The Private Diaries of Catherine Deneuve: My Life Behind the Camera With Luis Bunuel, Francois Truffaut, Roman Polanski, and Lars Von Trier

by Catherine Deneuve

The intimate memoirs of the coolest blonde in cinema history. The startling portrayal of an icy, sexually adventurous housewife in Louis Bunuel's Belle du Jour established Catherine Deneuve as one of the most remarkable and compelling actresses of her generation. Forty years later, Deneuve is still widely regarded as one of the grande dames of French cinema. Despite her international appeal, however, Denueve has always chosen to avoid the ferocious glare of Hollywood and seldom allows the public into her private life. In these memoirs, Deneuve takes the reader behind the scenes of her life and career in this fascinating collection of seven previously unpublished diaries that she kept while filming abroad. In her own words, Deneuve charts the shooting of films such as The April Fools; Tristan a, directed by Luis Bunuel; Indochine ; and Dancer in the Dark . Including a never before published interview with famed director Pascal Bonitzer, this memoir is an intimate look into Deneuve's life both on and off screen, and is every bit as riveting as her movie persona.

Genres: Memoir, Film, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Media Tie In

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

born Catherine Fabienne Dorléac, she is a world famous French actress.

Reviews

[Josefine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I guess I have to confess that I started reading this book a while ago, but then stopped for some reason. I guess it was because I hadn't seen most of the movies Catherine Deneuve wrote her diaries about.

Now that I have, I absolutely loved it. It gives the reader so much insight to the real person Catherine was and still is. Her insecurities and worries, her personal thoughts... after reading this book, nobody can say she's like the cold and distant image the media created of her.

The passages about Francoise Dorlèac are heartbreaking. It's mostly just small mentions, but that's more than enough.

I also loved her writing about her son Christian Vadim and his newborn sister! I adore her for visiting Jane Fonda at the hospital after her little girl was born :)

The interview at the end of the book was great as well, though it sometimes felt a little cut off and the changes of topic too harsh.

We might start by calling a spade a spade...

And Catherine a little minx.

I absolutely adored that beginning! The interview is a kind of debriefing about the diary, but also expands on other directors and Catherine's experience with them. Again she seems very genuine and lovely. I'd recommend this book to anyone who's even just slightly interested in the person behind the "movie star" that is Catherine Deneuve.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting insight into the mind of a screen legend. Some may find it too technical or having a distinct lack of gossip, but you'll be disappointed if you get into the book expecting a salacious tell-all, which this "diary" is not. Instead, the pages are filled with details behind some of Deneuve's many films, her personal experiences of the countries she visited for shoots, private thoughts on the directors and actors she worked with, and people of various cultures she crossed paths with during her varied and impressive career.

This isn't an autobiography, and it's all the better for it.

An enjoyable and quick read for those interested in behind-the-scenes look into films, with a cinema icon as your personal guide.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband found this for $1 at the Strand, in New York, and it was the best dollar we've ever spent! This book is a delight, way more wonderful and insightful than it has any right to be. Deneuve's movie journals, which she keeps on location when shooting films outside of France, are filled with curiosity and wonder about her surroundings, perceptive observations about the art and politics of filmmaking, and self-reflection. She's remarkably candid about her own fears and insecurities and shortcomings as an actress, which is humbling coming from someone so accomplished and seemingly untouchable. A truly pleasurable read.

[Ulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've admired Catherine Deneuve ever since I saw "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" and "Repulsion" in the 1960's. But I loved her sister Francoise Dorleac who, unfortunately, left as at such an early age.
I borrowed this book hoping to learn more about Francoise, to be honest, but I did learn quite a lot about this Ice Queen, and have to say she still remains a mystery.

I really have to admire her!! Is there another actress who's made films (and good ones) from the age of 13 until the age of 71, and still going strong!!

Three cheers to Catherine Deneuve!!!!

[Nessabella]

actually not that fascinating. i adore her, i wanted it to be racey and wild. but it seems she is as composed and proper in her personal life as in many of her onscreen roles. whatever, i love you catherine!

