Catherine Deneuve - French Icon

Catherine Deneuve was never lured to Hollywood

In a rare interview, Hardtalk Extra speaks to renowned French actress Catherine Deneuve about her life as an icon of French cinema.

Catherine Deneuve is universally hailed as one of the "grandes dames" of French cinema.

She was born into an acting family, and made her cinematic debut as a teenager in 1957.

She?s probably best known for her part in Bunuel's Belle de Jour.

She received a Best Actress Academy Award for role in Indochine but has never acted on stage and has resisted the call of Hollywood.

Very much seen as a cultural icon and ambassador for France, she succeeded Brigitte Bardot as the model for Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic.

HARDtalk Extra can be seen on Fridays on BBC World at 03:30 GMT, 08:30 GMT, 15:30 GMT, 18:30 GMT and 23:30 GMT.

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30