Audrey Tautou was born in August of 1978 in France. One of her first big movies was in 1999 and was the French film Venus Beauty Salon. She became popular in France and other movies within the country followed. In 2001 the movie Amelie (Le fabluleux destin d'Amelie Poulain) made her not just a French sensation but an international movie star. After this movie, several others followed. Her roles in Dirty Pretty Things, The Spanish Apartment, The Russian Dolls, and A Very Long Engagement reinforced her talents to the international community. While most of the films she does is in her native French language, she has also done some English speaking films. Most recent and notable work, that also brought her into mainstream American culture, was in The Da Vinci Code opposite Tom Hanks in 2006.
Audrey Tautou enjoyed happy, modest beginnings. Growing up in France, she had a home life consisting of two loving parents, a brother, and two sisters. As a child she did not aspire to be an actress but rather wanted to grow up to work with apes and monkeys. She also enjoyed playing musical instruments and thought about a career in music but did not pursue it. After completing her schooling she began taking theatrical courses and simultaneously studying French literature. During her studies she played a small part in a television series locally. She broke into film with Venus Institute and due to problems during auditions almost never got the opportunity to act in the movie. She was late to auditions and after being refused a chance to make up for the missed audition burst into tears, which changed the mind of the director. He went ahead and let her audition, and the role she played in this movie led her down the path of fame she has traveled.
After this opening role in Venus Institute, which won her a Caesar award, she continued to play small parts in miscellaneous films before landing a large role in Dieu est grand et je suis tout petite. Strange enough, this large role did not get her a lot of attention but did help her get a second role, this one in Le fabluleax destin d'Amelie Poulain. It was this role in Amelie that made Audrey Tautou a popular modern actress and helped seal her success.
Audrey has continued her success through hard work steadily delivered and by acting in a variety of films. She says that she tries to be selective about the roles that she takes on. A good script is essential for her to be able to perform at her best, so she carefully considers each role as it comes her way. Her next area to conquer is the Hollywood scene, and she knows this can only be done through consistent performances in quality films. An energetic and upbeat person with lots of ambition, Audrey Tautou knows that to be successful she must continue to push herself forward and work hard. Success, in her mind, is not a gift but an earned status that must be maintained through hard work. She is a gifted actress with a talent that will make her a timeless classic.