The controversies surrounding Isabelle Adjani

Considered one of the most iconic French actresses of the 20th century, Isabelle Adjani stands alongside stars such as Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, and Juliette Binoche. Her exceptional beauty and talent have made her an undeniable reference for French filmmakers. She has left a lasting mark on the history of French cinema with memorable roles in acclaimed and controversial films, such as Subway by Luc Besson, the third most popular French film at its release, Camille Claudel by Bruno Nuytten, where she portrays the famous sculptor and former lover of Auguste Rodin and was nominated for two Academy Awards, and La Reine Margot by Patrice Chéreau, where she won the Best Actress award at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal of a controversial queen. Among her recent works are Mascarade by Nicolas Bedos and Voleuses by Mélanie Laurent for Netflix, where Adjani shares the screen with the director and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Throughout her career, she has successfully transcended the boundaries of the French and American film industries, establishing herself as one of the highest-paid French actresses of her generation. Isabelle Adjani also holds the record for winning 5 César Awards, an exceptional achievement.

Who is Isabelle Adjani

Born in Paris in 1955 to an Algerian father and a German mother, Adjani began her theatrical career at a very young age, supported by parents who praised her unique journey and undeniable beauty. Her first major role, at just 14 years old, came in Le Petit Bougnat by Bernard Toublanc-Michel. Driven by greater ambitions, she persisted in her quest for recognition from casting directors until François Truffaut, founder of the New Wave movement, discovered her and offered her the lead role in The Story of Adele H. in 1975, where she portrayed the daughter of the writer Victor Hugo. The film was a success both nationally and internationally, with American critics praising her acting talents. At just 19 years old, her performance earned her an Oscar nomination, making her the youngest actress to be so honored at the time. Alongside her film career, Adjani ventured into music with the pop album Pull Marine, released in 1983, written and produced by Serge Gainsbourg. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, her success knew no bounds, even after her terrifying role in Possession by Andrzej Żuławski, a film that fascinated and horrified audiences, jeopardizing her mental health. Despite the praise received, Adjani finds herself today at the center of a scandal unrelated to her presence on the big screen.

Tax Fraud, 2 Million Euro Donation, and Failed Production Company

The fame of the French star has been tarnished by an ongoing investigation since October 2020, following a police report filed by a former anonymous associate in 2015. The allegations involve fraud involving hundreds of thousands of euros in professional expenses. According to Libération, Isabelle Adjani had hired this associate in 2011 as a strategy consultant for her film production company, Isia Films, which is now defunct. According to the allegations, the actress used a line of credit and an American Express card, accumulating debts of 364,000 euros over a period of 13 months. She allegedly failed to repay a loan, leading to the seizure of some of her assets. In response, she filed a lawsuit against her former associate, accusing him of misappropriation of corporate assets. While this case is ongoing, the star is currently under a new financial investigation.

This recent investigation began after her name was published in the Panama Papers in 2016, a massive leak of over 11 million financial and legal documents revealing offshore accounts and exposing tax fraud and money laundering by globally renowned celebrities. Although she did not appear in court, the judicial authorities in Paris declared her guilty of tax fraud, sentencing her to two years of suspended prison and a fine of 250,000 euros. It is important to note that she will not go to prison as long as she complies with the conditions of her probation. The evidence against her includes her move to Portugal from 2016 to 2017 to avoid paying 236,000 euros in taxes, failure to declare a deposit of 120,000 euros in an American bank account, and concealing a 2 million euro donation as a loan to escape taxation. This loan was linked to Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, a member of the International Olympic Committee and the godfather of Adjani's son, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, from her relationship with the American actor Daniel Day-Lewis.

The actress, who categorically denied all allegations through her lawyer, plans to appeal. Confronted with these accusations, she stated that «money does not interest me,» a controversial statement given the facts against her. Despite the legal challenges she faces, Isabelle Adjani has recently taken on several leading roles, including in Petra von Kant by François Ozon, which opened the Berlin Film Festival in 2022. In 2009, she also drew criticism by signing a petition in support of Roman Polanski, arrested in Switzerland at the request of U.S. authorities for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Polanski sought refuge in Europe in 1978, where he remains in hiding to this day. Isabelle Adjani's lawyer, speaking to Variety, stated: «We are dismayed by this decision. Isabelle Adjani could not attend the trial, and we had requested it be rescheduled so she could be present to be heard, but they did not allow it. They are persecuting her.»