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Emmanuelle Bercot, born on November 6, 1967 in Paris, is a bit of a chameleon of French cinema. She has that discreet charisma, but it asserts itself as soon as she appears on screen or behind the camera. And then, it has to be said, at 1.70 m, she does not go unnoticed in a casting!
What I love about her is her way of capturing reality, raw emotions, unvarnished. Her journey is a true mix of independence and instinct, she never sought flashy fame. You probably know her for Mon roi, this intense drama where she won the Best Actress award at Cannes in 2015 – I swear, her performance is a slap.
But before arriving on the big screen, Emmanuelle first explored dance, theater, then trained at La Fémis, the famous film school. Her attachment to true, often painful stories is felt in her films like La Tête haute which earned her several César nominations, including Best Director.
You might not have known, but she is also a mother, and family matters a lot to her. Her partner, Guillaume Schiffman, has been the director of photography for all her films since 1998, and their son, Némo, is also venturing into acting and singing. An artistic dynasty, in short.
Emmanuelle Bercot: Portrait of a Star of French Cinema
So, who really is Emmanuelle Bercot? Born into a rather privileged Parisian environment — her grandfather managed Citroën, no less — she grew up torn between fascination for her father, a surgeon at Lariboisière hospital, and that uncle educator who inspired La Tête haute. A mix of rigor and humanity that shines through her work.
With incredible determination she approached the stage and film sets. After her baccalaureate, she first turned to dance and theater, notably at the famous Cours Florent, before La Fémis opened its doors to her. Not easy to break into such a saturated field, but she left her mark with her acclaimed documentary and short film.
As an actress, she started in the 90s, but it is really her ability to combine acting and directing that sets her apart. Not surprising that in 2013, she received four nominations at the Berlinale for the same film, Elle s’en va. An uncommon feat, and proof that she knows how to impose her signature.
And then there is this lovely multi-faceted side: actress, director, screenwriter… Emmanuelle never opts for the easy way, rather what one could call passionate cinema, identified with youth, fragility, with true emotional depth.
A Journey Shaped Between Theater, Cinema, and a Passion for Raw Emotion
You know, Emmanuelle Bercot did not follow the star-studded path. After missing out on conservatory admission, she fought and got into La Fémis. There, she directed La Puce — her graduation film — which tells the delicate story of a teenage girl facing a much older man (yes, it’s a disturbing subject). This film was indeed selected at Cannes’ Cinéfondation.
She then juggled between her job as an actress and that of director. Her first feature film, Clément, released in 2001, tells of impossible love between a woman in her thirties and a 13-year-old boy — unusual, right? And then in 2005, Backstage intensely addresses the relationship between a star and her fan, taking up that adolescent theme that seems to truly captivate her.
This dual role as director and actress, Emmanuelle cultivated it brilliantly. She is the lead actress in many of her films — rare and admirable. She dares to explore “states,” as she says, not just classic stories.
Her work has been acclaimed, with several awards and nominations, including a Best Director award in Thessaloniki in 2005, no surprise if you have already seen her films. Her style? Intense, often harsh, but always full of humanity.
Cult Films and Key Moments of a Career Rich in Emotions
Let’s face it, it was as an actress in Mon roi that her fame exploded. Cannes, 2015, she shared the Best Actress award with Rooney Mara (yes, the famous Rooney from Carol), quite a spotlight!
Also, let’s not forget Polisse, where she plays a police officer in charge of a juvenile protection squad in a hard-hitting film by Maïwenn, and La Tête haute, which also made waves, earning several César nominations for Emmanuelle, both for her direction and for the film itself.
Her filmography is impressive, oscillating between strong roles and bold directorial works. And for the curious, her son Nemo Schiffman follows in her footsteps in showbiz, making you almost want to see if talent runs in the family… Spoiler: it sure looks like it does.
- 🎬 Jury Prize at Cannes 1997 for the short film Les vacances
- 🏆 Best Actress at Cannes 2015 for Mon roi
- 🎥 César 2016: Best Actress for Mon roi and multiple nominations for La Tête haute
- 🌟 Best Director award in Thessaloniki 2005 for Backstage
- 🎖️ Four nominations at the Berlinale 2013 for Elle s’en va
Recent Projects and News about Emmanuelle Bercot
In 2024-2025, Emmanuelle continues to surprise with a mix of actress and director. She is notably working on her next film La colonie, based on the novel by Sorj Chalandon, which promises to be full of tension and intensity — we are not disappointed at all, she loves stories that shake things up!
She also made her return to the stage with demanding plays like Après la répétition / Persona, where she won a well-deserved Molière award in 2024. A truly versatile talent.
You can follow her recent and upcoming roles also through her filmography available on AlloCiné or discover her more intimately on her Gala profile.
Not bad for an artist who never does anything halfway, don’t you think?
Some Gems to Discover to Better Know Emmanuelle Bercot
- 🎥 Her first notable role in La Classe de neige (1998) by Claude Miller
- 🎞 The artistic and critical success of Elle s’en va at the Berlinale 2013
- 🏅 The double Cannes award for directing and acting in La Tête haute and Mon roi
- 🎭 Her commitment on stage with plays by Ingmar Bergman and other great names
- 👨👩👦 Passing on the taste for art to her son Némo, also nominated at the César Awards
What is Emmanuelle Bercot’s age?
Emmanuelle Bercot was born on November 6, 1967, so she will be 57 years old in 2025.
What are Emmanuelle Bercot’s most famous films?
Among her greatest successes are Mon roi, La Tête haute, Polisse, and Elle s’en va.
Is Emmanuelle Bercot also a director?
Yes, she is an actress, director, and screenwriter, a true cinema enthusiast in every aspect.
What is Emmanuelle Bercot’s connection to the Schiffman family?
She is in a relationship with Guillaume Schiffman, her director of photography, and their son Némo is also an actor and singer.
What recent projects does she have?
She is notably preparing the film La colonie based on a novel by Sorj Chalandon, and also regularly returns to the theater.
