A leading French stage actress whose cool intelligence and offbeat demeanor, at once sensuous and austere, Jeanne Moreau graced some of the finest films of the late 1950s and 60s, especially those of New Wave directors Louis Malle and Francois Truffaut. She came to prominence in Malle's "Ascenseur pour l'echafaud/Elevator to the Gallows" (1957) and "Les Amants/The Lovers" (1958), but it was her free-spirited performance as Catherine in Francois Truffaut's "Jules and Jim" (1961) that made her an international star. Moreau distinguished herself in the films of such directors as Michelangelo
Grew up living part of the time in Paris, and part of the time in Mazirat, her father's native village
Along with mother, was forced to stay in Paris during WWII; classified as an "enemy alien"
1947
Acted in Avignon Theater Festival
1947
Became the youngest person ever admitted to membership in the Comedie Francaise; first play with the company, "A Month in the Country", directed by Jean Meyer
