Elsa Zylberstein Galleries 1

  One of the more prominent actresses to emerge from the new young French cinema, Elsa Zylberstein has appeared in a diverse array of films since making her debut in 1988.

Born in Paris on October 16, 1969, Zylberstein grew up in one of the city's suburbs. She took an interest in dance at a young age, and she trained as a classical dancer for years. Her training led her to study the dramatic arts at a conservatory; after completing her studies, Zylberstein made her film debut in René Feret's Bapteme (1988). Three years later, she earned a fairly substantial role in Maurice Pialat's acclaimed Van Gogh, a historical drama about the famous painter.

But it was with director Martine Dugowson's Mina Tannenbaum (1994) that Zylberstein had her first true leading role. Starring alongside Romane Bohringer as one of two Jewish girls growing up as best friends in Paris, the actress earned strong notices for her performance. She again teamed with Dugowson and Bohringer for Portraits Chinoise in 1996, gracing the ensemble romantic satire with her portrayal of an insecure, self-pitying young Parisian. The following year, Zylberstein became more recognizable to an English-speaking audience with her role in Metroland, a British drama starring Christian Bale and Emily Watson. Cast as Bale's Bohemian lover, Zylberstein imbued the film with much of its erotic heat, defining her character with both unself-conscious sex appeal and intelligence.

For the most part, Zylberstein has remained most visible in French films, playing intelligent, complex women in dramas and screwball comedies alike. One of her more celebrated films of the late '90s was Raúl Ruiz's Le Temps retrouvé, a highly praised adaptation of Marcel Proust's legendary novel of the same name. ~ Rebecca Flint, All Movie Guide

  Concile de Pierre, Le (2006) (post-production)
... aka The Stone Council (International: English title)
J'invente rien (2006) (post-production)

Cloche a sonné, La (2005) .... Léa
Petite Jérusalem, La (2005) .... Mathilde
Journées froides qui menacent les plantes (2005)
Pourquoi (pas) le Brésil (2004) .... Laetitia Masson/Christine Angot
... aka Why (Not) Brazil? (International: English title)
Modigliani (2004) .... Jeanne Hébuterne
Qui perd gagne! (2004) .... Angèle
... aka Loser Takes All! (International: English title)
Demain on déménage (2004) .... Michèle
... aka Tomorrow We Move (International: English title)
3 Blind Mice (2003) .... Nathalie Cross
... aka Une souris verte (France)
Ce jour-là (2003) .... Livia
... aka That Day (International: English title)
Monsieur N. (2003) .... Albine de Montholon
Féroce (2002) .... Zébulon, la conseillère en communication
... aka Ferocious (International: English title)
Jean Moulin (2002) (TV) .... Antoinette
Un ange (2001) .... Léa Pastore
Fantômes de Louba, Les (2001) .... Louba
Not Afraid, Not Afraid (2001)
Combat d'amour en songe (2000) .... Lucrezia/Jessica/The sultan
... aka Love Torn in Dream (Canada: English title)
Là-bas... mon pays (2000) .... Pierre Nivel's wife
... aka Return to Algiers (International: English title)

Temps retrouvé, Le (1999) .... Rachel
... aka Tempo Reencontrado, O (Portugal)
... aka Tempo ritrovato, Il (Italy)
... aka Time Regained (Europe: English title)
Je veux tout (1999) .... Eva
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service (1999) (V) .... Telephone Girl at French Embassy
Lautrec (1998) .... Suzanne Valadon
... aka Toulouse-Lautrec (Spain)
Homme est une femme comme les autres, L' (1998) .... Rosalie Baumann
... aka Man Is a Woman (USA)
XXL (1997) .... Arlette Stern
Metroland (1997) .... Annick
... aka Metroland (Spain)
Tenue correcte exigée (1997) .... Lucie
Portraits chinois (1996) .... Emma
... aka Shadow Play
Un samedi sur la terre (1996) .... Claire
... aka A Saturday on Earth (USA)
Jefferson in Paris (1995) .... Adrienne de Lafayette
... aka Jefferson à Paris (France)
Farinelli (1994) .... Alexandra
... aka Farinelli (USA)
... aka Farinelli the Castrato (International: English title: literal title)
... aka Farinelli voce regina (Italy: alternative title)
... aka Farinelli: il castrato (Italy)
Mina Tannenbaum (1994) .... Ethel Benegui
Place d'un autre, La (1993) .... Florence
... aka The Place of Another
Comment font les gens (1993) .... Yvette
De force avec d'autres (1993) .... Do
... aka Forced to Be with Others
"The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles"
- Petrograd, July 1917 (1993) TV Episode .... Telephone Girl
Orange amère, L' (1993)
Beau fixe (1992) .... Frederique
... aka Set Fare
Princesse Alexandra (1992) (TV) .... Soeur Ermenegilde
Amoureuse (1992) .... Clairvoyant
... aka Lover (International: English title)
Neige et le feu, La (1991)
... aka Snow and Fire
Van Gogh (1991) .... Cathy
Génial, mes parents divorcent! (1991) (as Elsa Steiner) .... La soeur de Thomas
Alisée (1991) .... Alisée
"Cadavres exquis de Patricia Highsmith, Les"
... aka Cadavres exquis (France: short title)
... aka Patricia Highsmith's Tales (International: English title: complete title)
- Puzzle (1990) TV Episode
Diable au corps, Le (1990) (TV) .... Mercedes

Baptême (1989) .... Gabrielle