Josiane Balasko

Josiane Balasko (born Josiane Balašković; 15 April 1950) is a French actress, writer, and director.

She has been nominated seven times for César Awards, and won twice.

Balasko began her career in 1973 and was 23 years old when she first appeared on screen, in the short L'Agression, with Patrick Bouchitey.

She was in the movie L'an 01, directed by Jacques Doillon.

After an absence of three years she returned to the screen in 1976 in the film The Tenant, directed by Roman Polanski, with a screenplay written by him and Gérard Brach.

The movie was based on the novel written by Roland Topor.

Balasco career exploded in 1977, with her appearing in seven films over the course of the year.

She first appeared in "Solveig et le Violon turc", with Eugène Ionesco and Dominique Lavanant.

Then, she played Simone in "Une fille unique" alongside her boyfriend at the time, Bruno Moynot.

She made an appearance in Animal, directed by Claude Zidi, on a screenplay written by him, Michel Audiard and Dominique Fabre.

It was a big success with more than three million attendances in France, the movie was #5 in 1977 in France.

She appeared in Pardon Mon Affaire, Too!, directed by Yves Robert and written by him and Jean-Loup Dabadie.

The movie was also a big success with more than two million attending in France alone, and was no.8 in 1977 in France.

She played Nadine in This Sweet Sickness, directed by Claude Miller, based on the novel written by Patricia Highsmith.

The movie starred Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, Claude Piéplu, Dominique Laffin and Christian Clavier.

She also acted, under the direction of Philippe Monnier, in Monsieur Papa, in which the dialogue was written by Jean-Marie Poiré.

Balasko starred alongside Claude Brasseur, Nathalie Baye, Daniel Auteuil and Éva Darlan.

Finally, she appeared (in an uncredited role) in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, directed by Vincent McEveety, written by Don Nelson.

With almost three millions attendances in France and nearly 30 million worldwide, the movie was a big success.

In 1978, Balasko played in "Si vous n'aimez pas ça, n'en dégoûtez pas les autres", with Gérard Jugnot and Thierry Lhermitte, and in "Les Petits Câlins", directed by Jean-Marie Poiré, alongside Dominique Laffin, Françoise Bertin and Gérard Jugnot.

Then, she was in La Tortue sur le dos.

Balasko had the leading role in the comedy "Pauline et l'Ordinateur", for which she wrote the dialogue and where she acted next to Gérard Jugnot, Éva Darlan, Jacques Attali and Marie-Anne Chazel.

Finally, she played Nathalie Morin in the cult comedy Les Bronzés, directed by Patrice Leconte, with her friends from Le Splendid, Marie-Anne Chazel, Michel Blanc, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Christian Clavier and Dominique Lavanant.

The movie was a hit with more than two million attendances.

In 1979, Balasko played Emma-Ammé in one episode of the TV Mini-Series, "Les Quatre Cents Coups de Virginie", alongside Anémone.

Then Nathalie Morin again, in the sequel Les Bronzés font du ski with the same cast, which was also a success with more than a millions attendances.

She also appeared as a client in the movie "Les héros n'ont pas froid aux oreilles", with Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Jugnot, Roland Giraud, Gérard Lanvin, Michel Blanc, Thierry Lhermitte, Marie-Anne Chazel and Christian Clavier.

1981 was very successful for Balasko.

First, she played Louise in Clara et les Chics Types.

Later, she had the leading role in the very successful comedy Les hommes préfèrent les grosses.

The movie was a commercial success.

It was directed by Jean-Marie Poiré, who co-wrote the film, with Balasko.

After this, she was in another comedy named Le Maître d'école, directed by Claude Berri.

This film was also commercially successful, the #9 movie at the French Box Office in 1981.

She then played Colette, a supporting role, in Hotel America, directed by André Téchiné, also starring Catherine and Patrick Dewaere.

In 1982, Balasko was in another cult movie, Le Père Noël est une ordure, directed for the third time by Jean-Marie Poiré.

Balasko's other César nominations for best actress were for Too Beautiful for You (1989), Tout le monde n'a pas eu la chance d'avoir des parents communistes (1993), and That Woman (2003).

One of Balasko's most recognized roles among English speakers is as a lesbian in 1995's Gazon maudit (French Twist).

She won the 1996 César Award (shared with Telsche Boorman) for best screenplay, and was also nominated as best director.

The movie itself was nominated for best film.