[Гриша Атанасов · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Самата аз“ събира съкровените мисли на актрисата Катрин Деньов, записани между безкрайните часове усилена работа във филмите “Тристана”, “Танцьорка в мрака”, “Индокитай” и други шедьоври на киното.
В края на книгата е публикувано и пространно интервю, в което тя прави още интересни признания пред френския журналист, режисьор, сценарист и кинокритик Паскал Боницер.
Емоционалните преживявания, сложните отношения с режисьорите, колегите, личните грижи, мисли и усещания насред главоломния успех - е фокусът в изданието. Има много книги с нейни интервюта и мемоари, но тази заема особено място, защото не е точно мемоарна книга, а става дума за записки, които тя си е водила по време на снимките на някои от най-големите си филми, тези записки си ги е водила, когато е имала възможност, а това е било предимно в чужбина, когато е имало много време между отделните снимки.
Бележките са водени, докато е снимала само седем от над стоте филма, в които актрисата е участвала.
Тази книга е важно допълнение към историята на киното от втората половина на ХХ век, която актрисата, заедно със София Лорен, пише.
Записките показват самата Катрин Деньов отвътре, както и снимките на тези големи филми, отвътре. “Катрин Деньов излиза извън баналните представи за кино звезда”. Наричана е “ледена красавица”, заради аристократичното ѝ излъчване и визия, с които е родена. Тя, учудващо, остава донякъде хладна и дистанцирана, и с един едновременно аналитичен, но в същото време и много поетичен поглед към детайлите, към атмосферата, към хората.
Любопитното е, че няма у нея никаква злонамереност, претенциозност, капризност, каквито често виждаме у кинозвездите. Тя мисли много за целия филм, вниква в подробностите, в сценария. Мисли много за режисьорите, за своите партньори и всичко това записва между снимките или когато се прибере в хотелската си стая”.
В записките на Катрин Деньов можем да научим много за деликатната ѝ връзка и любов с децата ѝ, както и за любимата ѝ сестра Франсоаз Дорлеак, която става кинозвезда по-рано от нея (сестра и е с 1.5 години по-голяма). Франсоаз загива на 25 години и Катрин преживява смъртта ѝ много тежко, като години наред не спира да “общува” ментално с нея. Това е и причината името ѝ да се среща често в записките.

[valplanta · Rating 5 out of 5]

es complicado rankearlo porque realmente no tiene el carácter literario ni aditivo al género de memorias y autobiografías, sin embargo, me parece notable la vulnerabilidad que le otorga (aunque sea mínima) y conoce muy bien lo que quiere saber el público: dramas y cosas que en toda su carrera se negó a hablar. Catherine me parece una persona y personalidad artística fascinante, me entretuve muchísimo en sus diarios tipo bitácoras de aventuras. es una mujer muy sufrida, guerrera y focalizada en lo que quiere. disfruté muchísimo la lectura.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I wish there was more depth to this; that there was something about "The Hunger," that it had more substance. Especially since I love Mlle Deneuve.

[Kani :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Echt een van m’n favo actrices en het boek is super mooi!!
Catherine is ook jarig vandaag hihi :)

[Cindy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Issy Green has an audition at one of the biggest theatre companies in London, which her best friend, diabetic model, and roommate, Lorna, has arranged for her. This is the same theatre that is the choice of the British Royal Family, and Issy, feels that she can become a better script writer if she has the experience of an actress. When she arrives, she discovers that the regular casting director has been replaced with one of the biggest directors/producers in the movie business, the difficult but handsome James Berkley, who has flown in from LA. How can she do this audition? She's not even a professional actress! But the electricity was unavoidable when the famous director and her read lines together, even though he is known to be a married man. Now, she continues to end up at functions that he is attending also, like the London club Mahiki, and even at an event her job at Kingley's Catering is hired for. He made it clear at the audition, that nothing can happen between himself and his actresses, but then he sends an outfit that includes a fancy designer suit, shoes and handbag to wear when he asks them to have another meeting. Strange? During the meeting, she is unsure if it is business related or not.

