Fanny Ardant

Fanny Marguerite Judith Ardant (born March 22, 1949), better known simply as Fanny Ardant, is a French actress.

She was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France but grew up in Monaco until age 17 when she moved to Aix-en-Provence to attend university. In her early twenties her interest turned to acting and in 1974 she made her first appearance on stage.

By the early 1980s she was a major motion picture star, gaining international recognition for her starring role opposite Gérard Depardieu in the film La Femme d'`a côté. The film, directed by Francois Truffaut, brought Ms. Ardant her first Cesar Award nomination for best actress in 1982 and in 1984 she was nominated again for her role in Vivement dimanche!. Eventually she became Truffaut's companion, giving birth to their daughter Joséphine just before his death in 1984.

Initially, her youthful beauty brought popularity but over time her sophistication and acting skills have made her one of France's most admired actresses. She proved her acting versatility, playing a comedic role in the film Pédale douce for which she won the 1997 Cesar Award for Best Actress.

Fluent in English, Ms. Ardant has starred in several Hollywood and British made films. Her latest film in English, produced by director Franco Zeffirelli, is Callas Forever, in which she portrays opera diva Maria Callas, will open the 14th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival[?] on January 9, 2003 in Palm Springs, California.

During her career, Ardant has appeared in more than fifty motion pictures. Selected Filmography

• Callas Forever[?] - (2002)
• 8 Women[?] - (2002)
• No News from God[?] (Sin noticias de Dios) - (2002)
• Le Libertin[?] - (2001)
• Balzac: A Life of Passion[?] (1999)
• Elizabeth[?] - (1998)
• Ridicule - (1996)
• Beyond the Clouds[?] - (1996)
• Colonel Chabert[?] - (1995)
• Afraid of the Dark[?] - (1992)
• Conseil De Famille[?] - (1986)
• Next Summer[?] - (1986)
• Swann in Love[?] - (1984)
• Confidentially Yours[?] - (1983)
• The Woman Next Door[?] (La Femme d'`a côté) - (1981)