Catherine Frot (French pronunciation: [katʁinfʁo]; born 1 May 1956) is a French actress. A 10-time César Award nominee, she won the awards for Best Actress for Marguerite (2015) and Best Supporting Actress for Family Resemblances (1996). Her other films include Le Dîner de Cons (1998), La Dilettante (1999), and Haute Cuisine (2012).

Early life

Frot was born in Paris, France, the daughter of an engineer and a mathematics teacher. Her younger sister, Dominique, is also an actress. Catherine demonstrated comic talent at an early age, and enrolled in the Versailles conservatory when she was 14, and was still in school. In 1974, she began her education at the Rue Blanche[fr] school, and afterwards took up full-time studies at the conservatory.

Career

In 1975, Frot appeared at the Festival d'Avignon with the Compagnie du Chapeau Rouge (Red Hat Company), which she founded with the help of others. From then on, she put all her energy into theatre performances in roles such as the Présidente de Tourvel in the play Les Liaisons dangereuses in 1987. She performed in a number of classical plays such as La Cerisaie, directed by Peter Brook in 1982, and La Mouette directed by Pierre Pradinas in 1985.

In films, Frot won the César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1996, for playing Yolande, the sweet silly wife of a provincial bully, in Cédric Klapisch's Un air de famille, and was funny and moving as a wealthy, rebellious nuisance in La Dilettante (1999). In the film 7 ans de mariage, she played a prudish banker, wife, and mother, who is drawn by her bored, sexually frustrated husband into the world of Parisian clubs échangistes ("wife-swapping clubs"). She is an officer of the Ordre national du Mérite.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975Les Charmes de l'étéBéatriceTV mini-series
1975Les Compagnons d'EleusisThe guardianTV series
1977L'Enlèvement du régent - Le chevalier d'HarmentalBathildeTelefilm
1980Mont-OriolCharlotte OriolTelefilm
1980My American UncleYoung Arlette Le Gall
1980PsyBabette
1980La Ville NoireTonineTelefilm
1981Les Babas CoolVéronique
1981Mon meilleur NoëlClaude's auntTV series
1981—1982Cinéma 16Nathalie / JulietteTV series
1982La CerisaieDonniachaTelefilm
1982Guy de MaupassantMouche
1982EgmontClaire / KlareTelefilm
1982Si je réponds pas, c'est que je suis mortShort film
1982Les Atours de l'œil foudreShort film
1982La Nuit du lacShort film
1983A Stone in the MouthJacky
1983OrpheusEurydiceTelefilm
1984Les Amis de monsieur GazonPatriciaTelefilm
1984Les Timides aventures d'un laveur de carreauxJacquelineTelefilm
1984Jacques le fataliste et son maîtreSophieTelefilm
1984Du sel sur la peauCharlotte
1985Elsa, ElsaJuliette
1985Escalier CBéatriceNominated—César Award for Best Supporting Actress
1985Mélodie pour un cafardShort film
1986L'inconnue de VienneJulietteTelefilm
1987L'Heure SimenonLouiseTV series
1987SorceressCécile
1987La Voix du désertShort film
1988La Face de l'ogreMarionTelefilm
1989Personne ne m'aimeTelefilm
1989Chambre à partBabette
1990Tom et LolaCatherine (Tom's mother)
1990Bienvenue à bord !La blonde / Prostitute
1990Sésame, ouvre-toi!Telefilm
1991Haute tensionFabienneTV series
1991Sushi SushiThe banker
1992Juste avant l'orageIrène
1992Vieille canailleMarylin
1992Les Cinq Dernières MinutesJacqueline CauvinTV series
1993Vent d'estMartha Hubner
1993Ma petite MimiMimiTelefilm
1994I Can't SleepWoman With Bookcase (cameo appearance)
1994Un été à l'enversMarieTelefilm
1994Une femme dans l'ennuiShort film
1995Sa dernière lettreCécileTelefilm
1995Cycle SimenonAnnaTV series
1996Family ResemblancesYolandeCésar Award for Best Supporting Actress
1997Un hommeGisèleTelefilm
1997Quand j'étais p'titSuzanneTelefilm
1997Le Dernier ÉtéBéatrice BrettyTelefilm
1997Les Lauriers sont coupésJosyTelefilm
1998Le Dîner de ConsMarlène SasseurNominated—César Award for Best Supporting Actress
1998PaparazziEvelyne Bordoni
1998Just Between UsHélène
1998Dormez, je le veux !Marie-Louise, the mother
1998Je vais t'apprendre la politesseThe BaronessTV series
1998It Would Only Take a BridgeShort film
1999À vot'serviceFanny
1999The New EveIsabelle
1999The DilettantePierrette DumortierBest Actress Award (21st Moscow International Film Festival) Nominated—César Award for Best Actress
1999InséparablesGisèle
1999Dessine-moi un jouetAntoinette BommeTelefilm
2001ChaosHélèneNominated—César Award for Best Actress
2001Day OffSophie
2002CavaleJeanne Rivet
2002Après la vie
2002Un couple épatant
2002L'Enfant éternelCaroleTelefilm
2003ChouchouNicole Milovavovich
2003Married for 7 YearsAudrey
2004Eros TherapyAgnès
2004Viper in the FistPaule "Folcoche" Rézeau
2004Les Sœurs fâchéesLouise Mollet
2005BouduYseultNominated - Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actress
2005Mon petit doigt m'a dit...Prudence Beresford
2006The Page TurnerAriane FouchécourtNominated—César Award for Best Actress
2006Le Passager de l'étéMonique
2007Odette ToulemondeOdette ToulemondeNominated—César Award for Best Actress
2007L'Affaire Christian Ranucci : le Combat d'une mèreHéloïse RanucciTelefilm
2008Mark of an AngelElsa ValentinNominated—Lumière Award for Best Actress Nominated—Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actress
2008Crime Is Our BusinessPrudence BeresfordNominated—César Award for Best Actress
2009Le VilainManiette
2009Happy EndOmbeline
2010Le MystèreValérie
2010Imogène McCartheryImogène
2011FabienneFabienne Bourrier
2012BowlingCatherine
2012Partners in CrimePrudence Beresford
2012Haute CuisineHortense LaborieNominated—César Award for Best Actress Nominated—Lumière Award for Best Actress
2015MargueriteMarguerite DumontCésar Award for Best Actress Lumière Award for Best Actress
2016La Tueuse caméléon
2016Heureux en France
2017The MidwifeClaire
2020Home Front
2020The Rose Maker (La fine fleur)Eve
2024Misericordia (Miséricorde)Martine

External links