Noémie Merlant

Noémie Merlant
Merlant in 2024
Born (1988-11-27) 27 November 1988 (age 35)
Paris, France
Occupation(s)Actress, filmmaker
Years active2008–present

Noémie Merlant (French pronunciation: [nɔemi mɛʁlɑ̃]; 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 (2019) and a win for The Innocent (2022).

Career

Merlant was born on 27 November 1988 in Paris.[1] Both of her parents are real estate agents.[2] She was raised in Rezé near Nantes.[3]

Merlant began her career as a professional model before attending the Cours Florent acting school in Paris.[4]

Merlant in 2013

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.[5]

In 2019, Merlant starred in Portrait of a Lady on Fire. She won the Lumières Award for Best Actress for her performance and was nominated for the César Award for Best Actress alongside her co-star Adèle Haenel.[6][7]

In 2020, Merlant starred in Zoé Wittock's Jumbo, a film about a woman who falls in love with an amusement park ride.[8] She also starred in Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar's A Good Man.[9]

In 2022, Merlant portrayed Francesca Lentini, a musician and personal assistant to the celebrated composer/conductor Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), in the movie Tár, directed by Todd Field.[10]

In 2023, it was announced that Merlant would play the titular character Emmanuelle in a reboot of the iconic franchise directed by Audrey Diwan.[11]

In June 2023, Merlant was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[12]

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.[13] Her sophomore directorial effort, The Balconettes, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Filmography

Noémie Merlant (2017)

Feature films

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
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 Actress
Nominated—Lumières 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 Lumières Award for Best Actress
Nominated - 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
Baby Ruby Jo
2023 A Difficult Year Valentine 'Cactus' [14]
Soul Mates Jeanne
Lee Nusch Éluard
2024 The Balconettes Élise Also director and writer
Emmanuelle Emmanuelle [15]
TBA Duse † Enrichetta Checci Post-production[16]

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 Henriette TV 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
2008 Adriana Mater Bertrand Dégremont
2010 Push Up Suzanne Marot
2011 Les Lésions dangereuses Julia Dunoyer

Discography

Singles

References

  1. ^ "Noémie Merlant". Voici (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  2. ^ Fam, Nagui (12 September 2019). "Céline Sciamma et Noémie Merlant pour "Portrait de la jeune fille en feu"". France Inter (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  3. ^ Fleury, Anne-Lise (6 November 2014). "L'actrice Noémie Merlant est rezéenne". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  4. ^ Mowe, Richard. "Wake up call for dreamer Noémie". Eye for Film. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  5. ^ Garrigues, Manon (25 January 2017). "César 2017: les nommés sont..." Vogue France (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  6. ^ Roxborough, Scott (27 January 2020). "France's Lumiere Awards: 'Les Misérables' Wins Best Film, Roman Polanski Tapped as Best Director". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  7. ^ "César 2020 : retrouvez la liste intégrale de toutes les nominations". Télérama (in French). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  8. ^ "'Jumbo' Trailer: Noémie Merlant Falls In Love With An Amusement Park Ride In Dreamy Sundance Indie". theplaylist.net. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. ^ "'A Good Man' Review". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  10. ^ Patton, Elaina (8 October 2022). "In Tár, Noémie Merlant Settles the Score". Vogue. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  11. ^ Flemming Jr., Mike (13 February 2023). "Noémie Merlant To Star In Audrey Diwan-Directed 'Emmanuelle'; Hot EFM Package Shoots September In Hong Kong". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  12. ^ "THE ACADEMY INVITES 398 TO MEMBERSHIP". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Mi Iubita Mon Amour". Cannes Film Festival. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  14. ^ Daniels, Robert (14 September 2023). "'A Difficult Year': Toronto Review". ScreenDaily.
  15. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (1 November 2023). "Neon Circling Audrey Diwan's Erotic Drama 'Emmanuelle' Starring Noemie Merlant (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Duse". Film Italia. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  17. ^ "[Clip] [Exclusivité] Noémie Merlant – Fate". Indiemusic. 15 June 2016.
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