Whether playing a tomboy in a murder-musical, or a hedonistic young woman in a psychological thriller, French actress Ludivine Sagnier has over her short career established herself as one of France’s leading actresses. And thanks to the success of “Swimming Pool” (2003) in the United States, American audiences have been exposed to the talented and versatile young actress. In fact, because of Sagnier’s scintillating performance, “Swimming Pool” became one of the year’s top-grossing foreign films in the U.S., taking in over $10 million at the box office. Her third collaboration with director Francois Ozon, “Swimming Pool” helped garnish attention in Hollywood, which led to her being cast in the big-budget movie, “Peter Pan” (2003). Originally from Saint-Cloud, a western suburb of Paris, Sagnier was born on July 3, 1979. Though unclear as to when she decided to be an actress, Sagnier made her foray into the profession at the ripe age of 10. She attended Y.D. Hieronymus Drama School, studied at the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and made her film debut in Pascal Thomas’ “Les Maris, Les Femmes, Les Amants” (1989), about a summer vacation where the children act like parents, and the parents like children. Sagenier moved on to her next film, “Cyrano De Bergerac” (1990), starring Gerard Depardieu and Anne Brochet, and helmed by celebrated writer/director Jean-Paul Rappeneau. The young actress then retreated from film and began appearing on several French television movies and series, including “Vacances au purgatoire” (1992), “Le Secret d'Iris” (1996) and “À nous deux la vie” (1998). A return to film saw Sagnier work with Ozon for the first time in “Water Drops On Burning Rocks” (2000). Sagnier played Anna, the jealous girlfriend of Franz (Malik Zidi), a 19-year-old who gets swept away by an older man (Bernard Giraudeau). Next for Sagnier was the Yvan Attal comedy, “My Wife is an Actress” (2001), one of just a few films with her that managed to be seen by American audiences.
For the second time in her career, Sagnier hooked up with Ozon and appeared in the musical murder mystery, “8 Women” (2002). Sagnier played Catherine, the younger daughter of a murdered patriarch in an isolated mansion in the snowy countryside of 1950’s France. As one of eight women on set, the likes of whom included heavyweights Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert and Emmanuelle Beart, Sagnier found herself comepeting for Ozon’s attention. In fact, Sagnier has said she felt slighted by the director, as he lavished warmth and praise on the other actresses, most of whom he did not know. But Sagnier did share the European Film Academy Award for 2002, so the experience wasn’t all bad.
Then Ozon cast Sagnier for a third time in his psychological thriller, “Swimming Pool”. Sagnier played Julie, the wild and tantalizing daughter of a publisher who lets his client, Sarah Morton (played by Charlotte Rampling), stay at his country home in order to rekindle her passion for writing. Instead, Sarah comes to loggerheads with Julie, whose reckless and sexually charged lifestyle rattles the prim and stoic Englishwoman. Though typically shy in real life, Sagnier spent most of the film either nude or barely dressed, an experience she had a hard time coping with at first. But once comfortable in her character’s skin, Sagnier turned in a performance that was critically hailed, propelling the actress into international stardom.
Sagnier then made the trip across the Atlantic and starred in her first big budget Hollywood movie, “Peter Pan” (2003), in which she played a mute Tinkerbell. Though modest box office ensued, the experience gave Sagnier a positive taste for Hollywood, and with it, the opportunity to appear in more American roles—perhaps one that even has dialogue.
