Maïwenn

Biography

Maïwenn Aurélia Nedjma Le Besco, widely recognized as Maïwenn, is a prominent French actress and filmmaker. She began her career in the film industry at a young age, delivering a memorable performance as "Elle, as a child" in the acclaimed 1983 film *L'été meurtrier* (One Deadly Summer), where she played the younger version of a character portrayed by Isabelle Adjani.

After marrying director Luc Besson and welcoming their daughter in 1993, Maïwenn took a hiatus from acting, making only a brief appearance as Ouin-Ouin in Besson's *Léon* (1994). She also directed a behind-the-scenes documentary for the same film. Her most recognizable role internationally came in Besson's *The Fifth Element* (1997), where she portrayed the alien Diva Plavalaguna.

Following her divorce from Besson, Maïwenn returned to France and explored stand-up comedy, performing an autobiographical one-woman show. This led to her re-entry into film, with significant roles in projects such as the horror film *Haute Tension* (2003). By this time, she aspired to direct, leading to her debut feature film, *Pardonnez-moi* (2006), which garnered César nominations.

Her subsequent works, including *Le bal des actrices* (2009) and *Polisse* (2011), further established her reputation, with the latter winning the Jury Prize at Cannes. Maïwenn's film *Mon roi* was selected for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and her 2020 film, *DNA*, was an official selection that year, though the festival was canceled due to the pandemic. Her most recent project, *Jeanne du Barry* (2023), centered on Madame du Barry and featured Johnny Depp as Louis XV, premiered out of competition at Cannes, achieving significant box office success