Joséphine Mahaut Marie Japy (born 12 July 1994) is a French actress. She made her debut in the 2005 film Grey Souls, and has appeared in films such as the comedy Neuilly Yo Mama! (2009) and its sequel Neuilly sa mère, sa mère! (2018), the Claude François biopic My Way (2012) in which she portrayed French singer France Gall, the coming-of-age drama Breathe (2014) – for which she was nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actress, the romantic comedy Love at Second Sight (2019), the period drama (2021), and the thriller (2023), as well as the 2024 British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme winning Netflix biographical miniseries Class Act (2023).
Early life Japy was born in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, France on 12 July 1994.
Japy has a degree in History and a master's degree in sociology from Sciences Po Lyon, a grande école in France.
Career At the age of 8, Japy decided she wanted to be actress and started taking acting classes. Spotted by a casting director, she asked her photographer uncle to take photos of her that she later slipped into an envelope with the message: "My name is Joséphine, I'm 8 years old, I want to be in the movies." Two days later, the phone rang, the production company was worried because she had not specified her last name, and she had been cast in the 2005 film Grey Souls, directed by Yves Angelo, which marked her acting debut.
Japy credits her encounter with French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet as being decisive in her desire to become an actress. She was auditioning for the role of a child in Jeunet's film A Very Long Engagement (2004) when the director came up to her and standing at her height, said: "Joséphine, can I talk to you like an adult? Today, it won't be you, but one day, we'll meet again...". Japy said that Jeunet's words had a real resonance and made her "want to hang on, believe and keep going", and if Jeunet had not taken the time to say that to her that day, she might not be here [talking to the interviewer].
In 2009, she appeared in the comedy film Neuilly Yo Mama! (2009), and reprised her role 9 years later in the sequel Neuilly sa mère, sa mère! (2018).
In 2011, she starred in the thriller drama film The Monk, an adaptation of Matthew Lewis's 1796 gothic novel of the same name, directed by Dominik Moll.
In 2012, she portrayed French singer France Gall in the Claude François biopic My Way, directed by Florent-Emilio Siri.
In 2014, she played the lead role of Charlie in the coming-of-age drama Breathe, directed by Mélanie Laurent, which was presented in the Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival. Her performance in the film earned her a nomination for the César Award for Most Promising Actress and for the Lumière Award for Best Female Revelation.
In 2015, she starred in the dramatic comedy film Paris-Willouby, directed by Arthur Delaire and Quentin Reynaud. In 2016, she starred in the thriller Faultless, directed by Sébastien Marnier.
In 2019, Japy co-starred with François Civil in the romantic comedy film Love at Second Sight, directed by Hugo Gélin.
In 2021, she starred as Eugénie Grandet in the film adaptation of Honoré de Balzac's novel of the same name, directed by Marc Dugain.
In 2023, she starred in the thriller , directed by Denis Imbert; and portrayed Bernard Tapie's wife, Dominique Damianos, in the Netflix biographical miniseries Class Act.
In September 2024, Japy started filming her directorial debut, The Wonderers. Based on the true story of her younger sister, Bertille, who has a rare genetic disease that leads to autistic behavior, it follows a family navigating the severe disability of the youngest daughter.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2005 Grey Souls Belle de jour 2009 Neuilly Yo Mama! Marie 2011 The Monk Antonia 2012 My Way France Gall2014 Breathe Charlie Directrice régionale de la Poste 2015 Paris-Willouby Lucie Guilby 2016 Faultless Audrey 2017 Un de moins Camille Short film2018 Spitak Madeleine Short film Neuilly sa mère, sa mère! Marie2019 Love at Second Sight Olivia Tess Haute Cuisine Marie Short film2021 Claire Eugénie Grandet2022 Octave Anna Short film Aurélie Diaz 2023 Anna Class Act Dominique Damianos TV mini-series 2025 Once Upon My Mother (Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan) Litzie Gozlan
Awards and nominations Year Award / Festival Category Work Result 2015 César Awards Most Promising ActressBreathe Lumière Awards Best Female Revelation Cabourg Film Festival Female Revelation FEST International Film Festival Best Actress (shared with Lou de Laâge) Prix Romy Schneider 2024 French Association of Series Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor Class Act
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