Catherine Jacob (actress)

Career

She won the César Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in Life Is a Long Quiet River (1988), and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Tatie Danielle (1990), Merci la vie (1991) and Neuf mois (1994). She has won one César Award on four nominations. She had been two-time president of the Lumières Award. She is known for her voice and her charisma.

1981 - 1987 : The Beginning

Born in Paris on 16 December 1956, Catherine Jacob spent part of her childhood and adolescence in Compiègne, where she was educated at primary school and then high school Pierre d'Ailly. Her father was a dental surgeon and her mother orthodontist. She have a younger brother.

After obtaining a diploma in architecture, Catherine Jacob moved to Paris. From 1978 to 1980, she studied acting at the Ecole Florent François, then located on Saint Louis Island ...

She start to act in the early 80's as an extra in movies like Swann in Love by Volker Schlöndorff (1984), Les Nanas by Annick Lanoë (1985), State of Grace by Jacques Rouffio (1986) and Malady of Love by Jacques Deray (1987). She also appeared on TV Movies ans TV Series like Dickie-roi by Guy Lefranc, Toutes griffes dehors by Michel Boisrond, Julien Fontanes, magistrat, Marie Pervenche, La tricheuse and Qui c'est ce garçon ? by Nadine Trintignant in supporting parts.

In 1985, she wrote and direct herself in a one-woman show, called Welcome to the club, tracing eleven portraits of characters too sure of them. She appeared in festival with her show and continue to play it in 1986.

1988 - 1997 : The Cesar & The Success

In 1988 she played Marie-Thérèse in the cult film Life Is a Long Quiet River by Étienne Chatiliez. The movie was a huge success and Jacob won the César Award for Most Promising Actress. She also play in the TV Mini-Series Le vent des moissons alongside Annie Girardot. This same year she and Jacques Bonnaffé also had a huge success with the play Paris-Nord - Attractions pour noces et banquets. It was plans to be just for 10 night but thanks to the success the play continue for three years.

In 1989, she continue her tour with the play Paris-Nord - Attractions pour noces et banquets. She get a supporting role in Les Maris, les Femmes, les Amants by Pascal Thomas, with Jean-François Stévenin and Michel Robin. She play in two TV Movies : L'été de la révolution with Bruno Cremer and Brigitte Fossey and Le vagabond de la Bastille by Michel Andrieu. She also appeared in one episode of the TV Series Imogène with Dominique Lavanant.

In 1990, she continue her tour with the play Paris-Nord - Attractions pour noces et banquets. She play in the second movies of the director Étienne Chatiliez, Tatie Danielle with Tsilla Chelton, Isabelle Nanty and Karin Viard. It was show to the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie was again a big success to the box office, well received by the critics and became a cult movie. Jacob was nominated to the César Award for Best Supporting Actress.

In 1991, she ended her tour with the play Paris-Nord - Attractions pour noces et banquets after three years on the road. Later this year, she start The Imaginary Invalid by Molière, directed by Hans-Peter Cloos to the Théâtre national de Chaillot. She play in Merci la vie by Bertrand Blier, alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg, Anouk Grinberg, Michel Blanc, Jean Carmet, Annie Girardot, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Gérard Depardieu. Jacob was nominated for her third César Award for Best Supporting Actress. She play in My Father the Hero by Gérard Lauzier, with Gérard Depardieu, Marie Gillain and Charlotte de Turckheim. She also play in the short Contes à rebours, directed by Gilles Porte.

In 1992, she begin two new plays : Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry, directed by Roland Topor to the Théâtre national de Chaillot and Chambres by Philippe Minyana, directed by Hans-Peter Cloos to the Théâtre Paris-Villette. She play Rose in La Fille de l'air by Maroun Bagdadi, with Béatrice Dalle, Hippolyte Girardot and Jean-Claude Dreyfus. She also play in Bella vista by Alfredo Arias, with Wadeck Stanczak. Jacob played in three shorts, Tout petit déjà by David Carayon, O mon amour with Artus de Penguern and Cocon by Martin Provost.

