Isabelle Adjani’s Career: From ‘Le Petit bougnat’ to ‘Wingwomen’

Isabelle Adjani is a French actress whose career is defined by her intense and captivating performances. From her early days as a teenage prodigy, she became known for portraying complex, often tormented, women. Her striking beauty, combined with a fierce emotional vulnerability, made her one of the most compelling screen presences in French and international cinema. She has a unique ability to convey profound psychological depth, often exploring themes of obsession, madness, and passion.

Her immense talent has been recognized with numerous accolades, making her one of the most celebrated actresses in French history. She is the only person to have won five César Awards for Best Actress, a record that speaks to her consistent excellence and lasting impact. With two Academy Award nominations, she also achieved significant international recognition, cementing her status as a global icon. Her filmography is a journey through powerful dramas, historical epics, and haunting thrillers.

‘Le Petit bougnat’ (1970)

This French children’s adventure film centers on a young boy who runs away from a summer camp in the countryside. He and a young girl embark on a journey, experiencing a series of adventures as they try to make their way on their own. The film is a gentle story about youthful freedom and the challenges of the world as seen through the eyes of children.

At the age of 14, Isabelle Adjani made her screen debut in this film in the small role of Rose. Although her screen time was limited, it marked the very beginning of her professional acting career. This first step into the world of cinema provided an early glimpse of the natural talent that would soon make her one of France’s most important actresses.

‘The Slap’ (1974)

This French comedy-drama follows a Parisian couple as they go through a separation. The title refers to a slap the father gives their teenage daughter, Isabelle, after she announces her decision to quit her studies. The event triggers a chain reaction, leading Isabelle to explore her independence and navigate the fallout from her parents’ breakup.

Adjani’s role as the rebellious and sensitive daughter was her breakout performance in cinema. She captured the attention of audiences and critics with her natural and spirited portrayal. The film’s success launched her career and established her as a promising new star in French cinema, leading to offers from major directors who saw her immense potential.

‘The Story of Adele H.’ (1975)

Directed by François Truffaut, this historical drama tells the true story of Adèle Hugo, the daughter of famous writer Victor Hugo. The film follows Adèle’s obsessive and unrequited love for a British military officer. She follows him across the Atlantic, descending into madness as her desperate attempts to win his affection are repeatedly rejected.

Adjani’s devastating portrayal of Adèle’s consuming obsession earned her widespread international acclaim. At just 20 years old, she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, a rare feat for a non-American actress in a foreign-language film. The performance is a masterclass in conveying psychological collapse, and it solidified her reputation as a fearless dramatic actress.

‘The Driver’ (1978)

In this minimalist American neo-noir from director Walter Hill, a stoic getaway driver for hire is relentlessly pursued by an obsessive detective. The main characters are known only by their roles: The Driver, The Detective, and The Player. The film is a cult classic, celebrated for its stylish car chases and cool, detached atmosphere.

Adjani plays ‘The Player’, a mysterious gambler who becomes the driver’s alibi in a police lineup. Her character is enigmatic and speaks very few lines, conveying everything through her expressive eyes and magnetic presence. It was one of her first major American roles, and she brought a touch of European art-house mystique to the gritty Hollywood thriller.

‘Nosferatu the Vampyre’ (1979)

In Werner Herzog’s atmospheric remake of the classic silent film, Adjani plays Lucy Harker, the beautiful and pure wife of real estate agent Jonathan Harker. When her husband travels to Transylvania, Count Dracula becomes entranced by a portrait of Lucy. He travels to their town, bringing plague and darkness with him, and Lucy realizes she is the only one who can stop him.

Adjani’s ethereal and fragile portrayal of Lucy provides the film with its emotional heart. She stands in stark contrast to the monstrous Count Dracula and embodies a tragic, self-sacrificing heroism. The role showcased her ability to convey terror and resolve with minimal dialogue, and the film remains a celebrated classic of the horror genre.

