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One of France's best-known and most accomplished actors, Isabelle Huppert has worked with virtually all of her country's top directors.

Originally a student in Russian literature, Huppert left school to study drama at the Versaille Conservatory and National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Paris. After being cast in several smaller roles, Huppert made her breakthrough performance starring in Claude Chabrol's The Lacemaker (1976). She quickly became one of the the most successful of all French actresses, and also the most powerful. Her participation alone made it possible for a number of films by unfashionable or uncommercial filmmakers to be completed, and guaranteed the mainstream distribution that would otherwise have eluded them. Among the films of this period were the now-renowned Loulou, directed by Maurice Pialat; La Truite, directed by Joseph Losey; and Jean-Luc Godard's Every Man for Himself and Passion.

Huppert's work became more international at this point, taking her to Italy for La Dame aux Camelias, directed by Mauro Bolognini; to Hungary for The Inheritance, directed by Marta Meszaros and to the United States for Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate.

Yet for all her screen work abroad, Huppert never abandoned French screens, alternating films by such French masters as Bertrand Tavernier (Coup de Torchon / Clean Slate), Michel Deville (Eaux Profondes), Diane