I would start by saying “how have we not done French actress Audrey Tautou yet??” Except, she hasn’t been in any frock flicks since 2016! Je n’approuve pas. Get yourself into some corsets or cloches, Audrey!
(And before you say it, yes we all loved Amélie and no it’s not historical).
Julie d’Holbach in The Libertine (2000)
She’s the ditsy daughter of Diderot in this “period romp” that’s mostly about shagging.
Huguette Verberie in Not on the Lips (2003)
A musical comedy that’s an adaptation of a 1925 operetta.
Mathilde in A Very Long Engagement (2004)
During World War I, Mathilde searches for her lost fiancé who may have been killed in World War I. AMAZINGLY spot-on mid-1910s costumes in this one. Someday I really will do a long review!
Gabrielle Chanel in Coco Before Chanel (2009)
Tautou plays the famous fashion designer in a biopic about her early years.
Thérèse Larroque – épouse Desqueyroux in Thérèse (2012)
Seems like a bit of Madame Bovary mixed with Lady Chatterley’s Lover but probably without much sex? Tautou plays a late 1920s bourgeois housewife living a stifled life in the country. This has been in my Amazon wishlist for years, should I bother?
Simone Cousteau in The Odyssey (2016)
She plays the wife of famed ocean explorer/biologist/filmmaker Jacques Cousteau in this biopic. Simone Melchior Cousteau was the first woman scuba diver and aquanaut, although it appears that the film focuses more on Jacques.
Valentine in Eternity (2016)
A “romantic historical drama” that “takes places over a century, and follows two generations of characters,” per Wikipedia.
What’s your favorite of Audrey Tautou’s historical roles?
Coco, Before Chanel is the best!
That white lace dress from Coco, Before Chanel reminds me of the one Kristin Scott Thomas wore in Arsene Lupin (from the back, anyway). :)
Thinking the same thing!
It is the same! Just checked Recycled Movie Costumes. :)
Hah, I looked there but couldn’t find it. Must have been skimming too fast.
Please do a deep dive into A Very Long Engagement! I love this film (and I never meet anyone who has seen it!). The costumes are wonderful and really get that immediate postwar look.
Seconding a plea for a post on A Very Long Engagement! It’s a beautiful film and the costuming really is good.
Therese is on Tubi, for free. I just added it to my watchlist, thank you for the recommendation!
OTT french actresses in the last picture : Audrey Tautou, of course, Mélanie Laurent (Unglorious Bastards) and Berenice Bejo, ( ponytail : the Artist).
I found Eternity long and boring ( with an overvoice and a piano I couldnt bear ) but costumwise, it’s really beautiful.
J’ADORE Audrey Tatou! She is both adorable and beautiful, and an excellent actress to boot! She definitely has that period “look”, especially for the early 20th century. Re my fave of her Frock Flick roles, I’m gonna go with Coco Before Chanel. Like you, I will echo a plea for her to do more Frock Flicks in the future!! TRES EXCELLENT WCW choice!