Marion Cotillard

Born: September 30 1975
Where: Paris, France

The actress attracted critical acclaim for her gritty portrayal of the legendary Parisian chanteuse Edith Piaf in La Vie en rose. Previously, she had probably been best known outside her native France for the role of Josephine in Tim Burton's Big Fish.

Cottilard has three times been nominated for Cesars - French Oscars - for the blockbuster action caper Taxi and the drama Pretty Things.

Focussing almost exclusively on French TV and film, she made her big screen debut in The Story of a Boy Who Wanted To Be Kissed.

In 2002, she was nominated for the Cesar for most promising actress for Taxi (and went on to make two sequels).

Tim Burton cast her opposite Ewan McGregor in the fantasy drama Big Fish in 2003.

In 2003, she starred in the dark romantic fantasy Love Me If You Dare alongside Guillaume Canet.

Subsequent roles included Tina Lombardi in A Very Long Engagement and the part of Nicole opposite Benoit Magimel in the thriller Fair Play.

In 2006, she starred alongside Russell Crowe in the adaptation of Peter Mayle's French drama A Good Year.

The same year she was cast in the lavish biopic of Edity Piaf - The Little Sparrow - in La Vie en rose.