Only movie buffs and moviegoers can appreciate French cinema. That is why, when it comes to French actors, most recall only Belmondo and Depardieu. In fact, this country is simply teeming with talents. Moreover, many actors from France are much more talented and extraordinary than Hollywood stars. So today we decided to recall one gifted artist, whose name is Natalie Bai. She starred in almost a hundred paintings and became the favorite of the French public. No less interesting is her creative biography. So let's get to know this person better.
Family and heredity
Perhaps, it’s worth starting with the parents of Natalie Bai, who were bohemian artists in their time. Father Claude Bai and mother Denise Couste turned out to be very talented and creative personalities, and they were able to convey these qualities to their daughter. According to Natalie herself, she was born by accident, while her parents were visiting Normandy, they were in the city of Menville. It was this place that became the homeland for the future talented actress. It is important to note that the aristocratic lightness, ease and huge creative potential for Natalie Bai is not just something that was inherited. She is convinced that the genes helped the environment in which her parents raised. They were able to instill in her a sense of taste, a sense of beauty and make her one of the most gifted and bohemian children.
Childhood
Despite the fact that Natalie was born in Menville, she remembers almost nothing about this town. Her childhood years passed in Paris, where her artist parents returned to live after an extremely successful trip. Soon, the girl entered the prestigious Alsace Lyceum, in which she received her first education. Separately, it is worth noting that Natalie was diagnosed with dyslexia from childhood. The disease did its job: for many years the character of the actress was shy and modest, she had little contact with her peers and almost had no friends. But looking in perspective, it became an impetus for the development of creative potential. Natalie Bai had a lot of free time, which she devoted to creativity, and especially to dancing.
Dancing in the life of Bai
The lack of writing and reading skills pushed Natalie to professional dance classes. In Paris, Olga Preobrazhenskaya was her first teacher and mentor in ballet. She raised many talented dancers in her time. When Natalie was 14 years old, her family moved to the town of Menton in southern France. But this did not stop Bai's creative zeal, and she began to attend the ballet school of Monaco there. At the age of 17, Natalie moves to New York and takes classical ballet lessons there. Soon, she began performing in the New York troupe, traveling around the cities of the United States. Alas, after a year and a half of wanderings, the girl realized that ballet would not be able to provide her financially, although spiritually he gifted her in full. Therefore, she returned to her homeland and began to search again for her calling. Unexpectedly for herself and others, Natalie began to attend acting classes, this time she did not fail.
Acting way
Natalie began to learn the dramatic art from the acting courses of Rene Simon, which were the most elite and popular in France. After graduating, she entered and graduated from the Higher National Conservatory. Over the years of training, the girl managed to make profitable acquaintances, which allowed her to appear on the screens soon after receiving her diploma. Her first role was episodic, and, notably, she played her in the USA in a film called "Two" directed by Robert Wise. Her debut in her homeland was the movie "American Night," directed by Francois Truffaut. So in magazines, newspapers and on posters, photos of Natalie Bai began to appear, she became a celebrity.
Many French directors noticed the talent, and work in the cinema literally began to boil. But for a second, the actress did not forget that without a scene her talent would be scattered. The drama theater was her home.
Wave of success
It happens that an actor becomes popular for several years, and after his fame fades away like a meteorite. But in the case of Natalie Bai, films with her participation are still being shot, and today, like 20 and 30 years ago, she is popular and in demand. After the triumph in American Night, the same Truffaut invited her to the following two projects: The Green Room and The Man Who Loved Women.
Having become a favorite of critics and people, Natalie played in the movie “Save Who Can” in 1980 and received her first Cesar Award for this. The actress received her second award of the same name in 1981 for her role in the production of Strange Things. The third award, "Cesar" was awarded to Bai for the role of a prostitute in the film "Scammer", which turned out to be one of the most successful in French cinema.
Best Sellers of French and World Cinema
Starting from the second half of the 90s and ending with the present, the filmography of Natalie Bai was full and sparkled. Almost all of the films that came out with her participation, fell in love with the viewer. Among the many works, one can single out Venus Beauty Salon and Complex Care, where Natalie starred in tandem with Audrey Tautou, she also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s tragicomedy Catch Me If You Can, and starred in a number of French comedies . The actress's face was recognizable, and the talent was not subjected to the slightest doubt.
Filmography
To list all the projects in which Natalie took part, three hours is not enough. Therefore, we present a list of the most striking films in which the actress played:
- "American Night" - 1973.
- "The Last Woman" - 1975.
- The Green Room - 1978.
- "Save who can" - 1980.
- "A Strange Case" - 1981.
- "The Scammer" - 1982.
- "Our History" - 1984.
- "Lies" - 1991.
- "Beauty Salon" Venus "" - 1999.
- "From Matthew" - 2000.
- "Catch Me If You Can" - 2002.
- "The Young Lieutenant" - 2005.
- "This is My Son" - 2007.
- "Face" - 2009.
- Shadow Advisers - 2012.
- "This is just the end of the world" - 2016.
What no one knows about ...
And unlike works in film and television, the personal life of Natalie Bai is a secret for everyone. According to the official version, the actress was married only once. In a short marriage with French actor and singer Johnny Halliday, a daughter named Laura Smet, who also became an actress, was born in 1983.
The name Natalie never flickered in secular chronicles, her lovers were not discussed in the media, she did not put out novels on public display. Bai is a true Parisian who is always cheerful and open, but prefers to keep the personal to herself.