Adèle Haenel is a French actress and political activist whose intense, uncompromising performances made her one of the most respected figures in European cinema before she dramatically stepped away from the film industry on principle. Over a career spanning more than two decades, she earned two César Awards from seven nominations and one Lumière Award from two nominations, establishing herself as a defining screen presence of her generation.

Born on 11 February 1989 in Paris, France, Haenel began her career as a child actress, making her film debut in Les Diables in 2002 at the age of twelve. She quickly rose to prominence in the French entertainment industry as a teenager, earning her first César Award nomination for her performance in Water Lilies in 2007. That film also marked the beginning of her long professional and personal relationship with director Céline Sciamma, a collaboration that would shape much of her career.

In 2014, Haenel received her first César Award, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in Suzanne. The following year, she won the César Award for Best Actress for Love at First Fight, cementing her status as a leading talent in French cinema. She continued to garner widespread recognition for her performances in BPM (Beats per Minute) in 2017, The Trouble with You in 2018, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire in 2019, the latter of which reunited her with Sciamma and brought her international acclaim.

Beyond acting, Haenel became known as an outspoken political activist, using her platform to address issues within the film industry and French society at large. In 2023, she retired from the film industry in protest against its sexism and patriarchy, a decision that drew significant attention worldwide. Since then, she has focused on stage work and political activism, continuing to lend her voice to causes she champions while remaining active in theatrical performance. Her career stands as a rare example of an artist willing to walk away from mainstream success in service of her convictions.