Maïwenn Le Besco

Born: April 17 1976
Where: Les Lilas, France

The actress has appeared in a number of high-profile movies including Leon with Jean Reno and The Fifth Element with Bruce Willis.

Maiwenn (the name is derived from the Celtic names Mary and Gwen) began her career on stage and made her film debut in 1983 in Jean Becker's L'Ete Meurtrier.

Appearing in mainly French films, she was first cast in a lead role in Herve Pallud's Le Gamine alongside Johnny Hallyday.

In 1994 she was cast by Luc Besson (with whom she was to have a daughter) in Leon and again in the sci-fi thriller The Fifth Element as the Diva.

Roles followed in Jerome de Missolz's La Mecanique Des Femmes and Gilles Paquet-Brenner's Le Marquis.

Recent work includes the slasher movie Switchblade Romance alongside Cecile De France as two girls stalked by a serial killer.