---
name: "Anouk Aimée"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/anouk-aimee"
fi1m_id: "anouk-aimee"
imdb_id: "nm0000733"
tmdb_id: 5682
wikidata_id: "Q228607"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 April 1932"
died: "18 June 2024"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 90
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-26T14:44:51.258535+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Anouk Aimée

## Identity

Anouk Aimée

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/anouk-aimee
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** anouk-aimee
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000733
- **TMDB ID:** 5682
- **Wikidata ID:** Q228607
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anouk_Aim%C3%A9e, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228607, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000733/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5682

Actor. Born 27 April 1932 in Paris, France. Died 18 June 2024.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 April 1932, Paris, France
- **Died:** 18 June 2024
- **Active:** 1960–1963
- **Also known as:** Nicole Françoise Florence Dreyfus, Françoise Sorya Dreyfus, Anouk
- **Frequently works with:** [Angelo Rizzoli](https://film.one/person/angelo-rizzoli.md), [Brunello Rondi](https://film.one/person/brunello-rondi.md), [Ennio Flaiano](https://film.one/person/ennio-flaiano.md), [Federico Fellini](https://film.one/person/federico-fellini.md), [Marcello Mastroianni](https://film.one/person/marcello-mastroianni.md), [Tullio Pinelli](https://film.one/person/tullio-pinelli.md)
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 90, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anouk_Aim%C3%A9e, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228607, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000733/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5682

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*8½*](https://film.one/film/812.md) (91)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Anouk Aimée

> Anouk Aimée's gift was holding back. In two Fellini films she stands a little apart from the noise, listens, and lets us read what the men cannot; when a film gave her something to withhold, she was hard to look away from.

In *8½* (1963) she arrives as Luisa, the director's wife, in a short crop and severe spectacles, and does almost nothing. Guido lies to her and she watches him do it. It is the most honest thing in a film otherwise delighted by its own dishonesty, and we felt, watching Luisa watch Guido, a fatigue we recognised from our own kitchens: the particular weariness of hearing someone you love say something you both know is untrue, and deciding not to argue. Around her Fellini piles up mistresses, producers, cardinals and a girl in white with a glass of water, and Aimée stands at the edge of all of it, tired of him. Rossella Falk, as her friend Rossella, gets the sharpest lines.

She had done a version of it for Fellini three years earlier. Maddalena in *La Dolce Vita* (1960) is rich, bored and briefly generous to Marcello Mastroianni's Marcello Rubini, and Aimée plays her without asking for our sympathy or our disapproval. Anita Ekberg fills the screen; Aimée draws back from it, and the drawing back is what you remember. She gave Fellini the credit: "It was Fellini who taught me this: The most important thing of all is to listen, just listen to what the other characters say. And don’t take [yourself] too seriously." She made two films with him, both opposite Mastroianni.

Between the two Fellini films Jacques Demy gave her the title role in *Lola* (1961), a cabaret dancer and single mother, and the part she later said she could no longer separate from herself. Then Claude Lelouch's *A Man and a Woman* (1966), opposite Jean-Louis Trintignant, made her famous everywhere and fixed the image most people carry of her: sophisticated, sad, beautifully coated. She made eight films with Lelouch in all, and the last of them, *The Best Years of a Life* (2019), put her and Trintignant back in the same roles more than fifty years on. It was her final appearance on screen.

The reserve needed a director who trusted it. Fellini and Demy did. Hollywood did not: *Justine* (1969) is the example usually given of her miscast, in a part that wanted more than she was willing to show. Her reputation rests, fairly or not, on the 1960s. She admitted she sometimes took work for the director or the fee rather than the script, and from the 1970s the parts were mostly supporting, often mothers, with occasional prestige cameos such as Simone Lowenthal in Robert Altman's *Prêt-à-Porter* (1994).

Start with the two Fellini films, which we can vouch for, and watch her in the wide shots, where she is doing nothing and you keep checking on her anyway. The films with Lelouch explain why she was famous. The films with Fellini explain why she was good.

## Biography

Anouk Aimée was a French actor. Born Nicole Françoise Florence Dreyfus in Paris on 27 April 1932, she made her screen debut at the age of 14 in *La Maison sous la mer* (1947). The name Anouk came from that role; Jacques Prévert suggested the surname Aimée for her first lead part in *Les Amants de Vérone* (1949).