In 1993, she starred in the successful La Soif de l'or by Gérard Oury, with Tsilla Chelton and Christian Clavier. She play in the short Stella plage with Dominique Pinon and in the TV Movie L'Éternel Mari by Denys Granier-Deferre, with Roger Hanin and Macha Méril.

In 1994, she play Dominique in the cult film Neuf mois by Patrick Braoudé, with Daniel Russo. Jacob was again nominated to the César Award for Best Supporting Actress. She have the leading role in Les Braqueuses by Jean-Paul Salomé, with Clémentine Célarié and in Oh God, Women Are So Loving by Magali Clément, with Mathieu Carrière. She play in the TV Movie Le jardin des plantes by Philippe de Broca, with Claude Rich. She also start a new play written and directed by Victor Lanoux, called Drame au Concert with Roland Giraud. In 1995, she play for the third time with director Étienne Chatiliez, in the big success Happiness Is in the Field, alongside Michel Serrault, Eddy Mitchell, Sabine Azéma and Carmen Maura. She also play in the TV Movie Les maîtresses de mon mari with Marie-Christine Barrault.

In 1996, she come back to the theater with Le Bourgeois gentilhomme by Molière, directed by Jérôme Savary, to the Théâtre national de Chaillot. She play the Diva Carla Milo in Les Grands Ducs by Patrice Leconte, with Jean-Pierre Marielle, Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort and Michel Blanc. She star in the movie Oui by Alexandre Jardin, with Dany Boon, Jean-Marie Bigard and Claire Keim, and in Let's Hope it Lasts with Ticky Holgado and Gérard Darmon. She play in two shorts : Un bel après-midi d'été by Artus de Penguern and Ultima hora with François Berléand. She also made two TV Movie, Sur un air de mambo by Jean-Louis Bertucelli, for which she became the first French woman to win the Golden Goblet Award for Best Actress and Barrage sur l'Orénoque with Elizabeth Bourgine and Georges Corraface.

In 1997, she play in Messieurs les enfants, with Pierre Arditi, François Morel, Zinedine Soualem and Michel Aumont, in XXL by Ariel Zeitoun, with Michel Boujenah, Gérard Depardieu, Elsa Zylberstein, Emmanuelle Riva and Gad Elmaleh and in La ballade de Titus with Jean-Claude Dreyfus and Antoine Duléry. She also have the leading role in two TV Movies : Maintenant ou jamais with Daniel Russo, Samy Naceri and Chantal Lauby and La vie à trois with Aurélien Recoing.

1998 - 2011 : Television & Festival

In 1998, she play in Let There Be Light by Arthur Joffé, an ensemble comedy. She play in three TV Movies : Théo et Marie with Véronique Jannot, Qui mange qui ? with Julien Guiomar and Maintenant et pour toujours with Marisa Berenson, Marlène Jobert and Agathe de La Boulaye. She also appeared in one episode of Chercheur d'héritiers with Bernadette Lafont.

In 1999, she play in the TV Movie Fleurs de sel with François Berléand and Frédéric Pierrot. She appeared in one episode of the TV Series Marc Eliot, directed by Josée Dayan. She come back to theater after 3 years, with The Miser by Molière, directed by Jérôme Savary to the Théâtre des Célestins. She is invited to present an Award to the 13rd Molière Award.

In 2000, she start a tour in France with The Miser by Molière. She star in Le coeur à l'ouvrage, with Mathilde Seigner and Amira Casar. She have the leading role in two TV Movies : La Double Vie de Jeanne with Micheline Presle and Christine Citti, and Les faux-fuyants, with Arielle Dombasle and Nicolas Vaude. This same year, she also walked up the stairs to the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2001, she have the leading role in the movie J'ai faim !!!, directed by Florence Quentin, with Michèle Laroque. The movie was show during the Yokohama French Film Festival, in Japan. She star in the movie God Is Great and I'm Not with Audrey Tautou, Édouard Baer, Julie Depardieu, Philippe Laudenbach and Thierry Neuvic. It was screened to the Seattle International Film Festival. She also play in the Short, La concierge est dans l'ascenseur, with Michel Vuillermoz, Omar Sy and Fred Testot.

