Delphine Depardieu was crowned best actress in private theater at the 36th Nuit des Molières, Monday, April 28, 2025. Her intense and nuanced portrayal of the Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liaisons dangereuses won over the Académie des Molières and left a mark on contemporary French theater.
However, this victory does not occur in a calm climate. The French live performance sector is experiencing a turbulent period. Indeed, it is marked by systematic budget cuts. Moreover, there is growing concern within the artistic professions. Thus, the evening organized at the Folies Bergère in Paris took on the air of a general mobilization. Indeed, it aimed to defend live theater and French cultural identity.
A career shaped by artistic rigor and transmission
Born on March 8, 1979, in Cannes, Delphine Depardieu comes from a lineage of renowned artists. She is the niece of Gérard Depardieu, a monument of French cinema, and the daughter of Alain Depardieu, an influential film producer. Thus, from a young age, she grew up in a family environment steeped in the love of performance. Moreover, this environment was imbued with a passion for artistic expression.
She underwent rigorous training at the Cours Simon, then with master Jean-Laurent Cochet, heir to a tradition of theatrical excellence in France. From her first roles in theater, she favored the stage over the spotlight of cinema. Consequently, she made a bold choice against the grain in an era dominated by the pursuit of media visibility.
She gained attention in Délit de fuite alongside Roland Giraud, and then in numerous major plays from the classical and contemporary repertoire. Additionally, she participates in projects aimed at promoting French dramatic heritage. Thus, she performs with equal energy the verses of Molière, the comedies of Georges Feydeau, or modern tragedies.
In 2023, drawing on her experience as an actress and educator, she co-founded the Académie Aparté. This space for transmission and learning is designed to train the new generation of French theater talents.
Artistic choices in the service of critical thinking
Through her roles and productions, Delphine Depardieu questions the relevance of classical theater. She does so in the face of contemporary societal changes. In Les Liaisons dangereuses, she breathes new life into the timeless work of Choderlos de Laclos, keenly exploring the mechanisms of social manipulation, symbolic violence, and the female condition in a patriarchal world.
Moreover, she engages as a director, notably with her sensitive adaptation of Marcel Pagnol‘s Schpountz, where the dreamer’s naivety collides with the cynicism of a utilitarian era. These artistic choices reflect a determined will to maintain a lively dialogue. This dialogue is between the great texts of literary heritage and current societal questions.
Faithful to her commitment, she tackles essential contemporary themes such as social isolation and identity quest. Additionally, she addresses cultural precariousness, making theater a true critical mirror of our time.
A local anchoring, between regions and living memory
A loyal participant of the Les 3 coups de Jarnac festival in Charente, Delphine Depardieu embodies a deep attachment to territories and cultural decentralization. Thus, she participates every year in this event founded by her father-in-law Pierre Bonnier, a major figure in cultural dissemination in the region.
This summer, she will once again present Les Liaisons dangereuses, offering a sober and dense version to the region’s spectators. Furthermore, this version is praised for its dramatic intensity and modern interpretation. Moreover, her regular presence in small-scale festivals illustrates her conviction: theater should not be limited to large metropolises but should irrigate the entire national territory.
A recognition with strong symbolic value for French theater
The award received by Delphine Depardieu at the 36th Nuit des Molières is set in a tense context. Indeed, there is increased tension between the cultural world and public authorities. Thus, Thomas Jolly, winner of the Molière d’honneur and director of the Comédie-Française, called for "collective reconstruction" of an artistic fabric weakened by budget cuts.
Moreover, the numerous speeches during the ceremony reaffirmed a crucial idea. Indeed, it is essential to preserve public funding dedicated to creation, dissemination, and artistic education. In this tense climate, the recognition of artists deeply invested in their art takes on a political dimension. Moreover, their commitment to transmission also holds symbolic importance.
Rigor and commitment as compasses of live theater
The victory of Delphine Depardieu at the 2025 Molières goes beyond the scope of individual consecration. It illustrates the vitality and necessity of an engaged, demanding, and accessible live theater.
Thus, through her bold choices and local anchoring, Delphine Depardieu embodies an essential response to contemporary cultural challenges. Moreover, her constant commitment to a quality French live performance reinforces this position. Heir to a great lineage of artists, she perpetuates this heritage with determination. She emphasizes that dramatic art is an irreplaceable lever of reflection and emotion. Moreover, it creates social bonds in a society in search of bearings.