Noémie Merlant

Noémie Merlant (; born 27 November 1988) is a French actress and filmmaker. She has been nominated for her performances three times at the César Awards, including a nomination for her breakout role in Portrait of a Lady on Fire and a win for The Innocent (2022).

Career Merlant was born on 27 November 1988 in Paris. Both of her parents are real estate agents. She was raised in Rezé near Nantes.

Merlant began her career as a professional model before attending the Cours Florent acting school in Paris.

She had her first breakthrough in the 2016 film Heaven Will Wait for which she was nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actress.

In 2019, Merlant starred in Portrait of a Lady on Fire. She won the Lumière Award for Best Actress for her performance and was nominated for the César Award for Best Actress alongside her co-star Adèle Haenel.

In 2020, Merlant starred in Zoé Wittock's Jumbo, a film about a woman who falls in love with an amusement park ride. She also starred in Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar's A Good Man.

In 2022, Merlant portrayed Francesca Lentini, a musician and personal assistant to the celebrated composer/conductor Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), in Todd Field's Tár.

In 2023, it was announced that Merlant would play the titular character Emmanuelle in a reboot of the iconic franchise directed by Audrey Diwan.

In June 2023, Merlant was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In April 2025, she joined the cast of Bertrand Mandico's upcoming film Roma Elastica.

Directing Merlant has directed two short films, the 2017 film Je suis #unebiche and the 2019 film Shakira. In 2021, she made her feature directorial debut with Mi Iubita Mon Amour, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Her sophomore directorial effort, The Balconettes, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Role Notes 2008 Death in Love Uncredited 2011 La Permission de minuit Mathilde L'Orpheline avec en plus un bras en moins Éléonore 2014 La Crème de la crème The Redhead Des lendemains qui chantent Svetlana Once in a Lifetime Mélanie 2015 One Wild Moment Linda Newcomer Anja 2016 Dieumerci! Audrey The Brother Claire Twisting Fate Claire Heaven Will Wait Sonia Bouzaria Nominated—César Award for Most Promising ActressNominated—Lumière Award for Best Female Revelation 2017 Plonger The Young Artist 2018 Return of the Hero Pauline Beaugrand All About Mothers Coco Paper Flags Charlie 2019 Curiosa Marie de Régnier Portrait of a Lady on Fire Marianne Lumière Award for Best ActressNominated - César Award for Best Actress République Nora Interactive film 2020 Jumbo Jeanne Tantois A Good Man Benjamin 2021 Mi Iubita Mon Amour Jeanne Also director, producer and writer Paris, 13th District Nora Ligier 2022 One Year, One Night Céline Nominated – Gaudí Award for Best Actress The Innocent Clemence César Award for Best Supporting Actress Tár Francesca Lentini Hollywood debut Baby Ruby Jo 2023 A Difficult Year Valentine "Cactus" Soul Mates Jeanne Lee Nusch Éluard 2024 The Balconettes Élise Also director and writer Emmanuelle Emmanuelle 2025 Duse Enrichetta Checci 2026 Roma Elastica Valentina Fantine Completed

Short films Year Title Role Notes 2010 Parigi 2011 Juste avant l'aube Laura 2012 Les Nerfs fument 2013 Pour le rôle The Secretary Lapsus Angie Némésis Ange Le Devoir Agnes L'Amour a la clé 2017 Unexpected Agnès Je suis #unebiche Also director and writer 2019 Shakira Shakira

Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 Le Jour où tout a basculé Annabelle Episode: "Ma fille est amoureuse de son professeur" 2012 Julie Lescaut Lou de Salle Episode: "Cougar" Enquêtes réservées Garance Lasarthe Episode: "Un témoin de trop" 2013 Dos au mur TV series 2014 Le Voyage de monsieur Perrichon HenrietteTV film 2016 Elles... Les Filles du Plessis Brigitte The Law of ... Katya Valle Episode: "Christophe's Law: La ligne blanche" 2021 H24 Episode: "17h - PLS"

Theatre Year Title Director 2008Adriana Mater Bertrand Dégremont

Discography

Singles "Fate" (2016)