Déborah Lukumuena

Déborah Lukumuena (born 4 December 1994) is a French actress. She is best known for her debut role in the 2016 drama film Divines, for which she won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Career After her baccalaureate, she obtained a degree in letters. During her studies, she discovered the series The Tudors and the interpretation of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers made her want to become an actress.

She responded to a casting ad, with the idea of getting a job as an extra, but she was selected to play one of the main roles in the film Divines directed by Houda Benyamina. In 2017, Déborah Lukumuena won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role and became the first black woman and the youngest winner in this category.

The following year, she played one of the leads in the comedy-drama Invisibles. The movie follows the activity of a day center for homeless women. It became a surprise hit at the box-office.

In 2022, she directed her first short, called Championne. She also co-wrote the screenplay and had the lead role.

Personal life She's the fourth child of five siblings and grew up in Épinay-sous-Sénart in a family of Congolese origin.

Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes 2016 Divines Maimouna Houda Benyamina Carthage Film Festival - Best ActressCésar Award for Best Supporting ActressLumière Award for Best Female Revelation 2017 The Tunnel Manu Illunga Anders Engström TV series (1 episode) 2018 Roulez jeunesse Lou Julien Guetta 2019 Invisibles Angélique Louis-Julien Petit 2020 Belle belle belle Selma Anne Depétrini TV movie Narvalo Norah Matthieu Longatte TV series (1 episode) Call My Agent! Djamila Guerroub Antoine Garceau TV series (1 episode) 2021 Loving Thibaut Buccellato Short H24 Burger Queen Charlotte Abramow TV series (1 episode) Mental Max Slimane-Baptiste Berhoun TV series (10 episodes) 2022 Robuste Aïssa Constance Meyer Entre les vagues Alma Sarnem Anaïs Volpé Championne Neila Déborah Lukumuena Short Clit Is Good The girl Charlotte Abramow Music video2023 Girl Grace Adura Onashile Last Dance Marjanne Delphine Lehericey Les indociles Sissi Delphine Lehericey TV series (2 episodes)2024 Muganga Busara Marie-Hélène Roux Post-Production Toutes pour unePortau Houda Benyamina Kin La Belle Élida Michaux Muanda Pre-Production

Theater Year Title Author Director 2019 Odyssey Homer Blandine Savetier 2019-21 Anguille sous roche Ali Zamir Guillaume Barbot 2021-23 À définir dans un futur proche Mona Chollet Élodie Demey, Géraldine Sarratia & Mélissa Phulpin