Edinburgh University Press Isabelle Adjani: The Actress as Auteur (International Film Stars)

Examines French actor Isabelle Adjani’s career in film, on television and on stage Examines Adjani’s complex star persona through the lenses of performance studies and star studies Provides interdisciplinary perspectives on Adjani’s multilayered performances, including issues of ethnicity, aging, and embodiment Expands upon the existing body of work on Adjani’s career by including analyses of some of her most recent work, as well as presenting new analytical and interpretative framework for some of her most significant performances Films discussed include L’Histoire D’Adèle H., Possession, Camille Claudel and La Reine Margot As the only performer to win five César Awards, Isabelle Adjani holds a special place in the history of French cinema. Her fame extends beyond French borders as she has also received two Academy Award nominations for L’Histoire D’Adèle H. and Camille Claudel, was the recipient of the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for Possession and Quartet, as well as at the Berlin Film Festival for Camille Claudel. This edited collection explores some of Adjani’s most iconic roles and their reception, in France and abroad. It delves into Adjani’s unique and personal involvement in the roles she has played throughout her career, the way she approached ageing in the later part of her career and the impact it had on her performance and artistic choices. It provides readers with insights into Adjani’s multifaceted acting skills in order to better understand her unique status in French cinema.