Farida Khelfa (born 23 May 1960) is a French-Algerian actress, documentary filmmaker, author, and model. A prominent figure in Parisian culture since the 1980s, she is recognized as one of the first models of North African descent to achieve international success. She served as a long-term muse to designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaïa and was the brand ambassador for Sciaparelli from 2012 to 2017.
Early life Khelfa, one of nine children, was born in Lyon, France in the working-class suburb of Vénissieux to strict Algerian immigrant parents. Her childhood was marked by severe trauma, including child abuse and incest. Because of this, she ran away from her family at the age of 16, joining two of her sisters in Paris after a night of hitchhiking. It was there that she befriended a young Christian Louboutin, who gave her a place to stay. Khelfa decided to become a model "without [too much] ambition except being free."
When Khelfa first arrived in Paris, she "wandered everywhere" before discovering the nightclubs Le Palace and Les Bain Douches, becoming a doorman. She spent the next few years heavily involved in nightclub culture, where she would meet major figures of the fashion world.
Career While dancing at Le Palace in 1979, Khelfa was discovered by designer Jean Paul Gaultier. Gaultier would cast her in his 1980 fashion show, launching her modeling career. In the following years, she would become the muse to many important figures in the fashion world, including Jean-Paul Goude, Azzedine Alaïa, and Thierry Mugler.
Khelfa began acting in the 1980s, appearing in films such as La nuit porte-jarretelles (1985) and Lady Cops (1987). In the 2010s, she transitioned to documentary filmmaking.
In 2013 Khelfa was appointed as the brand ambassador for Schiaparelli. Khelfa stepped down as brand ambassador in 2017, stating that she needed time to focus on her own projects, particularly filmmaking. Despite this, Khelfa has continued to work with the brand, notably appearing on the Schiaparelli spring/summer 2020 Haute Couture runway in 2019. Most recently (as of April 2026), she worked with them in December 2024 on a photoshoot for 7 Hollywood Magazine.
In 2024, Khelfa wrote her first book, a memoir titled Une enfance française.
Personal life
In 1982, Khelfa became romantically involved with 44-year-old photographer Jean-Paul Goude. She cites Goude as the one to introduce her to "so many things, like the Bauhaus, Stravinsky, the Russian ballets."
Khelfa married businessman and CEO Henri Seydoux in 2012. The couple has been together since 1989 and already had two sons together at the time of their marriage. Khelfa became the step-mother of stylist Camille Seydoux and actress Léa Seydoux, Seydoux's children from his first marriage to actress Valérie Schlumberger.
Khelfa's mother died in August 2022. Her mother's funeral inspired her to write her autobiography.
Khelfa is a friend of model Carla Bruni and was a witness at her 2008 wedding to French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Filmography
Acting credits FilmYearTitleRoleNotesReference(s)1980Mator (short film)dir. Dante Desarthe1985La Nuit porte-jarretellesdir. Virginie ThévenetMode in France (TV movie)Self (as Farida)1987Jeux d'artificesFaridadir. Virginie ThévenetévenetLady CopsYasminedir. Josiane Balasko1990Pacific PalisadesJuliedir. Bernard Schmitt1001 NightsThe Queendir. Philippe de Broca1991Ennui mortel (short film)dir. Philippe Bérenger1995La malaiméeSolangedir. Jean-Paul Scarpitta2006GradivaElviradir. Alain Robbe-Grillet2007The Diving Bell and the ButterflySelfdir. Julian Schnabel2008Carla Bruni en toute liberté (TV special)ParisFaridadir. Cédric KlapischFrançaiseThe motherdir. Souad El-Bouhati2009BluebeardMére supérieuredir. Catherine BreillatLa Traversée du désirSelfdir. Arielle DombasleNeuilly sa mère!Nadiadir. Gabriel Julien-Laferriére2012Bankable (TV movie)Eléonore2013OpiumYvettedir. Arielle Dombasle2015Elsa Schiaparelli: Mode ist Kunst (TV movie)Selfdir. Sabine Carbon2016Franca: Chaos and Creationdir. Francesco Carrozzini2018Neuilly sa mère, sa mère!Nadiadir. Gabriel Julien-LaferriéreLes Michetonneuses (TV movie)Annadir. Olivier DoranJean Paul Gaultier: Freak and Chic (TV movie)Self2018Jean Paul Gaultier fait son show (TV special)2022Azzedine Alaïa: Un couturier français (TV movie)dir. Olivier NicklausTelevisionYearTitleRoleNotesReference(s)1999La case de l'oncle DocSelfEpisode: "Farida, Rachid, Zinedine et les autres"X FemmesBlondie's friendEpisode: "Le bijou indiscret"2009Élection de Miss France (TV miniseries)SelfEpisode: "Miss France 2010"2011La boîte à questionsEpisode: "19 January 2011"On n'est pas couchéEpisode: "Episode #5.22"2008-2011Vivement dimanche3 episodes2009-2012AïchaMalika4 episodes2008-2013Le Grand Journal (Canal+)Self3 episodes2016Thé ou caféEpisode: "13 November 2016"2017Fashion Insiders2021La nuit du ramadanEpisode: "La nuit du Ramadan, les 30 ans"2024CliqueEpisode: "30 January 2024"Music VideosYearTitleRoleNotesReference(s)2026SS26Charli XCX
Directing credits TelevisionYearTitleNotesReference(s)2011Empreintes (anthology series)Episode: "Jean Paul Gaultier ou les codes bouleversés"2012Campagne intime (TV documentary)2014Louboutin (TV documentary)2021De l'autre côté du voile (TV documentary)
Bibliography YearTitlePublisherISBN2024Une enfance françaiseAlbin Michel
References