Biographie
Manie Coffigniez-Malone is a French-Ivorian actress and screenwriter of Catalan descent, celebrated for her emotionally rich performances, international adaptability, and unique talent for portraying characters defined by identity, resilience, and transformation. Her cinematic work has earned her international acclaim, including awards and nominations such as Best Actress at the Trophées Francophones du Cinéma (2013), Best Supporting Actress at the Los Angeles Film Festival (2011), and Best Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (2011). A naturally instinctive performer, Malone is praised for her immersive approach to her roles. Her dedication to authenticity—learning languages and cultural subtleties to fully inhabit her characters—has led global media to describe her as a "chameleon actress," noted for her "graceful intensity" and her ability to seamlessly navigate vulnerability, strength, and complexity.
Her international career took off with her acclaimed role in Viva Riva! directed by Djo Munga, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (2010), Berlinale (2011), and Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival (2011). During the film's promotion, TV5 Monde invited Malone to speak thoughtfully about domestic violence and women's resilience, themes that deeply influence her artistic choices. Her screen credits include French, English, and African productions, such as the English-language short film The Storyteller by Alex Emmanuel, the thriller Des Larmes au Sang by Ronald Presten and Mohammed Hamdaoui, and widely distributed series like Agent (Canal+ / Netflix Global) and Ubettina Wethu (SABC1 / ViuTV).
In addition to acting, Malone crafts a distinctive body of writing centered on human complexity, social awareness, and cinematic tension. Her narratives delve into the unseen boundaries between individuals and societies, blending elements of psychological thrillers, political dramas, intimate character studies, dystopian settings, and family stories. She explores themes such as identity, justice, memory, exile, and belonging, always aiming to find the universal within the deeply personal. Her creative vision is guided by the principle: "Margins as light. Stories as connection." Working across languages, cultures, and regions, Malone shapes stories where vulnerability transforms into strength and every character reveals and defends a piece of humanity. She continues to collaborate with international filmmakers while developing her own film projects as an actress, writer, and creative producer.