In 2002, she play in the TV Movies La torpille, with Pierre Cassignard and the sequel of Qui mange qui ?, called Qui mange quoi ?, directed by Jean-Paul Lilienfeld. Jacob also gave her voice to the Animated TV Mini-Series Corto Maltese, with Richard Berry, Patrick Bouchitey and Marie Trintignant. This year, she also walked up the stairs to the Cannes Film Festival, she was invited to the 27th César Awards to present an Award, to the Monte-Carlo Television Festival and to the Monaco International Film Festival.

In 2003, she play in Who Killed Bambi ?, directed by Gilles Marchand, with Sophie Quinton, Laurent Lucas, Yasmine Belmadi, Valérie Donzelli and Joséphine de Meaux. The movie was screened to the Cannes Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, the Seattle International Film Festival and some others. She star in two TV Movie : L'adieu, with Thomas Jouannet, Mélanie Doutey, Gilles Lellouche, Jean Benguigui, Cécile Cassel and L'île atlantique by Gérard Mordillat. Jacob was invited to the Festival international du film fantastique de Gérardmer and she was a member of the jury during the 15th Dinard British Film Festival.

In 2004, she play in The First Time I Turned Twenty by Lorraine Lévy, with Marilou Berry, Serge Riaboukine, Pierre Arditi, Raphaël Personnaz and Michel Vuillermoz. The movie was presented to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, the San Diego Jewish Film Festival and the Women Make Waves Festival. She play in the animated short La Méthode Bourchnikov with Lorànt Deutsch, Dieudonné M'bala M'bala and Daniel Prévost. The short was presented to the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival and several others. It was nominated to the César Award for Best Short Film. She play in the third and last part of the TV Movies following Qui mange qui ? and Qui mange quoi ?, named Qui mange quand ?, directed by Jean-Paul Lilienfeld. She also star in the TV Movie Joe Pollox et les mauvais esprits with Pascal Légitimus and Laurent Lafitte and in the TV Mini-Series Colette, une femme libre directed by Nadine Trintignant, with Marie Trintignant and Lambert Wilson. She begin a new TV Series, Clara et associés directed by Gérard Marx, with François Berléand and Antoine Duléry.

In 2005, she star in Quartier V.I.P. by Laurent Firode, with Johnny Hallyday, Pascal Légitimus, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, François Berléand and Jean-Claude Brialy. She play in three TV Movies : Une vie by Élisabeth Rappeneau, with Wladimir Yordanoff and Barbara Schulz, Louise, with Huguette Oligny and Désiré Landru with Patrick Timsit and Danièle Lebrun. She also appeared in one episode of the TV Series Vénus & Apollon with Zinedine Soualem and Maria de Medeiros. She is a member of the jury of the 16th Valenciennes Film Festival and she's invited to the Marrakech International Film Festival.

In 2006, she play in Dikkenek with Jean-Luc Couchard, Dominique Pinon, Marion Cotillard, Mélanie Laurent, Jérémie Renier, Florence Foresti and François Damiens and in Les aristos by Charlotte de Turckheim, with Jacques Weber, Urbain Cancelier, Armelle, Victoria Abril and Rossy de Palma. She star in four TV Movies : Comment lui dire by Laurent Firode, Mes parents chéris with Adriana Asti and Michel Aumont, L'enfant d'une autre with Arly Jover and Olivier Marchal and Le Soldat rose with Matthieu Chedid, Louis Chedid, Alain Souchon, Vanessa Paradis and Francis Cabrel. She also play in the TV Mini-Series Le Cri with Francis Renaud, Jacques Bonnaffé, Dominique Blanc, Yolande Moreau and François Morel. She is a member of the jury of the 20th Cabourg Film Festival. She also walked up the stairs to the Cannes Film Festival during the premiere of Marie Antoinette

In 2007, she come back to the theater after seven years of break with the play Jusqu'à ce que la mort nous sépare by Rémi de Vos, directed by Éric Vigner, to the Théâtre du Rond-Point. She play in the short Kozak, directed by Olivier Fox, with Fred Testot. She is invited to present two awards during the 32nd César Awards. She is also on the stage for the Victoires de la Musique with the band of Le Soldat Rose to sing. She's invited to give the Prix Cine Romen alongside Claude Lelouch and Pierre Lescure. She also walked up the stairs to the Cannes Film Festival during the premiere of Ocean's Thirteen

