Aurore Clément

Biography

Aurore Clément (born October 12, 1945) is a French actress known for her work in French and international cinema. She has appeared in more than 80 films and television productions during a career spanning five decades.

Early Life

Aurore Clément was born in Soissons, France, into a modest farming family. After her father's death, she left school and worked in a factory to support her family. At the age of 20, she moved to Paris and began working as a model, eventually appearing on the covers of fashion magazines such as Elle and Vogue.

Film Career

Director Louis Malle discovered Clément on the cover of Elle and cast her as France in Lacombe, Lucien (1974). The role marked her film debut and brought her considerable attention.

She subsequently worked with major European filmmakers, appearing in films such as The Judge Fayard Called the Sheriff (1977), The Drum (1977), Meetings with Anna (1978), Dear Father (1979), The Hatter's Ghost (1982), and Paris, Texas (1984).

Apocalypse Now

Clément appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) as Roxanne Sarrault, a French plantation owner's widow. Her scenes were removed from the original theatrical release but restored in the extended Apocalypse Now Redux (2001). She met production designer Dean Tavoularis while working on the film.

Paris, Texas

One of her best-known performances came in Wim Wenders's Paris, Texas (1984), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. She played Anne Henderson in the acclaimed drama.

Later Career

Clément continued appearing in French and international productions, including Tanguy (2001), Bon Voyage (2003), The Bridesmaid (2004), Marie Antoinette (2006), and A Bigger Splash (2015). She has also worked frequently in television and theatre.

In 2024, she received an Honorary Magritte Award in recognition of her career.

Personal Life

Clément married American production designer Dean Tavoularis, whom she met while filming Apocalypse Now. They remained together until he died in 2026.