Colette Suzanne Jeannine Dacheville, known professionally as Stéphane Audran, built a career as a primary fixture of French cinema throughout the late twentieth century. Across a prolific filmography, she became synonymous with the portrayal of bourgeois characters, collaborating extensively with director Claude Chabrol and achieving significant international recognition for her roles in both European and global productions.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1932 in Versailles, she was raised by her mother following the death of her doctor father when she was six. She completed her secondary education at the Lycée Lamartine before pursuing theatrical training at the Ecole de théâtre Charles Dullin in Paris and the Cours Simon. Her initial professional efforts focused on stage acting, though she transitioned to the screen with the 1957 short film Le jeu de la nuit.
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Take the IQ test →Collaboration with Claude Chabrol
Her professional and personal life became deeply intertwined with director Claude Chabrol. Following their 1964 marriage, she appeared in a total of 25 of his films. Key projects included Les Cousins, released in 1959, and Les Biches, which brought her the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 1968 Berlin International Film Festival. She also featured in Le Boucher, Just Before Nightfall, and Violette Nozière, the latter of which earned her the 1979 César Award for Best Supporting Actress. The couple, who had one son, actor Thomas Chabrol, divorced in 1980, though she maintained working relationships with Chabrol in subsequent years.
International Recognition and Later Career
Beyond her partnership with Chabrol, she collaborated with directors including Luis Buñuel, Eric Rohmer, and Bertrand Tavernier. Her performance in Buñuel's 1972 feature The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie resulted in a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In 1987, she starred in Babette's Feast, directed by Gabriel Axel, which became her most internationally recognized work. Her screen presence also extended to television productions such as Brideshead Revisited and The Sun Also Rises. She remained active as a character actress until the late 2000s.
Honours and Legacy
Throughout her career, she received numerous distinctions in recognition of her contributions to the arts. These include being appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1986, an Officer of the National Order of Merit in 1990, and a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1997. She was also named a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1988. Following a long illness, she died on 27 March 2018 at her home in Neuilly-sur-Seine, aged 85.
Fast facts
- Born: 1932, Versailles
- Died: 2018, Neuilly-sur-Seine
- Education: Cours Simon
- 1968 Silver Bear for Best Actress
- 1973 BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
- 1979 César Award for Best Supporting Actress
- 1986 Knight of the Legion of Honour
- 1990 Officer of the National Order of Merit
Questions readers ask
How many films did Stéphane Audran make with Claude Chabrol?
She appeared in 25 films directed by Claude Chabrol.
What was her most internationally recognized film?
Her most internationally known role was in the 1987 film Babette's Feast.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1986
- Officer of the National Order of Merit — 1990
- Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog — 1988
- Educated at Cours Simon
- Worked as audiobook narrator, film actor and actor
