Yolande Moreau

Yolande Moreau (born 27 February 1953) is a Belgian actress, film director, comedian, and screenwriter. Her many accolades include winning three César Awards, two for Best Actress and one for Best First Film, making her the most awarded Belgian actress. Moreau has received a Lumière Award, a Magritte Award, and an LAFCA Award. As well as nominations for two European Film Awards, two Molière Awards, and an additional 12 Magritte Awards.

Moreau's many film credits include Agnès Varda's Vagabond (1985), Séraphine (2008), Amélie (2001), Germinal (1993), The Three Brothers (1995), Happiness is in the Field (1995), The Horseman on the Roof (1995), 9 Month Stretch (2013), Paris, Je T'aime (2006), Micmacs (2009), Incognito (2009), The Brand New Testament (2015), In the House (2012), Louise-Michel (2008), Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2010), The Pack (2010), When the Sea Rises (2004), which she also co-wrote and co-directed, and Henri (2013), which she wrote and directed. On television, Moreau was the star of Les Deschiens (1993–2002).

On stage, Moreau has received two Molière Award nominations for her performances in Sale affaire du sexe et du crime and Prévert.

Career After a stage career in Brussels, Moreau studied theatre and clown under Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier in France.

She made her cinematic debut with director Agnès Varda in two movies: Sept pièces (1984) and Vagabond (1985).

In 1989, she joined Jérôme Deschamps and Macha Makeieff's troupe, of which she became one of the stars, especially on the TV programme, Les Deschiens.

She played La Levaque in Germinal (1993) directed by Claude Berri, a concierge in the film Amélie (2001) and Mama Chow in Micmacs (2009) (both directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet), a mime in Paris, Je T'aime (2006) and a lovesick woman in Vagabond (1985) directed by Agnès Varda.

She made her directorial debut with the movie When the Sea Rises, which she co-wrote and starred in. The movie was acclaimed by critics, and Yolande Moreau won two César Awards for Best Debut and Best Actress.

Moreau stars in the French horror thriller film The Pack, which premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. Her 2013 film Henri was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Moreau was scheduled to be the guest of honour at the 2017 Brussels Film Festival, but this edition had to be cancelled after subsidies were withdrawn.

Personal life At 18, she met an older man. Together they have two children, Héloïse and Nils, but they separated when Yolande was 21. Alone with her two children, she worked in various trades, including as a housekeeper. She is the grandmother of four grandchildren.

Awards and honours Moreau has won three César Awards: one for Best First Film (in 2005) and two for Best Actress (in 2005 and 2009) and is the most awarded Belgian actress.

Theater Year Title Author Director 1974 Julien de Bruxelles Josette Marx Marcel Cornelis 1981–86 Sale affaire du sexe et du crime Yolande Moreau Yolande Moreau 1986 Sous-sol Arnold Boiseau Arnold Boiseau 1988 Britannicus Jean Racine Herbert Rolland 1989–91 Lapin chasseur Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff 1992–94 Les brigands Jacques Offenbach Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff 1992–93 Les pieds dans l'eau Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff 1994–96 C'est magnifique Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff 1997 Les Précieuses ridicules Molière Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff 1999–2001 Les Pensionnaires Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff 2000 Les Précieuses ridicules Molière Jérôme Deschamps & Macha Makeieff 2007 Sale affaire du sexe et du crime Yolande Moreau Yolande Moreau 2018–19 Prévert Jacques Prévert Yolande Moreau & Christian Olivier

Filmography Actress

Filmmaker

Year Title Notes 2004 When the Sea Rises 2013 Henri 2016 Nulle part, en France Documentary 2023 La fiancée du poète

Box-office

Movies starring Yolande Moreau with more than a million of entries in France.

FilmsDirectorYearFrance (entries)1 Amélie Jean-Pierre Jeunet 2001 2 The Three Brothers Didier Bourdon, Bernard Campan 1995 3 Germinal Claude Berri 1993 4 Happiness Is in the Field Étienne Chatiliez 1995 5 The Horseman on the Roof Jean-Paul Rappeneau 1995 6 9 Month Stretch Albert Dupontel 2013 7 Micmacs Jean-Pierre Jeunet (2) 2009 8 Incognito Éric Lavaine 2009 9 Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life Joann Sfar 2010 10 In the House François Ozon 2012 11 Vagabond Agnès Varda 1985

Awards and nominations Year Award Nominated work Result 1982 Festival du Rire de Rochefort – First Prize Sale affaire du sexe et du crime 2005 César Award for Best Actress When the Sea Rises César Award for Best First Feature Film European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year Festival International du Film de Namur – Best Actress Joseph Plateau Award for Best Belgian Actress Joseph Plateau Award for Best Belgian Screenplay Louis Delluc Prize for Best first Film 2008 Molière Award - Best One Man Show Sale affaire du sexe et du crime 2009 Cairo International Film Festival – Best Actress Séraphine César Award for Best Actress Dublin Film Critics' Circle – Best Actress Étoiles d'Or – Best Actress European Film Award for Best Actress Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Lumière Award for Best Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress Newport Beach Film Festival – Best Actress Village Voice Film Poll for Best Actress Festival de la fiction TV de La Rochelle – Best Actress Villa Marguerite 2010 Magritte Award for Best Actress Mammuth Magritte Award for Best Supporting Actress Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life 2011 Magritte Award for Best Actress The Long Falling 2012 Magritte Award for Best Supporting Actress Camille Rewinds 2013 César Award for Best Supporting Actress 2014 Cannes Film Festival – SACD Prize Henri Gijón International Film Festival – Best Film Magritte Award for Best Film Magritte Award for Best Director Magritte Award for Best Screenplay São Paulo International Film Festival – Best Feature Film 2015 Magritte Award for Best Actress Journey Through China Magritte Award for Best Supporting Actress The Brand New Testament 2017 Magritte Award for Best Supporting Actress A Woman's Life 2018 Magritte Award for Best Actress I Feel Good 2019 Magritte Award for Best Supporting Actress Cleo Molière Award - Best Musical Prévert 2021 César Award for Best Supporting Actress How to Be a Good Wife 2023 Angoulême Francophone Film Festival - Best Screenplay La fiancée du poète 2024 Magritte Award for Best Actress