Biografia
For twenty-five years, Brigitte Bellac (born in Paris in 1956) was linked to both film and television, starting in 1976 as an actress and later, from 1987 to 2004, as a scriptwriter for TV movies and series episodes. However, her career extends far beyond these roles. Brigitte is also a clown, delighting in making people laugh, and a human automaton, showcasing her talents in grand venues such as those in Versailles and Monaco, as well as live on the Antenne 2 channel. Additionally, she is a sculptor and pastel artist. From the age of sixteen, she graced the stage, first as young Hauviette in Charles Péguy's *Le Mystère de la charité de Jeanne d'Arc*, then in classics by Molière and Marivaux, before performing in the emerging "café théâtre" scene—the launching ground for stars like Coluche, Gérard Jugnot, Josiane Balasko, and Thierry Lhermitte. While such versatility might be seen as a drawback, especially in France where artists are often pigeonholed, for Brigitte Bellac it has been a strength. Her many talents are unified by two guiding themes: WRITING and COMEDY, best exemplified in her contributions to the beloved and missed satirical radio program on France Inter, *L'Oreille en coin*, produced by Jean Garretto and Pierre Codou. For three consecutive years, she wrote and performed numerous short stories, tales, comedy sketches, and journalistic pieces. A writer since the age of eight, Brigitte Bellac has authored numerous short stories, one play (*Jacques a dit*), five novels, several children’s books, and TV scripts such as *Sud Lointain* (1997), *Le danger d'aimer* (1998), *Drôles de clowns* (1999), and *Deux frères* (2000). As a film and TV actress from 1976 to 1994, she portrayed a wide range of characters—from the spiritually elevated Charles Péguy to the more grounded Michel Lang—debuting in the popular *À nous les petites Anglaises!* (1976). This role contrasted sharply with her earlier portrayal of Hauviette, Joan of Arc’s young friend. In this film, she played Mireille, the troublesome and unattractive French girl who sparks scandal. Later, Édouard Molinaro cast her in his TV adaptation of Colette’s *Claudine* series, where she portrayed Marie Belhomme, a naive and somewhat foolish girl with wide, frightened eyes. Although she appeared in a dozen films, directors often typecast her in similar roles, leaving her frustrated with always playing the foolish girl. Fortunately, she found more fulfilling roles in the theatre. Eventually, she stepped away from acting and screenwriting, finding the film and television industry too harsh, and devoted herself to painting, sculpting, and writing novels and short stories. Her literary work has earned her several prestigious awards. So, when you admire a painting or sculpture by Brigitte Bellac, or read a gripping thriller like *La Pierresse* or *Le Fou de la reine blanche*, or a dark short story bearing her name, you might never guess that their creator was once considered the "ugly duckling" of French cinema.
