Catherine Deneuve 80 (En)

Catherine Deneuve turns 80.

Not that it’s hard to believe (nobody escapes ageing, after all), it’s just about that soothing and comforting feeling that you live in the same timeline with her.

Her exquisite beauty would still have made her one of those iconic women from the past had she not also been intellectually gifted and so perfectly sublime: her acting versatility wouldn’t be possible without that. Geneviève Émery, Carol Ledoux, Belle de Jour, Miriam Blaylock—her femme fatale power seems to be too enormous, too enchanting and mighty sometimes. Yet her playfulness helps us, mere mortals, to deal with it. Remember her singing in the silliest Surrealist take on the Donkey Skin fairy tale (with Michele Legrand’s music, of course?)

Un souhait d’a

Un souhait d’amour s’impose

Tandis que la, que la pâte repose

Lissez le plat de beurre

Et laissez cuire, et

Et laissez cuire une heure...

…Our wish for love has been fulfilled: Joyeux Anniversaire, Catherine!