Orson Welles called her "the greatest actress in the world". Found lifeless in her Paris apartment on July 31, 2017, Jeanne Moreau leaves behind an extraordinary career, an incredible filmography and performances, several awards and a mesmerizing, evolutionary voice due to tobacco. From Louis Malle to Orson Welles to Joseph Losey, François Truffaut and Bertrand Blier, Jeanne Moreau has multiplied collaborations of excellence. An unclassifiable artist, she was passionate about cinema, theater, and song, and was also distinguished by her feminist commitments and her outspokenness, which shook a few of them.

Born January 23, 1928 in Paris, Jeanne Moreau began her career at the theater. Daughter of an English dancer and a French brewery manager, she took drama lessons in secret, before continuing the lessons of the French Comedy where she entered as a listener in 1946. She then joined the Conservatoire de Paris in Paris. late 40s, against the advice of his parents who discover his passion. His debut was marked by his participation in the first festival of Avignon, followed by several plays in the 50s.

During this period, she dives by chance in the world of cinema, and the passion will be even stronger. It starts with the biggest, including Jean Gabin and Lino Ventura in "Touche not grisbi". Soon, she meets directors who will propose him main roles. Among them, Louis Malle and François Truffaut. Her career started strong, propelling her to a leading actress. A reputation confirmed in 1960, when Jeanne Moreau received the prize for female interpretation of the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Peter Brook's "Moderato cantabile", adapted from the novel by Marguerite Duras . Another great film that will make her an icon of cinema: the movie "Jules and Jim" François Truffaut, in which she plays "The Trouble". A real turning point in his career, a song that still resonates today.

This flagship song will give him a taste for music. In 1963 and 1967, Jeanne Moreau released her first two albums with the help of singer-songwriter Serge Rezvani. But his true love remains the cinema. Between her albums, she continues the flourishing collaborations: " The Journal of a Maid" by Luis Buñuel, "The Trial" by Orson Welles adapted from Kafka's novel, "The Bride was in black" by François Truffaut, " Eva "by Jopseh Losey," Les Valseuses "by Bertrand Blier, ...

A great lady of French cinema, Jeanne Moreau was President of the jury twice, in 1975 and in 1995. For the second time, we remember the brilliant tribute of Vanessa Paradis singing "The Tourbillon".

In 2000, when she was 72 years old, Jeanne Moreau became the first woman elected to the Aca demie des Beaux-Arts of the Institut de France in the section of artistic creations in cinema and audiovisual. In her speech, she paid tribute to all those who animated her love of cinema.