Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Irène Jacob

Irène Jacob. Photo by Georges Biard-Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Irène Jacob

Irene Jacob is a French-Swiss actress popularly known for her film works with Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski. However, she has starred in a wide range of other movies, dramas, and film projects headed by various individuals.

Learn more about Irene Jacob in these top 10 Intriguing facts.

1. Irene Jacob Was Born in a Very Well-Educated Family

Irene was born on July 15, 1966, in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, a western suburb of Paris. She was the youngest child with three older brothers and was raised in a highly educated and intellectual family and environment.

Her father, Maurice Jacob, was a physicist, her mother a psychologist, one brother, Francis Jacob, a musician and her other two brother’s scientists. At age three, in 1969, Irene moved with her family to Geneva, Switzerland, where she became interested in the arts.

2. She Was a Big Fan of Charlie Chaplin

Irene developed an interest in performing after seeing the films of Charlie Chaplin; she has recalled, “They made me laugh and cry, and that was exactly what I was waiting for in a film to awaken me to my feelings.”

Chaplin was an Englishman who came from very humble beginnings, seeing his mother committed to a mental asylum when at 14 because his father was absent. He had to engage himself in performing to make a living at a young age.

His early performance provided him with the expertise and experience that he needed to make himself one of the greatest stars of the silent film era. This motivated Irene and she made her first stage debut in 1977 at the age of 11.

3. Irene Jacob Educational Background

Irène Jacob. Photo by Georges Biard-Wikimedia Commons

Irene attended the Geneva Conservatory of Music and earned a degree in languages. She speaks fluent French, German, English, and Italian. She also studied at the Drama Studio in London, England.

It is very interesting to note that Switzerland has four national languages, German, French, Italian, and Romansh, which is a Romance language that sees use in the southeastern Swiss canton for the most part.

In 1984, Irene moved to Paris, where she studied acting at the prestigious “Rue Blanche (the French national drama academy).

4. Irene Jacob’s zodiac sign is Cancer

Irene Jacob’s zodiac sign is Cancer. The dates of Cancer are June 21 – July 22. Those born under the zodiac sign Cancer need to be needed. 

They desire to feel loved and appreciated in every part of their lives. This is needed to develop a sense of security and identity. 

Cancer is nurturing, supportive, healing, compassionate, and unconditionally loving. Although, they can be dependent, indirect, moody, passive, aggressive, and unable to let go.

5. She Gained International Popularity in 1994

Irène Jacob. Photo by Georges Biard-Wikimedia Commons

Irene gained international fame as the protagonist in Kieslowski’s Three Colours: Red. The film received three Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Her introverted nature was evident in her performance in Three Colours: Red, the third part of Kieslowski’s trilogy. She also explained her unique experience working with the Polish film director who directed the film.

She portrayed an excellent performance in Three Colours: Red and gained substantial international recognition, bringing further offers from major American motion-picture studios. Suddenly she retreated from public attention and took nine months off, spending most of her time reading.

6. Irene is Well Known for her Role in “The Double Life of Veronique” Film

Famous Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski cast her in the lead role of his film The Double Life of Veronique (1991). The film is an allegorical story of two young women, one in Poland and the other in France, both of whom are played by Irene.

The film got a mostly positive review and got nominated for various awards. In 1991 it won the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics Award for Best Foreign Film, and in 1992, it was nominated for Golden Globe Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and others.

Irene’s performance in the film was outstanding and won various awards. She won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.

7. Irene Got Her First Film Role at 21

Irene returned to Paris at age 21 and the drama student obtained his first film role in the Louis Malle film Au revoir les enfants (1987). She played the part of a piano teacher.

The film was based on the actions of Pere Jacque, a French priest, and headmaster who attempted to shelter Jewish children during the Holocaust.

The film received critics but also won and got nominated for various awards, such as Best Foreign Language Film, among many other awards.

8. Irene Appeared in a Series of American and European Films From 1995-1999

Irène Jacob. Photo by Georges Biard-Wikimedia Commons

 From 1995 to 1999, she made a series of American and European films that met with varying degrees of commercial and good success. She appeared in six films in 1995including Oliver Parker’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello, Victory, Beyond the Clouds and others.

In the following years, Irene made several moderately successful American films, including Incognito (1997), Spy Game (1999), The Big Brass Ring (1999) and U.S Marshals.

9. Irene Jacob Has Received Many Awards and Nomination Throughout His Career

Irene’s acting career has been successful in many commercially successful films. She has many awards she can boast about. In 1991 she won Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for the The Double Life of Veronique.

Subsequently, in 1992 Cesar Award for Best Actress nomination for The Double Life of Veronique, and in 1993 she won the Sant Jordi Best Foreign Actress Award for The Double Life of Veronique.

She also won the Nika Award for Best Actress nomination for Predskazaniye in 1994, Cesar Award for Best Actress nomination for Three Colours: Red, in 1995 BAFTA Award for Best Actress in Leading Role nomination for Three Colours: Red, and 2002 Camerimage Krzysztof Kieslowski Special Award.

10. Irene’s Acting Career Slowed Down in 2000

At the beginning of 2000, Irene’s film career slowed down, and after a series of primarily independent European films, she revived her theatre career. In 2000 she played the title character in Madame Melville opposite Macaulay Culkin in London’s West End.