"On minute, he's saying nothing can happen between us. Now, he seems to be flirting. Does he mean it? Or is he joking again?".

James Berkley has quite a reputation as a control freak, who demands his actors to follow all of his precise rules, even who they are having a relationship with. Issy is confused and has no idea what is happening, yet he wants her to have the main role in his movie! But what is he really expecting from her, and will she be able to handle it?

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Catherine Deneuve's diaries offer an insider look at what it's like to be a working actress. Even when she's frustrated or upset, she refrains from commenting on her costars or on the directors. It stays away from gossip and focuses on the process of making the films.

Each diary deals with one film at a time, and most of the diaries are from sets that she worked on abroad. The "Indochine" one is particularly long and interesting, but others are short and immediately forgettable. I was especially interested in her time in America, but there wasn't enough material to really pull me in.

If you aren't familiar with her movies or with the directors she worked with, this isn't the book for you. If you're interested in Deneuve or her creative process, you'll find something you like here.

[Rachel C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catherine Deneuve was a pretty intermittent diary-keeper, so this book does not even approach a complete story of her career. For example, there's a good 20-year gap from about 1970 to 1990. Still, it's an interesting look into the working life of an actress. The entries contain a lot of the logistics of filmmaking but the writing itself is surprisingly poetic.

It helps if you've seen the films described, particularly Indochine, the subject of the longest diary section. Sadly, no diaries from Repulsion, Belle de Jour or The Last Metro.

[Note to publisher: The author's name is misspelled twice on the back cover as "Catherine Denueve." Bad form.]

[Kinga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but i found it too short. It contains Ms. Deneuve's diaries she wrote during the shootings of some of her movies. I liked the fact that it lets us have an inside look into movie making, we can get a quite clear picture of an actress's struggles, pains, fears and happiness. The second half of the book is a rather long interview with Ms. Deneuve about these diaries and her career. Well, to tell the truth that is not a good one. The interviewer keeps interrupting the actress and he wants to be seen as a very good expert in Deneuve's movies, which probably he is but i don't care about him, i wanted to know more about Ms. Deneuve. Hope one day she'll write her own biography.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a disclaimer, I adore Catherine Deneuve and was therefore predisposed to liking this book. This is not a gossipy tell-all. It's an insider's look at what it's like to be a working actress, albeit a very famous one. By far the most interesting section is that which recounts the filming of "Indochine." There are some personal anecdotes in her earlier diaries (especially about her sister, who died tragically at 25), but Deneuve by and large refrains from gossiping about her directors and costars.

I have the French edition, which includes an illuminating interview with Deneuve.

[Arianna Bonardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

premesso che ti deve piacere davvero tanto il cinema o la figura della deneuve nello specifico per apprezzare questa raccolta, non mi ha fatto chissà quanto impazzire. interessante la vita sul set e le descrizioni di alcune situazioni, specialmente sul set di dancer in the dark. vi consiglio di vedervi i film di cui parla la deneuve per godervi al meglio i suoi diari :)

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this woman! She makes me want to be French! I loved this, but obviously you'd have to enjoy Catherine Deneuve to like this book. If you don't like her, something is simply wrong with you lol.:)

[Stacey D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting diary entries recalling some of Deneuve's on-set film history, which thankfully did not read as a gossip sheet. "Indochine" was the best, offering a vivid and beautiful description of early '90's Southeast Asia.

[Teague · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather than a memoir, Deneuve publishes the diaries she kept on several monumental films, including the incredible "Dancer in the Dark" directed by Lars von Trier and costarring Bjork. I liked this memoir a lot. There are also great photos of this rare talent and beauty.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claiborne and I fought tooth and nail to acquire this for Pegasus...it's 100% worth it to read about the great Catherine in her own words!

[Elizabeth]

I love her.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really focused on the technical decisions of the filmmakers she worked with - camera work, lighting, scheduling, etc.