Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard was in an older section of Paris, France, drinking Bollinger champagne, when she found out about her Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The French actress spoke English slowly and carefully while she expressed her exhilaration and gratitude for the momentous occasion, declaring “This is a very unique thing for a French girl.” She was being recognized internationally for her brilliant work in “La Vie en Rose” (2007), a remarkable biopic that followed the life of French singer Edith Piaf. Cotillard’s Golden Globe- and Oscar-winning performance cemented her place as one of 2007’s breakout stars, even though she had starred in over 20 films in her native France since the mid-1990s. American audiences received their first glimpse of the raven-haired beauty in Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” (2003) and the popular art house import, “A Very Long Engagement” (2005). Following her powerhouse performance as Piaf, the actress was in demand by filmmakers and proved worthy of the buzz with a supporting role opposite Johnny Depp in Michael Mann’s slick Chicago crime log, “Public Enemies” (2009), as well as further roles that showcased her way with complex, strong women, trying to live within the confines of acceptable society.