‘The Bronte Sisters’ (1979)

This French historical drama, directed by André Téchiné, explores the bleak and challenging lives of the three famous literary sisters: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë. The film details their creative ambitions, their difficult relationship with their brother Branwell, and the personal tragedies that shaped their brilliant and short lives in 19th-century Yorkshire.

Adjani took on the role of the fiercely private and intensely passionate Emily Brontë, author of ‘Wuthering Heights’. She delivered a somber and introverted performance, capturing the inner fire of a creative genius isolated from the world. The film allowed her to work alongside two other great French actresses, Isabelle Huppert and Marie-France Pisier, who played her sisters.

‘Possession’ (1981)

This psychological horror film follows the intense and bizarre disintegration of a marriage in Cold War Berlin. When Anna asks her husband, Mark, for a divorce, her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent. Mark’s investigation into her new life uncovers a gruesome and surreal secret involving a monstrous creature she keeps in a derelict apartment.

Adjani’s performance as Anna is one of the most legendary and demanding in cinematic history. She won Best Actress at both the Cannes Film Festival and the César Awards for her raw and unhinged portrayal. The film’s infamous subway scene, a single take of Anna having a violent, public breakdown, is a shocking and unforgettable display of physical and emotional commitment.

‘Quartet’ (1981)

Based on the novel by Jean Rhys, this Merchant Ivory production is set in 1920s Paris. Adjani plays Marya “Mado” Zelli, a young woman who is left penniless after her art dealer husband is imprisoned. She is taken in by a wealthy and manipulative English couple, who invite her to live in their apartment and soon draw her into their dysfunctional and exploitative relationship.

Working with an international cast that included Alan Bates and Maggie Smith, Adjani delivered a nuanced performance as a vulnerable woman trapped by her circumstances. The role required her to convey subtle shifts in power and emotion, and she earned a second Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her work, which she shared for her role in ‘Possession’.

‘One Deadly Summer’ (1983)

In this French thriller, Adjani plays Éliane, a beautiful and provocative young woman who moves to a small provincial town. She quickly attracts the attention of all the local men, but her seductive behavior hides a dark secret and a meticulous plan for revenge. She believes three men from the town are responsible for a past trauma that destroyed her family.

‘One Deadly Summer’ was a massive commercial success in France, and Adjani’s performance as the cunning femme fatale was a critical triumph. She won her second César Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of a woman driven by vengeance. She perfectly captured the character’s blend of alluring charm and cold, calculated rage, making it one of her most iconic roles.

‘Subway’ (1985)

This stylish thriller from director Luc Besson centers on a petty thief who takes refuge in the Paris Métro system after a robbery. He meets a cast of eccentric underground dwellers while being pursued by the police. The film became a landmark of the “cinéma du look” movement for its cool, punk-inspired aesthetic.

Adjani plays Héléna, the bored trophy wife of the man who was robbed, who becomes entangled in the thief’s subterranean world. Her iconic look in the film, with its dramatic makeup and avant-garde fashion, helped define 1980s French style. The role earned her a César nomination and showed her ability to thrive in a more stylized, modern type of filmmaking.

‘Ishtar’ (1987)

This American adventure-comedy stars Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman as two untalented lounge singers who get a gig in Morocco. There, they become unwittingly entangled in a Cold War plot involving the CIA and a local revolutionary. The film became infamous as one of Hollywood’s biggest box office flops, despite its high-profile cast and director.

Adjani played Shirra Assel, the beautiful and mysterious freedom fighter who uses the two hapless singers as pawns in her mission. Despite the film’s negative reputation, her performance demonstrated her willingness to take risks and work in a mainstream Hollywood comedy. It remains a curious and much-discussed entry in her filmography.

‘Camille Claudel’ (1988)

This biographical film tells the tragic story of Camille Claudel, a gifted sculptor and the sister of poet Paul Claudel. The film chronicles her passionate and tumultuous relationship with the much older and more famous sculptor Auguste Rodin. It follows her journey from his student to his lover, and her eventual descent into mental illness after their painful separation.