She appeared in approximately 70 films between 1947 and 2019. Aimée gained international recognition for her roles in Federico Fellini’s *La dolce vita* (1960) and *8½* (1963), Jacques Demy’s *Lola* (1961), and Claude Lelouch’s *A Man and a Woman* (1966). For the latter she received a Golden Globe for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for *Salto nel vuoto* (1980).

*Sources: imdb.com, bfi.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *8½* (1963), Fi1m 91, as Luisa Anselmi — [page](https://film.one/film/812.md)
- *La Dolce Vita* (1960), Fi1m 88, as Maddalena — [page](https://film.one/film/la-dolce-vita.md)

## Complete filmography (88)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Jean-Louis Trintignant - Mystérieux et insaisissable* (2022), Actor
- *Morceaux de Cannes* (2021), Actor
- *Hossein, Ronet, Trintignant : Confidences de trois acteurs inoubliables* (2021), Actor
- *The Best Years of a Life* (2019), as Anne Gauthier
- *Big is Beautiful* (2012), as La mère de Nina
- *Tous les soleils* (2011), as Agathe
- *What War May Bring* (2010), as Madame Blum
- *Paris Connections* (2010), as Agnès St. Clair
- *The one I love* (2009), as La belle dame du café
- *To Each His Own Cinema* (2007), as (segment "Cinéma de Boulevard") (archive footage)
- *Claude Lelouch, on s'aimera* (2007), as Narrator
- *De particulier à particulier* (2006), as Nelly
- *Happily Ever After* (2004), as la mère de Vincent
- *The Birch-Tree Meadow* (2003), as Myriam
- *Napoleon* (2002), series, as Letizia Ramolino
- *Festival in Cannes* (2001), as Millie Marquand
- *The Blue Island* (2001), as Eugénie, André's mother
- *One 4 All* (1999), as La femme du musicien
- *1999 Madeleine* (1999), as Eve, Madeleine's mother
- *Riches, belles, etc.* (1998), as The fairy
- *Solomon* (1997), as Betsabea
- *Men, Women: A User's Manual* (1996), as la veuve
- *Tell Me Yes...* (1995), as Claire Charvet
- *One Hundred and One Nights* (1995), as Anouk
- *Prêt-à-Porter* (1994), as Simone Lowenthal
- *In morte di Federico Fellini* (1994), Actor
- *Rupture(s)* (1993), as Marthe
- *Bethune: The Making of a Hero* (1993), as Marie-France Coudaire
- *Voices in the Garden* (1993), as Cuckoo
- *The Fate of Baron Leisenbohg* (1991), as Claire Hell
- *Arrivederci e grazie* (1988), as Laura
- *Un rêve à peine commencé* (1986), as Norma Sundberg
- *A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later* (1986), as Anne Gauthier
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Cuckoo Peverall
- *Success Is the Best Revenge* (1984), as Monique des Fontaines
- *Long Live Life* (1984), as Anouk
- *The General of the Dead Army* (1983), as Countess Betsy Mirafiore
- *Qu'est-ce qui fait courir David ?* (1982), as Hélène
- *Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man* (1981), as Barbara Spaggiari
- *Une page d'amour* (1980), as Hélène
- *A Leap in the Dark* (1980), as Marta Ponticelli
- *Mon Premier Amour* (1978), as Jane Romain
- *A Second Chance* (1976), as Sarah Gordon
- *Justine* (1969), as Justine
- *The Appointment* (1969), as Carla
- *Model Shop* (1969), as Lola aka Cecile
- *One Night... a Train* (1968), as Anne
- *Live for Life* (1967), as spectatrice match de boxe
- *Lo scandalo* (1966), as Alessandra
- *A Man and a Woman* (1966), as Anne Gauthier
- *Seasons of Our Love* (1966), as Francesca
- *Il morbidone* (1965), as Valeria
- *La Fuga* (1965), as Luisa
- *White Voices* (1964), as Lorenza
- *A Very Handy Man* (1964), as Mita
- *The Terrorist* (1963), as Anna Braschi
- *Festival* (1963), series, as The Woman
- *Il successo* (1963), as Laura Ceriani
- *Of Flesh and Blood* (1963), as Anna
- *8½* (1963), as Luisa Anselmi — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/812.md)
- *The Shortest Day* (1963), as Crocerossina
- *Sodom and Gomorrah* (1962), as The Queen
- *The Last Judgment* (1961), as Giorgio's wife Irene
- *Hors-jeu* (1961), as Elle
- *Quai Notre-Dame* (1961), as Madame Lormoy, antique dealer
- *Unexpected* (1961), as Claire Plémian
- *Lola* (1961), as Lola (Cécile)
- *The Joker* (1961), as Hélène Laroche
- *La Dolce Vita* (1960), as Maddalena — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/la-dolce-vita.md)
- *The Chasers* (1959), as Jeanne
- *Head Against the Wall* (1959), as Stéphanie
- *The Journey* (1959), as Eva
- *The Lovers of Montparnasse* (1958), as Jeanne Hébuterne
- *Anyone Can Kill Me* (1957), as Isabelle
- *Lovers of Paris* (1957), as Marie Pichon, young mother with a pram
- *Stresemann* (1957), as Annette Stein
- *Nina* (1956), as Nina Iwanowa
- *Ich suche Dich* (1956), as Françoise Maurer
- *Bad Liaisons* (1955), as Catherine Racan
- *Noche de tormenta* (1955), Actor
- *Contraband Spain* (1955), as Elena Vargas
- *The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird* (1953), as Shepherdess (voice)
- *The Crimson Curtain* (1953), as Albertine
- *Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents* (1953), series, as Wanda
- *The Man Who Watched Trains Go By* (1952), as Jeanne
- *Golden Salamander* (1950), as Anna
- *The Lovers of Verona* (1949), as Georgia Maglia (Juliette)
- *The House Under the Sea* (1947), as Anouk

