Josiane Balasko (born 15 April 1950) is a French actress, writer and director. She began her career in 1973 and has appeared in many films across a wide range of roles. She has been nominated eight times for César Awards and has won three. Among English-speaking audiences she is best known for her role as a lesbian in the 1995 film French Twist, which she also directed and co-wrote, earning a César for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation.
Early film career
Balasko first appeared on screen in 1973 at the age of 23, in the short film L'Agression. Her career expanded sharply in 1977, when she appeared in seven films in a single year. Several of these were major commercial successes in France, including Animal and Pardon Mon Affaire, Too!. She also took part in the cult comedy Les Bronzés, directed by Patrice Leconte, alongside members of the Le Splendid theatre troupe, and it was a hit with more than two million cinema attendances.
Directing and later work
Balasko made her directing debut in 1985 with the comedy Sac de noeuds, which she wrote, directed and starred in. Her international directing success came in 1995 with French Twist. In 2019 she received the Crystal Comedy Award at the Festival International du Film de Comédie de Liège in recognition of her career. Her personal life includes a daughter, the actress Marilou Berry, with sculptor Philippe Berry.
Notable features
Balasko has also written novels and plays, including Cliente, which she adapted into a film in 2008 in which she starred and directed. Her César nominations for Best Actress were for Too Beautiful for You in 1989, Tout le monde n'a pas eu la chance d'avoir des parents communistes in 1993, and That Woman in 2003.