Cécile de France

Belgian actress Cécile De France achieved fame in French films and parlayed that success into Hollywood parts. She moved to France at the age of 17 and studied with Jean-Paul Denizon before spending three years at the theatre school ENSATT (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Techniques du Théâtre) in Lyon. After a few small TV roles, she starred in the low-budget film "Regarde-moi (en face)" in 2000.

She first gained serious attention with her role in the romantic ensemble film "L'auberge espagnole," earning a 2003 César Award as Most Promising Actress. The thriller "High Tension" was an even bigger breakthrough and made her known internationally. That film's success led to a role in the Jackie Chan adventure "Around the World in 80 Days" and in "Russian Dolls," a sequel to "L'auberge espagnole" that earned De France a César for Best Supporting Actress. She was also awarded with César nominations for the French films "Quand j'étais chanteur," Claude Miller's "A Secret," and the romantic comedy "Avenue Montaigne," all within a two-year span. She made further inroads into Hollywood with a role in Clint Eastwood's fantastical film "Hereafter," which co-starred Matt Damon. Following this international success, she returned to her native Belgium in 2011 to star in the Dardenne brothers's acclaimed drama "The Kid with a Bike."