Karidja Touré

Karidja Touré (born 14 February 1994) is a French actress who rose to international prominence through her breakout performance in Céline Sciamma’s acclaimed coming‑of‑age drama Girlhood. Born in the Paris suburb of Bondy, Ile-de-France, she is the daughter of an estate agent mother and a childcare‑worker father, both originally from the Ivory Coast, and she grew up in the culturally diverse 15th arrondissement of Paris while practicing Islam, a facet of her identity that she has spoken about in several interviews. While enrolled in an assistant management program, Touré was unexpectedly scouted by a casting director at an amusement park, a serendipitous moment that led to her being cast as the lead character in Girlhood, a role that earned her a nomination for the César Award for Most Promising Actress and cemented her status as a rising talent in French cinema. Following the success of Girlhood, she pursued a variety of projects, including a cameo in the music video for Louane Emera’s single “Jeune (j’ai envie)” in June 2015, and she auditioned for the high‑profile role of Storm in X‑Men: Apocalypse, though the part ultimately went to Alexandra Shipp. Her career continued to flourish with appearances at international festivals, notably at the Locarno Film Festival in August 2025 where she promoted the film Don’t Let The Sun. Throughout her work, Touré has been praised for her naturalistic acting style, her ability to convey emotional depth with subtlety, and her commitment to representing diverse, multidimensional female characters on screen. As of today, she remains active in the industry, continuously expanding her repertoire and influencing a new generation of actors with her authentic presence and cultural heritage.