French actress Mélanie Laurent began her career as a 16-year-old, appearing in small roles in feature films. Her first acting credit was in a minor role in the romantic drama film ‘The Bridge’ in 1999. In the ensuing years, she appeared in small roles in numerous films. She starred in the 2006 comedy film ‘Dikkenek’ and received much appreciation. This role earned her the Étoiles d'Or for Best Female Newcomer. The same year, she acted in the drama film ‘Don't Worry, I'm Fine.’ This role is considered her breakthrough role and she won the César Award for Most Promising Actress.
After making a name for herself in French cinema, Mélanie Laurent proceeded to make her Hollywood debut in 2009 with an important role in Quentin Tarantino's blockbuster war film ‘Inglourious Basterds.’ She played Shosanna Dreyfus in this movie. Her performance was critically acclaimed and she won the Online Film Critics Society and the Austin Film Critics Association Best Actress Awards.
Mélanie Laurent appeared in the French film ‘The Round Up’ in 2010, sharing screen space with Sylvie Testud, Jean Reno, and Gad Elmaleh. The film was based on the true story of a young Jewish boy and his experience during the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup by Nazi accomplices in July 1942. In 2013, she starred opposite Jeremy Irons in the drama film ‘Night Train to Lisbon.’ The same year, she acted in Louis Leterrier's caper film ‘Now You See Me,’ as a French Interpol agent.
In 2015, Mélanie Laurent appeared in the romantic drama film ‘By the Sea,’ playing the character of Lea. The same year, she co-directed the French documentary film ‘Tomorrow.’ It won the César Award for Best Documentary Film in 2016. She played Mathilde in the romantic historical drama film ‘Eternity’ in 2016. In 2017, she appeared in two films: ‘Plonger’ and ‘Mon garcon.’
Mélanie Laurent made her debut as an English-language director in 2018 with the film ‘Galveston,’ an adaptation of Nic Pizzolatto's novel of the same name. She is set to write and direct ‘The Nightingale,’ a film adaption of the novel of the same name by Kristin Hannah. This movie will star Dakota Fanning.