Arielle Dombasle Biography: Movies, Age, Height, Ethnicity, Parents, Instagram, Net Worth, Songs

Arielle Laure Maxime Sonnery, better known as Arielle Dombasle, is a versatile American-born French actress, singer, director, and former model, celebrated for her elegant presence in auteur cinema and her distinctive cabaret-style music career.

She gained prominence through breakthrough roles in Éric Rohmer‘s Pauline at the Beach (1983) and other films by directors like Alain Robbe-Grillet, Roman Polanski, and Raoul Ruiz, while establishing herself as a chanteuse with albums blending pop, Latin, and classical influences, including Amor Amor (2004) and French Kiss (2015).

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Arielle Laure Maxime Sonnery
• Stage Name: Arielle Dombasle
• Born: April 27, 1953
• Age: 72 years old
• Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
• Nationality: American-French
• Occupation: Actress, Singer, Director, Model
• Height: 1.68 m
• Parents: Jean-Louis Sonnery de Fromental, Francion Garreau-Dombasle
• Siblings: Gilbert Sonnery
• Spouse: Paul Albou (m. 1976–1985), Bernard-Henri Lévy (m. 1993)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Arielle Laure Maxime Sonnery was born on April 27, 1953, in Hartford, Connecticut, United States, to Jean-Louis Sonnery de Fromental, a silk manufacturer, and Francion Garreau-Dombasle.

She lost her mother at a young age and moved with her brother Gilbert to Mexico City, where maternal grandparents raised them.

She attended the Lycée Franco-Mexicain, a private school in Mexico City.

She later studied at the Conservatoire International de Musique de Paris to pursue singing and acting.

She is of French roots, and she was raised Roman Catholic.

Career

Arielle Dombasle entered the entertainment world in the late 1970s, making her film debut in Éric Rohmer‘s Perceval le Gallois (1978) and quickly earning notice for her striking beauty and poised performances.

She built early momentum with roles in Fruits of Passion (1981) and Pauline at the Beach (1983), the latter marking her breakthrough under Rohmer and cementing her status in French New Wave-adjacent cinema.

She released initial singles like Paris m’a séduit (1980) during this period, blending her acting pursuits with emerging music interests.

These early steps drew attention from prominent directors and established her as a multifaceted talent crossing film and performance arts.

She deepened her film portfolio through the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in The Boss’ Wife (1986), Tess (1979) with Roman Polanski, and later works like Savage Souls (2001) with Raoul Ruiz and Two (2002) with Werner Schroeter.

She launched a stronger music phase in the 2000s with albums such as Liberta (2000), Extase (2002), Amor Amor (2004), C’est si bon (2006), and Diva Latina (2011), earning gold and platinum certifications for hits blending Latin rhythms, standards, and pop.

She directed her first features, including Chassé-croisé (1982) and Les Pyramides Bleues (1988), transitioning into filmmaking while continuing to act and perform live shows.

Arielle Dombasle sustains her creative output with recent albums like French Kiss (2015), Empire (2020), and projects such as Les Parisiennes revue, alongside directing Alien Crystal Palace (2018) and Les Secrets de la Princesse de Cadignan (2023).

She maintains relevance through eclectic collaborations, burlesque-inspired performances, and advocacy for animal rights.

Her body of work across over 70 films, 11 albums, and directorial ventures highlights enduring versatility and influence in French and international arts scenes.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @arielledombasle
• Facebook Handle: Unknown
• Twitter Handle: @ArielleDombasle

Personal Life

Arielle Dombasle first married dentist Paul Albou in 1976, divorcing in 1985.

She married philosopher and writer Bernard-Henri Lévy on June 19, 1993, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and they remain together.

She has no biological children but serves as stepmother to Lévy‘s two children from previous marriages: novelist Justine Lévy and Antonin-Balthazar Lévy.

She leads an active, artistic lifestyle, often sharing glimpses of her creative pursuits, travels, and advocacy work.

Filmography

• Perceval le Gallois (1978)
• Tess (1979)
• Fruits of Passion (1981)
• Pauline at the Beach (1983)
• The Boss’ Wife (1986)
• The Blue Villa (1995)
• Time Regained (1999)
• Vatel (2000)
• Savage Souls (2001)
• Two (2002)

Discography

• Liberta (2000)
• Extase (2002)
• Amor Amor (2004)
• C’est si bon (2006)
• Glamour à Mort! (2009)
• Diva Latina (2011)
• Arielle Dombasle By Era (2013)
• French Kiss (2015)
• La Rivière Atlantique (2016)
• Les Parisiennes (2018)

Net Worth

Arielle Dombasle has an estimated net worth of $5 million. She derives her income primarily from decades of acting in French and international films, music album sales and concerts (with several gold and platinum records), directorial projects, and modeling work earlier in her career.