Adjani co-produced the film and was deeply invested in bringing Claudel’s story to the screen. Her powerful and heartbreaking performance earned her a second Academy Award nomination and her third César Award for Best Actress. She masterfully depicted Claudel’s artistic genius, her fierce independence, and her devastating emotional unraveling.

‘Queen Margot’ (1994)

This lavish historical epic is set during the French Wars of Religion in the 16th century. Adjani stars as Margaret of Valois, known as Margot, a Catholic princess forced into a political marriage with a Protestant King. The marriage is intended to bring peace, but it instead leads directly to the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre.

Adjani delivered a commanding performance as the intelligent and passionate queen trying to survive in a brutal and treacherous world. The film was a grand spectacle, praised for its visceral depiction of history and its powerful performances. For her role, Adjani won her fourth César Award for Best Actress, further cementing her legendary status in French cinema.

‘Diabolique’ (1996)

This American thriller is a remake of the classic 1955 French film ‘Les Diaboliques’. The story follows the frail wife and the powerful mistress of a cruel school headmaster. The two women, who are normally rivals, conspire to murder him, but their plan goes awry when his body disappears, leading to a suspenseful and terrifying mystery.

Adjani played Mia Baran, the timid wife, starring opposite Sharon Stone as the formidable mistress. Taking on a role from one of France’s most iconic films was a bold move. While the remake did not achieve the classic status of the original, it gave Adjani a high-profile Hollywood leading role and a chance to work in the suspense genre.

‘Skirt Day’ (2009)

In this intense drama, Adjani plays Sonia Bergerac, a high school teacher in a troubled suburb of Paris. After years of dealing with aggressive students, her life is turned upside down when she accidentally discovers a gun in a student’s bag. Pushed to her breaking point, she takes her entire class hostage in a desperate attempt to be heard.

The film was a powerful comeback for Adjani, who delivered a raw and emotionally charged performance. Her portrayal of a dedicated teacher at the end of her rope was widely praised by critics and audiences. She won a record-breaking fifth César Award for Best Actress, a testament to her enduring talent and her ability to deliver profoundly impactful performances.

‘The World Is Yours’ (2018)

This fast-paced French crime comedy follows a small-time dealer who wants to leave the criminal life behind. His plans are complicated when his mother, an obsessive gambler, loses all his savings, forcing him to take on one last dangerous job. The film is a stylish and funny take on the classic gangster movie.

Adjani plays the dealer’s manipulative and flamboyant mother in a scene-stealing comedic performance. The role showed a completely different side of her acting range, allowing her to be playful and over-the-top. Her work was widely praised and earned her another César nomination, proving her ability to excel in both intense drama and clever comedy.

‘Peter von Kant’ (2022)

In this film from acclaimed director François Ozon, the story centers on a successful film director who falls obsessively in love with a handsome young actor. The film is a gender-swapped adaptation of a classic work by German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. It explores themes of love, power, and creative obsession in the world of cinema.

Adjani plays Sidonie, a great stage and screen actress who was the director’s former star and muse. Although it is a supporting role, she makes a memorable impact as the glamorous and world-weary diva. Her performance was highly praised and demonstrated her continued collaboration with some of Europe’s most interesting directors.

‘Wingwomen’ (2023)

This French action-comedy follows two best friends and master thieves who are tired of their life on the run. They decide to pull one last job before they retire, but they first need to recruit a new getaway driver. Adjani plays Marraine, the crime boss who has been their mentor but has no intention of letting them go so easily.

In ‘Wingwomen’, Adjani takes on a fun and menacing supporting role. Playing the glamorous and ruthless boss, she adds a touch of veteran star power to the popular Netflix film. The role demonstrates her continued relevance and her willingness to work in contemporary, genre-driven projects alongside a new generation of French talent.

What is your favorite Isabelle Adjani role and why does it stand out to you?