One of France's most respected actresses, Sabine Azema did not begin her film career until she was in her late thirties. A graduate of the Paris Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Sabine Azema spent several years on stage before she was invited by Alain Resnais to play in his Life is a Bed of Roses (1983) and L'Amour a Mort the following year. She quickly became one of the most highly regarded French actresses and was twice awarded as Best Actress for Un Dimanche a la Campagne and Melo. She again demonstated her versatile talent playing the multiple roles in Alain Resnais's Smoking/No Smoking.