Elsa Zylberstein

Elsa Zylberstein, born as Elsa Florence Zylbersztejn on 16th October 1968, is a notable actress in the French cinema. After studying drama, she embarked on her acting career in 1989 and has since showcased her talent in more than 60 films. Her magnetizing performances have earned her numerous awards, including the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for 'I've Loved You So Long' (2008). Raised in Paris by an Ashkenazi Jewish Polish father and a French Catholic mother, she embraces both Judaism and Christianity, and feels drawn towards Buddhist rites. Besides the admiration she earns on-screen, Zylberstein has a rich life off-screen. She studied English at university, practiced classical dance since childhood, and was tutored in acting by Francis Huster at Cours Florent.

In 1991, she made her impactful appearance in 'Van Gogh', directed by Maurice Pialat, for which she received the Michel Simon Prize and her first nomination for the César Award for Most Promising Actress. Moving forward, she worked in films like 'Farinelli', 'Mr N', 'Jefferson in Paris', 'Lautrec', and 'Modigliani'. Her continued success includes a César Award for her role in the 2008 film 'I've Loved You So Long'. A regular participant in film festivals, she has served on the juries of several such events, including the American Film Festival, the British Film Festival, and the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Elsa's continued contribution to the cinema was recognized in 2020 when she won the Best Acting Award for 'Tout nous sourit' at the Alpe d'Huez Comedy Festival.