Sandrine Kiberlain, an essential figure of French cinema, is about to make a lasting impression once again with a major role. In Sarah Bernhardt, la divine, directed by Guillaume Nicloux and expected in theaters on December 18, she embodies the iconic actress of the Belle Époque, reaffirming her place in the French artistic universe. This portrait explores the major stages of her career, her multiple passions, and the echoes her journey evokes in the collective imagination.
A Career at the Crossroads of Genres
Born on February 25, 1968, in Boulogne-Billancourt, Sandrine Kiberlain discovered her passion for acting early on. Trained at the prestigious Cours Florent and then at the Conservatoire national supérieur d’art dramatique, she quickly made her mark in the French cinematic landscape. Her first major recognition came in 1996 with a César Award for Most Promising Actress for her performance in En avoir (ou pas).
From then on, she navigated effortlessly between genres. From the dramatic intensity of Les Patriotes (1994) to the minimalist elegance of Mademoiselle Chambon (2009), and the quirky comedy 9 Mois ferme (2014) which earned her the César for Best Actress, Kiberlain embodies a rare eclecticism. In 2022, she made a bold turn by stepping behind the camera with Une jeune fille qui va bien, a debut feature film applauding her sensitivity and narrative mastery.
A Multidisciplinary Artist
While cinema is at the heart of her activity, Sandrine Kiberlain explores other creative horizons. In 2005, she surprised the public by releasing a debut album, Manquait plus qu’ça, followed in 2007 by Coupés bien net et bien carré. In these records, she reveals a soft voice and an intimate style, reflecting her constant quest for sincerity in artistic expression.
This diversification reveals an insatiable personality, always in search of authenticity. However, this versatile dimension is not without public curiosity about her private life. The mention of her past relationship with Vincent Lindon, father of their daughter Suzanne, or her reflections on her atypical journey, fuel a sometimes overly intrusive media interest. She nevertheless maintains a critical distance from this aspect of fame, emphasizing: “I prefer people talk about my roles rather than my figure or my age.”
Sarah Bernhardt: A Role Commensurate with Her Talent
Portraying Sarah Bernhardt represents a true artistic challenge. This mythical figure of world theater, a free and visionary woman, symbolizes the avant-garde of the Belle Époque. Sandrine Kiberlain approached this role with rare intensity: “I had to erase myself to blend into this extraordinary personality, both excessive and luminous.”
The filming required total commitment, both physical and emotional. Bernhardt’s distinctive diction, her elaborate gestures, and her overflowing energy were intense areas of work for Kiberlain, who acknowledges that this role allowed her to explore new facets of her own approach to acting.
By revisiting Bernhardt’s trajectory, the film also evokes her committed struggles. A feminist activist ahead of her time, a fervent defender of the Dreyfus affair, Sarah Bernhardt is a reference figure in French cultural and social history. This biopic promises an immersion into the brilliance of an era and an extraordinary personality.
An Artistic Transmission
Alongside her career, Sandrine Kiberlain proudly observes the first steps of her daughter, Suzanne Lindon, in cinema. The latter, a director and actress, seems to have inherited the family’s artistic fiber while asserting a style of her own. Kiberlain confides: “It’s beautiful to see a new generation reinventing codes while drawing inspiration from the old ones.”
An Artist in Search of the Future
With over thirty years of career, Sandrine Kiberlain continues to reinvent her art. Sarah Bernhardt, la divine marks a major milestone, demonstrating her ability to take on ever more ambitious challenges. At 56, she remains an essential figure, both for her bold choices and her artistic integrity.
This role, beyond being a performance, embodies a meeting between two artistic souls: that of Bernhardt and that of Kiberlain, united by the same desire to transcend the boundaries of the possible. A cinematic event that neither history enthusiasts nor art lovers will want to miss.
