An atypical journey

A precocious model and actress, celebrated then abandoned by Luc Besson, a talented director for fifteen years, Maïwenn is a singular character in French cinema. Do you know his background?

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Multiple origins

Maïwenn Le Besco was born on April 17, 1976 to a Breton father of Vietnamese origin and a Franco-Algerian mother who is none other than the actress Catherine Belkhodja. She is the older sister of Isild Le Besco (in the photo) and Jowan Le Besco, both also actors and directors.

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Early childhood roles

Pushed very early by her parents towards the world of cinema and entertainment, Maïwenn landed her first roles in the 1980s, when she was still a child. She appears, for example, in “The Murderous Summer” by Jean Becker (1983) and in an episode of Commissioner Maigret’s investigations.

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Model at thirteen

At the beginning of 1990, the young actress won at only thirteen the modeling competition organized by the magazine ’20 ans’ which put her on the cover. His career is launched.

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The Kid

Her first important role is the title role in the film “La Gamine”, with Johnny Halliday, released in 1992. The story of a young girl wanted by the police because she is suspected of having shot her boyfriend…

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Maiwenn

The actress has a difficult relationship with her parents. For this reason, she chose to no longer be credited with her surname in the film credits and to appear publicly under the sole name of “Maïwenn”.

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In a relationship with Luc Besson

When she was only fifteen years old, Maïwenn met Luc Besson in 1991. The couple married the following year (minors over the age of fifteen might then marry with the authorization of their parents). In 1993, the actress gave birth to a daughter, Shanna.

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Her husband’s muse

Maïwenn appears briefly in “Léon” by Luc Besson in 1994, for which she directed the making-of. She plays the role of the diva in “The Fifth Element” three years later. A film that will be fatal for the young actress.

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A painful breakup

It is indeed on the set of the “Fifth Element” that Besson leaves her for the actress and model Milla Jovovich. Maïwenn then had a nervous breakdown and went through a very painful period in her personal life.

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The come-back

But Maïwenn has not said her last word! Still very young, she gradually returned to the stage in the early 2000s, with small roles in film and television. The actress healed above all thanks to her autobiographical one-woman-show, “Le Pois chiche”, which she performed in 2003 at the Café de la Gare in Paris.

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A director’s talent

Maïwenn then diversifies her talents by embarking on directing. After a short film in 2004, she released “Pardonnez-moi” in 2006, a family drama in which she played the main role and which earned her a double nomination for the Césars (best first film and best female hope).

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Maybe it’s Joey Starr

The director continues with “Le Bal des acteurs” in 2009, a film regarding behind the scenes of the lives of actresses, where many French actresses play their own role. His new companion, rapper Joey Starr, also appears in his own guise.

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Policies

The collaboration between Maïwenn and Joey Starr reaches its peak in “Polisse”, the third feature film she directed and whose title is inspired by a spelling error of Maïwenn’s young son who had written the word “police “. The film features police officers from the minors protection brigade (an important theme in Maiwenn’s universe). The couple separated following filming.

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A blockbuster movie

Driven by a solid cast (Maïwenn, Joey Starr, Karin Viard, Nicolas Duvauchelle), “Polisse” achieved more than 2 million admissions in France and received the jury prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Maïwenn also received the prize for best director at the 2012 Lumières Award.

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My king

The one who is now a confirmed filmmaker returns in 2015 with “My King”, which depicts the tormented couple relationship between Vincent Cassel and Emmanuelle Bercot. An achievement whose scenario and intensity are applauded by critics!

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Maïwenn and feminism

Maïwenn is part of the 50/50 collective which aims to promote gender equality in cinema and audiovisual. But she has distanced herself from certain current trends in feminism, in particular by defending Roman Polanski and by criticizing the departure of Adèle Haenel during the Cesars 2020 ceremony.

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Immersed in its Algerian roots

Personal subjects hold a large place in Maïwenn’s artistic universe. In her latest film, “ADN”, released in 2020, she plays the role of Neige, a woman immersed in her Algerian roots, alongside Fanny Ardant, Marine Vacth and Louis Garrel.

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the favorite

Her next opus, “La Favorite”, will be released in 2023. Maïwenn will play Mademoiselle du Barry, the mistress of Louis XV played by… Johnny Depp! While waiting to be able to see her in an 18th century setting, let’s wish her a happy birthday!

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18/18 SLIDES