Tautou, Audrey (1978– )

French actor. She is best known for her roles in films by French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet: the charming, quirky, romantic comedy Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain/Amélie (2001) and the World War I drama Un long dimanche de fiançailles/A Very Long Engagement (2004).

She won the 1999 French Cesar award for Best New Actress for the film Vénus beauté (Institut)/Venus Beauty Salon but gained international acclaim for her title role as the impish do-gooder in Amélie. Other films include the Denis Diderot biopic Le Libertin/The Libertine (2000), the comedy Voyous voyelle/Pretty Devils (2000), the romantic comedy Le Battement d'ailes de papillon/Happenstances (2000), the romantic thriller A la folie… pas de tout/He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (2002), and the romantic comedy L'Auberge espagnole/The Spanish Apartment (2002). Her first English language role was in Stephen Frears's Dirty Pretty Things (2002).

She was born in Beaumont, France, and grew up in Montlucon. Though she aspired to be a primatologist, she studied acting at school and at the prestigious Cours Florent acting school in Paris. She began working on French television after graduation, earning the Best Newcomer award from Canal Plus after appearing on a French talent programme. Her short film Casting: Archi-dégueulasse was shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.