stage productions, she was propelled into the world of auteurs Jean-Luc Godard (Hail Mary, 1985), Jacques Doillon (Family Life, 1985) and André Téchiné, who made her a star in France with the leading role in his 1985 drama Rendez-vous. Her sensual performance in her English-language debut The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), directed by Philip Kaufman, launched her international career. She sparked the interest of Steven Spielberg, who offered her several parts including a role in Jurassic Park which she declined, choosing instead to join Krzysztof Kieslowski on the set of Three Colors: Blue (1993), a performance for which she won the Venice Film Festival Award for Best Actress and a César. Three years later Binoche gained further acclaim in Anthony Minghella’s The English Patient (1996), for which she was awarded an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in addition to the Best Actress Award at the 1997 Berlin Film Festival. For her performance in Lasse Hallström’s romantic comedy Chocolat (2000) Binoche was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. During the 2000s she maintained a successful, critically acclaimed career, alternating between French and English language roles in both mainstream and art-house productions. In 2010 she won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy making her the first actress to win the European “best actress triple crown”. Throughout her career Binoche has intermittently appeared on stage, most notably in a 1998 London production of Luigi Pirandello’s Naked and in a 2000 production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal on Broadway for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. In 2008 she began a world tour with a modern dance production in-i devised in collaboration with Akram Khan. Affectionately referred to as "La Binoche" by the French press, her other notable performances include: Mauvais Sang (1986), Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, Damage (1992), The Horseman on the Roof (1995), Code Unknown (2000), Caché (2005), Breaking and Entering (2006) and Flight of the Red Balloon (2007). Description above from the Wikipedia article Juliette Binoche, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Juliette Binoche
Esméralda
for Esméralda in Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1991)
Suggested by fionnoconnor402
Set in 15th century Paris, this narrative revolves around Quasimodo, a misshapen bell-ringer at Notre Dame Cathedral, and his unreciprocated affection for the lovely Roma street dancer, Esmeralda. Quasimodo was brought up by the archdeacon Claude Frollo, who harbors lustful feelings for Esmeralda. When Frollo commands Quasimodo to abduct her, the hunchback is apprehended and subjected to public humiliation. Esmeralda, feeling compassion for him, offers him water while he is bound to the pillory. She captures the attention of Captain Phoebus, with whom she falls in love. Frollo, consumed by jealousy, stabs Phoebus and frames Esmeralda for the act. Consequently, she is arrested and sentenced to death. Quasimodo rescues her from the gallows and provides her refuge in the cathedral. Frollo attempts to claim her, but upon her rejection, he delivers her to face execution. As Esmeralda is escorted to the gallows, Quasimodo descends from Notre Dame and carries her back to the cathedral, temporarily shielding her under the law of sanctuary. However, a band of vagabonds led by Clopin Trouillefou assaults Notre Dame, prompting Quasimodo to defend it by hurling stones and timber at the attackers. The king's men arrive to quell the disturbance, and amidst the turmoil, Frollo manages to sneak Esmeralda out of the cathedral. Frollo makes one final effort to win Esmeralda's affection, but she spurns him once more. In a fit of rage, he turns her over to the authorities. As Esmeralda is hanged, Quasimodo retaliates by pushing Frollo from the cathedral tower to his demise. Quasimodo then vanishes, never to be seen again. Years later, when Esmeralda's tomb is opened, two intertwined skeletons are discovered—one belonging to a hunchback embracing the other.
