Audrey Tautou, the French gamine, is best known as Tom Hanks side-kick in The Da Vinci Code, or for roaming the streets of Montmartre in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film Amélie. While Amélie was a whimsical portrayal of modern Paris life, Tautou’s new role will depict a far different portrait of Paris.
Tautou will be making a turn as the infamous Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in a new biopic of the fashion icon’s life and love affairs before she became a designer- Coco avant Chanel.
French director Anne Fontaine told Le Film Francais movie journal about the project: ”I wanted to follow the interior path of this young woman who was poor, without education, but who had an uncommon personality that was ahead of her time.” The film is scheduled to be released in 2009.
Fittingly, Chanel has confirmed that Tautou has been appointed their new brand ambassador. She is slated to be the new face of Chanel No. 5 perfume; replacing Nicole Kidman and teaming up again with Amélie director Jeunet to create a new short film/ advertisement due out early next year.
In her first appearance after the announcement of her new gig, Tautou attended the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala dressed in Chanel Haute Couture. I imagine that we will be seeing her at events in little else for some time, and must admit that I am quite jealous!
Photos courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.
