Judith Godrèche

Judith Godrèche (; born 23 March 1972 in Paris) is a French actress, author and feminist activist, who has appeared in more than 30 films.

Early life Judith Godrèche was born in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. Her father is a psychoanalyst, and her mother a child therapist. Her parents separated when she was eight years old. Her father is Jewish; his parents were Holocaust survivors from Poland and Russia who changed their surname from Goldreich. After being discovered for her first role at the age of 14, Godrèche left school and moved away from her parents to begin her acting career. In 1987, at the age of 14, she was in a relationship with director Benoît Jacquot, 25 years her senior, who first directed her in the film Les mendiants and later made The Disenchanted with her. In later years, Godrèche would accuse Jacquot of grooming and sexually abusing her.

Career Her early work included commercial modeling for a Japanese chocolate maker, as well as a teen magazine. Her first film appearance was as Claudia Cardinale's daughter in L'été prochain. At 14, she obtained her first major role, in Jacquot's Les mendiants, with Dominique Sanda.

In 1989, Godrèche starred in Jacques Doillon's The 15 Year Old Girl with Melvil Poupaud, which brought her fame. The following year, she turned to a full-time career in film. In 1990, she was nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actress for her performance in Jacquot's La désenchantée.

In 1991, she was a member of the jury at the 41st Berlin International Film Festival.

In 1995, her novel Point de côté was published in France by Broché Publishers to good reviews.

Godrèche was not well known to American audiences until Patrice Leconte's Ridicule was released in 1996. The film introduced her to Americans in the role of Mathilde de Bellegarde. In 1998 she starred with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeremy Irons in The Man in the Iron Mask.

Godrèche was nominated for a 2002 César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the surprise European hit, L'Auberge espagnole.

Her first record inspired from the film Toutes les filles pleurent was released by Because Music.

In 2012, she began playing the continuing character of Claudette Von Jurgens in season 3 of Royal Pains.

Godrèche's performance as Charlotte in the film The Overnight has led to her being called a "breakout" star of 2015. She is also starring in an upcoming HBO comedy about a French actress who moves to Los Angeles.

Personal life Godrèche had a long-term relationship since 1987 with Benoît Jacquot who was 25 years her senior. She was briefly married to Philippe Michel, an architect, in 1996. She was later married to comedian Dany Boon from 1998 to 2002. Together they have a son, Noé, born 4 September 1999. In 2004, she began a relationship with actor and director Maurice Barthélemy, who is the father of her daughter, Tess, born 19 April 2005.

Godrèche has considered formally converting to Judaism as an adult, which she attributed to her close relationship with her paternal grandparents. At the 49th César Awards on 23 February 2024, Godrèche gave a speech on sexual violence and addressed France's omertà around #MeToo. In May 2024, Godrèche was added to the Official Selection at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where she presented her short film (Me Too). The film highlights the stories of victims of sexual violence. It was created after Godrèche made a public appeal through her Instagram account, after which around 6,000 people replied. It was screened during the opening ceremony of the festival's Un Certain Regard section and free to the public on 15 May as part of the Cinéma de la Plage program.

On 1 July 2024, Jacquot and Doillon were each questioned over Godrèche's rape and sexual assault claim. The two directors would also be taken into custody by the Juvenile Protection Brigade.

Filmography Actress Film Year Title Role 1985 L'été prochain Nickie 1987 Les mendiants Catherine Les saisons du plaisir Ophélie 1988 La méridienne Stéphanie Un été d'orages Laurence 1989 Sons Florence jr. The 15 Year Old Girl Juliette 1990 The Disenchanted (La désenchantée) Beth 1991 Ferdydurke Zoo Paris Awakens (Paris s'éveille) Louise 1992 Emma Zunz TV Emma Zunz 1993 Tango Madeleine Une nouvelle vie Lise 1994 Grande petite Bénédicte 1995 L'aube à l'envers Beaumarchais, l'insolent Marie-Antoinette Ridicule Mathilde 1997 Le rouge et le noir Mathilde de La Mole 1998 The Man in the Iron Mask Christine Bellefort Bimboland Cécile Bussy 1999 Entropy Stella 2001 South Kensington Susanna 2002 L'auberge espagnole Anne-Sophie Parlez-moi d'amour Justine France Boutique Estelle 2003 Quicksand Lela Forin 2004 Tu vas rire mais je te quitte Elise Vérone Tout pour plaire Marie Papa Maman 2006 Human Bomb 2007 Je veux pas que tu t'en ailles Carla 2008 Home Sweet Home 2009 Fais-moi plaisir! Claire 2010 Potiche Elisabeth Holiday Nadine Trémois 2011 The Art of Love (L'art d'aimer) Amélie 2013 Stoker Doctor Jacquin 2015 The Overnight Charlotte 2018 Under the Eiffel Tower Louise2019The ClimbAva

Television

Director and writer Film Year Title 2010 Toutes les filles pleurent 2024Moi aussi 2026 A Girl's Story

Television