From perversion to purity

Catherine Debeuve is indisputably one of the world’s most celebrated actresses, both in her native France and throughout the world. Her career has spanned five decades during which she has worked with the most significant Franck auteurs, as well as forging partnerships with international directors such as Bunuel and Polanski. The Deneuve star persona has attained such iconic status that it can now symbolize the very essence of French womanhood and civic identity. In this wide-ranging and authoritative collection of essays by a selection of international film academics and writers, the Deneuve persona is scrutinized and illuminated. Beyond the glamorous iconographic status of Yves Saint Laurentis muse, and the epitome of sexual inviolability, Deneuve’s status as actress is foreground.