Emmanuelle Béart

Though French actress Emmanuelle Béart claimed a César award for 1987's "Manon of the Spring" and an additional seven nominations between 1985 and 2001, she frequently drew more acclaim for her striking beauty and sensual screen presence. Béart made her screen debut as an adolescent in 1976, but did not truly pursue her craft until meeting Robert Altman during a visit to Canada. She soon returned to France, where she earned her César for "Manon" and began her screen career in earnest. Béart's comeliness would frequently prove a stumbling block in her pursuit of quality roles; more often than not, she took roles in minor films that hinged on her face and body. However, by 2001, she had amassed numerous César nominations and critically acclaim for emotionally intense turns in "Un Coeur en Hiver" ("The Heart in Winter") (1992) and "Nelly and Mr. Arnaud" (1995). Béart's commitment to French cinema sacrificed her chances at American stardom, but left the international film community with an exceptional body of work over the course of nearly four decades, which cemented her standing as one of France's most accomplished actresses.