French cinema has a rich past - from the first movie ever made by Les Frères Lumières to Georges Méliès all the way to the New Wave movement of Godard, Varda and Truffaut to the recent triumph of films like The Artist and Anatomy of A Fall. In addition to its films, France has shared with Hollywood some of its best talents - at least the ones that spoke English. From Juliette Binoche to Omar Sy, let's take a look at the famous French actors and actresses that made it in America.

- Where to watch French movies in America -

If you're a fan of French cinema, TV5MONDE USA is your gateway to the finest in French language entertainment. Dive deep into the world of French culture, fashion, art-de-vivre, and much more with this 24-hour French-language network. Discover a treasure trove of French films and TV shows on the streaming platform TV5MONDEplus, including highlights like the captivating performances of Marion Cotillard in *Gueule d'ange* and the charming comedy "Toi et Moi" 

Explore the legacy of Alain Delon with featured content such as "Alain Delon: Face au Monde"  and delve into his enigmatic allure in "Alain Delon: La Beauté du Diable et les Femmes" 

Immerse yourself in the world of French female movie stars with our new free streaming category, "French Female Movie Stars" Free streaming on TV5MONDEplus.

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard is a household name in Hollywood. She is a versatile actress who has portrayed a wide range of characters in her career. Her captivating performance as Édith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose" earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Her role in "Inception" as Mal Cobb displayed her ability to perform in a surreal and beguiling storyline. Cotillard has a considerable number of popular films in the US, including "The Dark Knight Rises," where she plays Miranda Tate, "Midnight in Paris," where she portrays Adriana, and "Allied," where she features alongside Brad Pitt.

Juliette Binoche

Juliette Binoche has always been regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her generation in France. She quickly made a name for herself in Hollywood with her role in Un Divan à New York (available now on TV5MONDE) and "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." Her work in the "Three Colors" trilogy is also highly appreciated. Her portrayal of Hana in "The English Patient" led her to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Binoche has since been in other successful US movies such as "Chocolat", "Godzilla," and "The 33."

Catch La Bonne Épouse with Juliette Binoche and Yolande Moreau on TV5MONDE Cinema on Demand or stream Un divan à New York with Juliette Binoche and William Hurt on TV5MONDEplus

Lambert Wilson

Lambert Wilson is famous for his role in "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions" as Merovingian. Before he made an impact in Hollywood, he had been a prominent French actor since the early 1980s. Wilson's collaborations with Krzysztof Kieslowski produced some of his most notable work in the French cinema.

Camille Cottin

Camille Cottin is relatively new to Hollywood but made an impression with her debut performances that brought her to the forefront of Hollywood. Her role as "Connasse" in the French comedy series is considered her breakout role. Cottin rose to fame as Andréa Martel in the Emmy-winning series "Call My Agent!" (10 pour cent). She was then featured in "Allied" as Monique, opposite Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt, in "Stillwater" with Damon and more recently in "House of Gucci" alongside Lady Gaga.

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Louis Jourdan

Louis Jourdan was one of the pioneers of French actors that left an impression on Hollywood. He began his career in France in the 1930s before he went on to act in America in the early 1940s. Jourdan's most notable film remains "Gigi," which won multiple awards, including nine Academy Awards. He also featured in "The Paradine Case" and "Letter from an Unknown Woman."

Alain Delon

Alain Delon is one of the most recognized French actors. Born in France, he is known for collaborating with Jean-Pierre Melville in films such as "Le Samouraï" and "Un Flic." He has starred in other noteworthy French films such as "Plein Soleil" and "L'Eclisse." Delon paved the way for French actors to gain recognition in Hollywood. His role in "The Leopard" gave Hollywood a glimpse of his talent and opened the way for other French actors to follow suit.

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot is a cultural icon and one of France's most notable exports. She started her career as a successful model and then transitioned into acting in the early 1950s. It was her performances in French films like "And God Created Woman" and "Contempt" that established her as a sex symbol and actress. Her first international hit was in "The Truth," which cemented her as an icon in Hollywood.

Stream now on TV5MONDEplus Come Dance With Me (Voulez-vous danser avec moi), La Parisienne, and Mademoiselle Striptease

Léa Seydoux

Léa Seydoux is a versatile actress and one of the most shrewd and perceptive. She has made her name in French cinema for over a decade and moved to Hollywood to find recognition. Seydoux's performance in "Blue Is the Warmest Colour" as Emma garnered universal acclaim. She has starred in other notable French movies such as "Saint Laurent," "La Belle Personne," and "Grand Central." Seydoux also appeared in Hollywood films such as "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol," "Spectre," and "The Grand Budapest Hotel."

Eva Green

Eva Green is undoubtedly one of the best representations of France in Hollywood, so much so that many are unaware that she isn't American! She has been a part of numerous French productions and excels in playing complex, enigmatic characters. Green's role as Vesper Lynd in "Casino Royale" marked her big break as a Hollywood actress. She also starred in "Kingdom of Heaven," "300: Rise of an Empire," and the acclaimed TV show "Penny Dreadful."

Audrey Tautou

Audrey Tautou became a star in France and across the world following her portrayal of Amélie Poulain in "Amélie". The movie solidified her name in the French cinema and made her an international icon in Asia and America. Tautou has since starred in numerous American production, among them "The Da Vinci Code", "Happy End" and "The Jesus rolls". None the less, most of her best roles are still in French productions and she recently received critical praise for her role in "Coco Before Chanel."

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Omar Sy

Omar Sy is one of the most beloved actors in France. He is known for his earlier role in the "Intouchables," which was critically acclaimed as one of the best films of 2011 and earned him a César Award. Sy has also appeared in a few Hollywood movies, with his stand out performance coming in the form of the velociraptor-taming Owen in "Jurassic World."

Vincent Cassel

Vincent Cassel is known for his actor-studio style performances both in French films and Hollywood movies. He first became famous for his work in the critically acclaimed French film "La Haine" and the internationally recognized thriller "Mesrine". Thanks to his charisma and his near-perfect English speaking, he has starred in famous US movies such as "Ocean's Twelve," "Black Swan," "Jason Bourne," and most recently "Westworld".

Jean-Paul Belmondo

Jean-Paul Belmondo is another one French actor who became an international sensation through the French New Wave. His work in director Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" made him a star, and from there, he went on to work in several successful French films, including "Pierrot le Fou," "Le Magnifique" and "That Man from Rio." Belmondo didn't act in any Hollywood movies apart from "Casino Royale." His English was not so great and he always felt he didn't need Hollywood to build a successful film career: "Every Frenchman dreams of making a Western of course ,but America has plenty of good actors. I'm not being falsely modest but why would they need me? I prefer a national film to an international film. Something is lost".

Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve is one of the most celebrated French actresses of all time. Her career spans several decades, and she has worked with some of the most influential directors in French cinema, including François Truffaut, Luis Buñuel, and Roman Polanski. Deneuve's most accomplished performance came in Demy's "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg," which introduced her to the world as a charismatic and erotic actress. Her notable Hollywood credits include "Hustle" alongside Burt Reynolds, the War movie with Gene Hackman "March or Die"? Yet, it's mostly through French movies distributed in America that her name is associated, like with the Oscar nominated film "Indochine," and the thriller "8 Women."

Jean Dujardin

Jean Dujardin gained international acclaim and recognition through his role in the black-and-white silent film "The Artist," which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Before "The Artist," Dujardin was famous in France for his work on the television series "Un gars, une fille." In Hollywood, he went on to star in George Clooney's "The Monuments Men," and Martin Scorsese's"The Wolf of Wall Street".

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