In 2001, the moviegoer conquered the image of the unusual girl Amelie Poulain, created by Audrey Tautou. The filmography of the French actress at that time totaled thirteen works, among which there were very good ones, but this picture was the peak of her creative career.
Monkeys and music
The main feature that distinguishes Thoth from a number of many young talents, who sometimes have at least a pretty appearance, is her extraordinary intellect. But it arose not by itself, but, as it always happens, as a result of hard work. As a child, Audrey, surprisingly to the whole family, was suddenly carried away by primates. She could watch the monkeys in the menagerie for hours, noting their habits, and quite seriously expressed her intention to devote her life to the study of the life of these animals. It is possible that world science has lost in her face an outstanding zoologist, but it so happened that a penchant for art manifested itself in a love of music, which, fortunately, did not pass. Audrey Tautou graduated from music school and plays the oboe and piano beautifully. Her favorite composers are Mozart, Chopin and Ravel.
Studying the classics of literature
Audrey's second hobby is literature. She studied the works of French and world classics at the Faculty of Contemporary Literature of the Paris College of Art at Sorbonne University, and it was during these classes (apparently because of her natural tendency to empathy) that she really wanted to identify herself with the heroes of the works of famous prose writers and playwrights, from Victor Hugo to Oscar Wilde. This desire to play led her to acting courses, and after them she was not interested in continuing her education at the university. Audrey was attracted to the stage and set.
Vocation - Art
A young curly-haired brown-haired woman with a height of 160 cm sometimes did not even believe that an acting career would turn out well. Parents were far from art, mother worked as a school teacher, and father as a dentist. Apparently, they were puzzled by the desire of her daughter to become an artist. But she stubbornly walked toward her goal.
I had to work as a secretary until the first opportunity to earn money in the movies. But soon the former employer could boast that Audrey Tautou was sitting in his reception room. Her filmography begins with the first serious role (“Beauty Salon Venus”, 1999). By this time, the future star managed to win the competition for young talents, to star in several episodes of the series “Cordier” and in six more films that were not noticed by critics. But on the "Venus" immediately began to talk and write. It became clear that in the French cinema horizon a new star lit up, not yet brightly, but confidently. The actress was 23 years old.
First serious job
Doors open only for those who knock on them. Audrey has already participated in many auditions. When she went to the next one, on which they recruited for “Venus” (in the genre of comedy with a romantic bias), she was slightly late. Strange as it may seem, this circumstance turned out to be happy. Of all the pretenders, only Audrey Tautou was out of breath. The filmography of Marshall, who wanted to shoot this picture, was extensive, and the experienced director immediately saw the image he was striving for. He needed just such a direct and somewhat naive girl, preferably with pigtails. For this role, the actress was awarded the César, one of the most prestigious in France.
Amelie and Amelie-2
It is difficult to even evaluate how many girls in France and around the world have become an idol of Audrey Tautou. Her filmography after “Venus” was replenished with works in the films “Marry Me”, “Marry Me”, “Butterfly Wings”, “Bad Girls” and “Libertine”, all five of which were released in 2000. But these roles were secondary, almost all. It is also interesting that “Butterfly Wings” after “Amelie” began to be perceived by the viewer as a continuation of this film, although they shot this picture a year earlier.
And in 2001, the world was swept by amelimania. Cafe on Montmartre “Two Mills”, in which some scenes were shot, became a place of pilgrimage, which, of course, affected prices, as well as the profitability of the institution. Moms and dads polls began to call female babies a famous name. This France has not known since the time of Genie Lollobrigida and Bridget Bardot.
From Europe to Hollywood and back
Careful elaboration of the character of the image became the "calling card" of Audrey Tautou. Her filmography indicates affiliation to the European school of cinema. Three years later, she starred with the director Genet, this film was called "Long Engagement." He and Amelie are perhaps the best films with Audrey Tautou. After Engagement, she even got a second nickname, which she was awarded by the audience. She began to be called Matilda in honor of the main character of the tape.
But the actress was not averse to trying herself in American cinema, with only one condition for the material to be serious. A lightweight comedy with dull humor did not suit her. Jodie Foster has always been one of her favorite actresses, and Audrey had the opportunity to work with her on the set of Engagement.
An interesting job in the USA was found. And at the same time, a place in the Academy of Film Sciences. Tom Hanks partnered with Tautou in the famous blockbuster "Da Vinci Code", filmed in 2006. The success of the work was facilitated by the excellent knowledge of the actress in English.
Madame Coco and her image
The filmography of Audrey Tautou in 2009 was replenished with work that can be attributed to epic works, however, with a French bias. The biography of the legendary Madame Coco Chanel has become a cultural event on a global scale. The fate of this outstanding woman was interesting not only for the French. The role turned out bright, and the actress herself squeezed Nicole Kidman, becoming the face of the company and brand of perfume Chanel No. 5.
Realizing her artistic vocation, the actress did not become a capricious diva. Everyone who has had a chance to talk to her is surprised by her modesty and kind simplicity. In the midst of popularity, when films with Audrey Tautou triumphantly appeared in all cinemas, the “Princess Ball” herself left the country, obviously embarrassed to be presented to French President Jacques Chirac, who expected to see her at the specially arranged premiere screening of Amelie.
Role changes
It is possible that due to the abnormal popularity of Amelie, many of Audrey Tautou's best films have remained in the shadows. For example, in the picture “God is big, I am small”, she played the vivid role of the eccentric and extravagant fashion model, constantly changing religion. And each time she takes this transition in the most serious way.
A completely unexpected change in role occurred in the film "Dirty Charms" by Stephen Frears. Audrey Tautou so organically entered the image of an illegal immigrant living in London that she even had to refute the assumptions about her Arab origin.
Modesty is the sister of talent
Personal modesty and the absence of “starryness” is also manifested in the fact that the actress does not want to advertise her personal life, which often serves many, much less talented actors, in their favorite way to constantly remind the public about themselves and thus maintain popularity. Many world publications are showing increased interest in this secret, but so far without success.
However, those who like films featuring Audrey Tautou, that is, true fans of cinematic art, know about the preferences of the actress. She manifests herself creatively not only on the set, but also at the easel. Her successes in painting, perhaps, are not as impressive as in the movies, however, she also has talent in this. Audrey's favorite artists mainly worked in an expressionistic manner. These are Manet, Delacroix, Turner, and Schiel.
It is known that the fortuneteller predicted the actress that she would have twins. Perhaps the best work of Audrey Tautou is yet to come.