Clotilde Hesme

Clotilde Hesme (born 30 July 1979) is a French actress whose career spans stage, short film, and international cinema. She was raised in Troyes, Aube, where both of her parents worked as civil servants and her sisters Annelise and Élodie also pursued acting, creating a familial environment rich in artistic influence. After completing her secondary education, Hesme entered the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (CNSAD) in Paris, where she honed her craft through a series of theatrical productions that earned her early notice from industry professionals. Her first on‑screen appearance came in the 1999 short Dieu, que la nature est bien faite! and, while still performing on stage, she was cast by director Jérôme Bonnel in Le Chignon d'Olga (2002), marking her transition to feature films. Standing at 1.78 m, her striking presence quickly made her a sought‑after supporting actress in early projects such as Focus and À ce soir, while she continued to appear in numerous French plays that solidified her reputation as a versatile performer. **Her breakout role arrived in 2005 opposite Louis Garrel in Philippe Garrel’s Regular Lovers, where she played Lilie, a performance that positioned her as a leading talent in contemporary French cinema. The following year she reunited with Garrel in Christophe Honoré’s Love Songs, delivering a nuanced portrayal of Alice that earned her the SACD Award for Female Revelation in 2008 and a César nomination for Most Promising Actress. Subsequent highlights include her acclaimed turn in the television series Les Revenants (2012), which garnered international attention, as well as a César win for Most Promising Actress for Angèle et Tony (2011). Hesme’s filmography further expands across borders with a role in Raúl Ruiz’s Mysteries of Lisbon (2010) and Catherine Corsini’s Three Worlds (2012), the latter competing in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to both avant‑garde projects and mainstream narratives, cementing her status as one of France’s most compelling contemporary actresses.