In 2008, she start a new play, Célibataires by David Foenkinos, directed by Anouche Setbon, to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. She star in the drama Behind the Walls, directed by Christian Faure, with Carole Bouquet, François Damiens, Michel Jonasz, Guillaume Gouix and Pascal N'Zonzi. The movie premiere to the City of Lights, City of Angels Festival. She play in 48 heures par jour by Catherine Castel, with Aure Atika, Antoine de Caunes, Victoria Abril, Bernadette Lafont and Aurore Clément. She also have the leading part in the TV Movie, La Maison Tellier, directed by Élisabeth Rappeneau, with Bruno Lochet and Sophie Quinton. She is a member of the jury of the 15th Festival international du film fantastique de Gérardmer. She was invited to the third ceremony of the Raimu of Comedy.

In 2009, she play in the short L'arbre à clous, directed by Fabrice Couchard and presented to the Brussels International Independent Film Festival and she gave her voice on one episode of the TV Series Eliot Kid. She is invited to the 23rd Molière Award to present the Best Supporting Actress with Michel Vuillermoz. She's invited to give for the second time, the Prix Cine Romen alongside Patrice Leconte and Jean-Pierre Marielle. She's also for the second time, a member of the jury during the 20th Dinard British Film Festival.

In 2010, she play in Roses à crédit, directed by Amos Gitai, with Léa Seydoux, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Pierre Arditi, Arielle Dombasle, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Florence Thomassin, André Wilms, Ariane Ascaride and Elsa Zylberstein. The movie was presented to the Toronto International Film Festival, the São Paulo International Film Festival and the Morelia International Film Festival. She play Chantal in Thelma, Louise et Chantal, with Jane Birkin, Caroline Cellier, Thierry Lhermitte, Michèle Bernier, Alysson Paradis and Micheline Presle. The movie premiered to the Alpe d'Huez Film Festival and was also screened during the Edinburgh International Film Festival. She star in Streamfield, les carnets noirs, with Bernard Le Coq, Jean-Pierre Castaldi and Pierre Arditi. She play in two TV Movies : Notre Dame des Barjots with Zabou Breitman and Pierre Cassignard and He's the One... Or Not with Delphine Chanéac and Sagamore Stévenin. For the third time, she's invited to give the Prix Cine Romen alongside Marie-Anne Chazel and Jean-Loup Dabadie. She is a part of the Ceremony At Culture Ministry In Paris honoring her friend Daniel Russo. She's a member of the jury during the 10th Monte Carlo Comedy Film Festival.

In 2011, she play in the horror movie Livid directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, with Félix Moati, Marie-Claude Pietragalla and Béatrice Dalle. The movie premiered to the Toronto International Film Festival, and was presented in a lot of festival like the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival, the Fantastic Fest or the Screamfest Horror Film Festival. She play in three TV Movies : Gérald K. Gérald by Élisabeth Rappeneau, with François Morel and Armelle, Le Grand Restaurant II with Line Renaud and Le client with Gérard Darmon, Laurence Arné and Claudia Tagbo. She's invited to the Chaumet's Cocktail Party For Cesar's Revelations 2011 where she support Arthur Dupont and a couple weeks later she was invited to the announcement of the nominees. She's a member of the jury during the 16th International Film Festival of youngs directors with Myriam Boyer, Virginie Efira and Stéphane Brizé.

2012 - present : Theater, Television & Cinema

In 2012, she play in two TV Movies : À dix minutes des naturistes directed by Stéphane Clavier, with Lionel Abelanski, Christine Citti and Macha Méril and La Baie d'Alger, screened to the Alès Film Festival, directed by Merzak Allouache, with Biyouna, Jean Benguigui and Michèle Moretti. She also appeared in three episodes of the TV Series Victoire Bonnot, with Valérie Damidot. She was chosen as the President of the 17th Lumières Awards. She also walked up the stairs to the Cannes Film Festival during the premiere of Moonrise Kingdom

