Agnès Jaoui

Agnès Jaoui (born 19 October 1964 in Antony, Hauts‑de‑Seine) is a celebrated French actress, screenwriter, director and singer whose career has spanned more than four decades. Raised in a literary family—her parents Hubert and Gyza Jaoui were writers—she discovered theatre while attending Lycée Henri‑IV and later honed her craft at the Cours Florent and the Théâtre des Amandiers under Patrice Chéreau. Her early collaboration with Jean‑Pierre Bacri began in 1987 and produced a string of critically acclaimed works, beginning with the stage play Cuisine et dépendances which was adapted for film in 1992. The duo’s razor‑sharp observation of everyday French life culminated in the César‑winning screenplays for Smoking/No Smoking (1994), Family Resemblances (1996) and Same Old Song (1997), each earning Jaoui her third César for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation and her first César for Best Supporting Actress. Transitioning to directing, Jaoui debuted with The Taste of Others (2000), a socially insightful comedy that attracted four million viewers, secured four César Awards including Best Film, and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Her subsequent directorial efforts such as Look at Me (2004) and Under the Rainbow (2012) continued to blend humor with social commentary, winning prestigious prizes at Cannes and the Lumière Awards. Parallel to her cinematic achievements, Jaoui pursued a musical career, releasing the Latin‑infused album Canta in 2006, which won the Victoire de la Musique for best traditional music album, and followed with Dans Mon Pays in 2009. Beyond her artistic output, Jaoui is an advocate for gender equality in the industry, a member of the 50/50 collective, and a mother of two adopted Brazilian children, reflecting a personal commitment to cultural diversity and social responsibility.