Leslie Caron
Biography
Leslie Caron is a French-American actress, dancer, and writer. Born on July 1, 1931, in Boulogne-Billancourt, Seine [now Hauts-de-Seine], France, she began her career as a ballerina. Caron made her film debut in the musical An American in Paris, followed by roles in The Man with a Cloak, Glory Alley, and The Story of Three Loves. She received critical acclaim for her role as an orphan in Lili, which earned her the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress. Caron has been recognized with various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, two BAFTA Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards.
Career overview
Leslie Caron began her acting career in the early 1950s. She made her film debut in the musical An American in Paris, followed by roles in The Man with a Cloak and Glory Alley. Caron's early film career also included a role in The Story of Three Loves.
She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of an orphan in the 1953 film Lili. This performance earned her the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress and garnered nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. This recognition marked a significant milestone in Caron's acting career.
Leslie Caron has continued to work in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning over 70 years. Her early success in film paved the way for future opportunities in acting, and she has since become a well-established figure in the industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood (2025) as Self - Interviewee (archive footage)
- Written on Water (2020) as Pauline
- A Christmas Carol (2020) as The Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
- Gershwin: The American Classic (2018)
- Quand Jean devint Renoir (2017) as Self - Interviewee
- The Perfect Age (2017) as Marguerite
- Love, Cecil (2017) as Self
- The Durrells (2016) as Countess Mavrodaki
- Leslie Caron: The Reluctant Star (2016) as Herself
- Il était une fois... « La règle du jeu » (2011) as Self (actrice et amie de Jean Renoir)
- Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010) as Fanny (archive footage)
- Mother of Normandy: The Story of Simone Renaud (2010) as Simone Renaud (Voice)
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical (2009) as Self (archive)
- Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s (2009) as Self
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History (2008) as Self
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical (2008) as Self
- 'S Wonderful: Creating An American in Paris (2008)
- Thank Heaven! The Making of 'Gigi' (2008) as Herself
- Le Divorce (2003) as Suzanne de Persand
- Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (2002) as Self
- From Russia to Hollywood: The 100-Year Odyssey of Chekhov and Shdanoff (2002) as Self
- Murder on the Orient Express (2001) as Miss Alvarado
- Chocolat (2000) as Mrs. Audel
- The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) as Madeleine
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Lorraine Delmas
- Passion's Way (1999) as Regine De Chantelle
- Jean-Pierre Aumont, charme et fou-rires (1999) as Self
- Private Screenings: Leslie Caron (1998) as Self
- The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (1996) as Czarina Aleksandra Romanov (voice)
- The Ring (1996) as Madame de Saint Marne
- Funny Bones (1995) as Katie Parker
- Let It Be Me (1995) as Marguerite
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
- Normandy: The Great Crusade (1994) as Mary-Louise Osmont (voice)
- Damage (1992) as Elizabeth Prideaux
- Warriors and Prisoners (1990) as Madame Yvonne
- Courage Mountain (1990) as Jane Hilary
- Lenin: The Train (1988) as Nedeshda Krupskaja
- Lenin... The Train (1988) as Nadeschda 'Nadia' Krupskaja
- The Man Who Lived at the Ritz (1988) as Coco Chanel
- Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man (1988) as Self
- Reel Horror (1985) as Nicole (archive footage)
- Master of the Game (1984) as Solange Dunas
- Dangerous Moves (1984) as Henia Liebskind
- The Unapproachable (1982)
- Imperative (1982) as Mother
- The Contract (1982) as Penelopa Wilson
- Falcon Crest (1981) as Nicole Sauguet
- Chanel Solitaire (1981) as (uncredited)
- All Stars (1980) as Lucille Berger
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as Nathalie Vareille
- Goldengirl (1979) as Dr. Sammy Lee
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- The Love Boat (1977) as Mrs. Duvall
- Valentino (1977) as Alla Nazimova
- The Man Who Loved Women (1977) as Véra
- Surreal Estate (1976) as Céleste
- Nicole (1976) as Nicole
- That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage)
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- James Dean: The First American Teenager (1975) as Self
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- QB VII (1974) as Angela Kelno
- Carola (1973) as Carola
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli (1973) as Self (archive footage)
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
- Chandler (1971) as Katherine Creighton
- Madron (1970) as Sister Mary
- The Head of the Family (1967) as Paola
- Is Paris Burning? (1966) as Françoise Labé
- Promise Her Anything (1966) as Michele O'Brien
- A Very Special Favor (1965) as Dr. Lauren Boullard
- Pour le plaisir (1964) as Self
- Father Goose (1964) as Catherine Freneau
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Four Truths (1962) as Annie (segment "Les deux pigeons")
- The L-Shaped Room (1962) as Jane Fosset
- Guns of Darkness (1962) as Claire Jordan
- Fanny (1961) as Fanny
- Austerlitz (1960) as Mlle de Vaudey
- The Subterraneans (1960) as Mardou Fox
- The Doctor's Dilemma (1959) as Mrs. Dubedat
- The Man Who Understood Women (1959) as Ann Garantier
- Gigi (1958) as Gigi
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- Gaby (1956) as Gaby
- MGM Parade (1955) as self
- Daddy Long Legs (1955) as Julie Andre
- The Glass Slipper (1955) as Ella
- Reflets de Cannes (1954) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Story of Three Loves (1953) as Mademoiselle
- Lili (1953) as Lili Daurier
- Glory Alley (1952) as Angela
- The Million Dollar Nickel (1952) as Self
- An American in Paris (1951) as Lise Bouvier
- The Man with a Cloak (1951) as Madeline Minot
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Presenter