In 2013, she's back in theater after 5 years, playing in tour Le voyageur sans bagage by Jean Anouilh, directed by Alain Fromager & Gwendoline Hamon. She star in two TV Movies : Je vous présente ma femme, directed by Élisabeth Rappeneau, with Michel Robin and Les Vieux Calibres with Danièle Lebrun, Michel Aumont, Roger Dumas and Jean-Luc Bideau. She have two recurring role in two TV Series : Vive la colo ! with Virginie Hocq, Titoff, Julien Boisselier and Luce for 4 episodes and La Famille Katz with Julie Depardieu and Serge Hazanavicius for 6 episodes. She also made an advertisement for LCL S.A.. She is invited to the 53rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival and to the 15th Festival Of The TV Fiction At La Rochelle.

In 2014, she play two supporting role in two movies : L'Ex de ma vie with Géraldine Nakache and Kim Rossi Stuart, and Lili Rose with Mehdi Dehbi. She also star in the TV Movie Tout est permis, directed by Émilie Deleuze, with Judith Chemla. She appeared in a couple of episodes of Scènes de ménages, playing the daughter of Marion Game and Gérard Hernandez's characters. She has also shot advertisements for Canalsat.

In 2015, she star in two TV Movie : Lettre à France directed by Stéphane Clavier, with Julie Ferrier and Merci pour tout, Charles with Charlotte de Turckheim and Claudia Tagbo for France 2. She also appeared in 2 episodes of the TV Series Nos chers voisins for TF1. Catherine Jacob is also on stage with Madame in which she played a prostitute who tells her memoirs. She is hailed by critics. She also perform Elles se croient toutes Joly with others actresses in a tribute Show to the comedian Sylvie Joly. In April, she read on stage some letters of the Royallieu-Compiègne internment camp's deportees.

In 2016, she appeared in Joséphine s'arrondit directed by Marilou Berry. She also star in three TV Movie : Murders at Avignon, with Lætitia Milot for France 3, Baisers cachés with Patrick Timsit and 3 Mariages et 1 coup de foudre with Helena Noguerra and Mylène Demongeot for France 2. On theater, she play in L'impresario delle Smirne written by Carlo Goldoni, with Nicolas Vaude. She also joined the TV Show Conseil d'indiscipline, broadcast on Paris Première and hosted by Jean-Louis Debré for which she is columnist for a couple of shows. In April, she is the godmother of the 19th Dinard Comedy Festival.

In 2017, she star as Queen Titania in Un jour mon prince! with Hugo Becker and in the comedy Telle mère, telle fille with Juliette Binoche. Sha also play Agnès Dorgelle in This Is Our Land, directed by Lucas Belvaux, with Émilie Dequenne, André Dussollier and Guillaume Gouix. The film was slated to be released two months before the first round of the 2017 presidential elections in France and directly targets the National Front. The character portray by Catherine Jacob is said to strongly resemble Marine Le Pen and members of the political party saw the film as an affront. Steeve Briois, the FN mayor of Hénin-Beaumont tweeted : "Poor Marine Le Pen, which is caricatured by this tobacco pot of Catherine Jacob. A damn turnip in perspective !" Florian Philippot, an other member of the FN declared : "According to the trailer that I saw [...], it looks like a nice turnip, but, beyond the quality of the film, I find it really scandalous that in the countryside Presidential election, I believe precisely to two months of the vote, one leaves in the French rooms a film that is clearly anti-National Front. [...] It disturbs me on behalf of Catherine Jacob. I was a fan of Catherine Jacob. There, I love her very much, but for me she is spoiled. Why ? For some money, for a César Award, for a little chocolate medal that will be given, for service rendered to the system ?".She answer The stupid reaction of the National Front is a gift. It proves that we're right.. She also star in the TV Movie Simone Benloulou produced by Netflix with Richard Berry She returns to the stage with the play "Madame" for a successful tour and have a part in the play Un fil à la patte, written by Georges Feydeau and directed by Christophe Lidon.

In August 2017, she start to shoot a new TV Mini-Series for France 3 called Les impatientes with Noémie Lvovsky and Thierry Godard.

Box-office

Movies starring Catherine Jacob with more than a million of entries in France.