## Gallery

- ![Anouk Aimée, Maidy Teitelbaum, Dominique Besnehard à Cinemania en 2013](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-947a00e588fd.jpg) Anouk Aimée, Maidy Teitelbaum, Dominique Besnehard à Cinemania en 2013 — Cinemania film festival, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Anouk_Aim%C3%A9e%2C_Maidy_Teitelbaum%2C_Dominique_Besnehard.jpg/1280px-Anouk_Aim%C3%A9e%2C_Maidy_Teitelbaum%2C_Dominique_Besnehard.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael York & Anouk Aimée - Somewhat muddled film version of Lawrence Durrell's ALEXANDRIA QUARTET, but beautiful people, locations. Among a group of the l](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-0f2fe29593a2.jpg) Michael York & Anouk Aimée - Somewhat muddled film version of Lawrence Durrell's ALEXANDRIA QUARTET, but beautiful people, locations. Among a group of the l — Rossano aka Bud Care from Ventura, CA., USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/JUSTINE_%281969%29_-_Flickr_-_BudCat14-Ross.jpg/1280px-JUSTINE_%281969%29_-_Flickr_-_BudCat14-Ross.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Sujet : Les amants de Vérone (film) Contient : coupures de presse Langue : français (1949)](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-efcbd73886c6.jpg) Sujet : Les amants de Vérone (film) Contient : coupures de presse Langue : français (1949) — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Recueil._%22Les_amants_de_V%C3%A9rone%22_film_de_Andr%C3%A9_Cayatte_-_btv1b105259519_%2822_of_60%29.jpg/1280px-Recueil._%22Les_amants_de_V%C3%A9rone%22_film_de_Andr%C3%A9_Cayatte_-_btv1b105259519_%2822_of_60%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anouk Aimée](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-858e6633bdac.jpg) Anouk Aimée — Image via TMDB
- ![Anouk Aimée](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-206fc7058d26.jpg) Anouk Aimée — Image via TMDB
- ![Anouk Aimée](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-dd57f49a459b.jpg) Anouk Aimée — Image via TMDB
- ![Anouk Aimée](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-3e3076319cde.jpg) Anouk Aimée — Image via TMDB
- ![Anouk Aimée](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-7ed249011d72.jpg) Anouk Aimée — Image via TMDB
- ![Anouk Aimée](https://film.one/media/person/59975/gallery-b286e06974b7.jpg) Anouk Aimée — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1967: Best Actress (nominated), for *A Man and a Woman*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 1968: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *A Man and a Woman*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1966: Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *A Man and a Woman*

### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won

- 1980: Best Actress (won), for *A Leap in the Dark*

### Other awards — 4 won, 2 nominated

- Honorary Lumière Award 2019: Honorary Lumière Award (won), for *A Man and a Woman*
- Henri-Langlois award 2009: Henri-Langlois award (won)
- Honorary Golden Bear 2003: Honorary Golden Bear (won)
- Honorary César 2002: Honorary César (won)
- César Award for Best Actress 1979: César Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Mon premier amour*
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress 1966: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *A Man and a Woman*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/anouk-aimee