At the age of fourteen she started her artistic career by joining a school of dance in Monaco. Three years later she went to the United States to sample a new world and new culture. On returning to France, she continued with dance but in parallel registered for the Simon Course for the Academy where she graduated in 1972 with a second prise in comedy, dramatic comedy and foreign theatre.

Her first cinema appearance was in Brève Rencontre à Paris ((Brief Meeting in Paris) (Two People)) by Robert Wise. Then she rose to fame as the 'script girl' in 'La Nuit américaine' (Day for Night) by François Truffaut. Throughout the 1970s she played the roles of good girlfriend and nice provincial in both film and television.

In 1981 she won her first César, for best supporting artist in 'Sauve qui peut (la vie)' by Jean-Luc Godard. There then followed an impressive sequence of success and rise to stardom with 'Le Retour de Martin Guerre' and 'La Balance'.

She became one of the most popular and renowned French actresses, gaining two more Césars (Best Supporting Female for 'A Strange Business', and Best Actress in 1982 for 'La Balance'. Her 4 year relationship with Johnny Hallyday made them a leading celebrity couple and their daughter Laura is now actress Laura Smet.

After changing her image by playing the part of a prostitute in 'La Balance', she further widened her scope with more obscure characters in 'J'ai épousé une ombre' and 'En toute innocence'. In 1986 she returned to the theatre with an interpretation of 'Adriana Monti'.

1999 started a glittering year as she was voted Best Supporting Actress at Venice Film Festival for 'Une Liaison Pornographique' and in 2000 starred in the multi-award winning film 'Vénus Beauté (Institut)' by Tonie Marshall'

Since 2002 she has had many new collaborations including Claude Chabrol and Steven Spielberg, and remains one of France's busiest and most popular actresses of stage, screen and television.