Noémie Merlant Biography: Parents, Sister, Age, Movies, Height, Net Worth, Partner, Awards, Director, Ethnicity

Noémie Merlant is a French actress, writer, and director who achieved international recognition for her performance in the 2019 period drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

In the film, she portrayed Marianne, a painter commissioned to secretly create a wedding portrait of a young noblewoman, a role that earned her widespread critical acclaim and firmly established her as a major figure in contemporary European cinema.

Prior to this breakthrough, she worked steadily in French television and film, gaining early attention for her performance in Heaven Will Wait (2016).

In parallel with her acting career, she has developed a strong identity as a filmmaker, premiering her own directorial works at major international festivals.

Profile

• Full Name: Noémie Merlant
• Date of Birth: November 27, 1988
• Age: 37 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of Birth: Paris, France
• Nationality: French
• Profession: Actress, director, screenwriter
• Height: 1.76 meters
• Weight: 57 kg
• Eye Color: Brown
• Hair Color: Brown
• Parents: Both worked as real estate agents
• Siblings: One older sister
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A (pregnant as of late 2025)
• Relationship Status: In a relationship
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Noémie Merlant is now at the age of 37 and was born on November 27, 1988.

Although born in Paris, she spent most of her childhood in Rezé, near Nantes, where her parents worked as real estate agents.

She grew up with one older sister, who influenced her early interest in cinema.

She trained extensively in contemporary and classical dance and also took singing lessons, experiences that later informed her physical and expressive acting style.

In 2006, she moved to Paris and began working as a model, traveling internationally.

Seeking deeper artistic fulfillment, she shifted her focus toward acting and enrolled at the Cours Florent drama school, where she studied from 2007 until 2011.

During this period, she began auditioning and securing her first professional acting roles.

Personal Life

Noémie Merlant was previously in a long-term relationship with director Simon Bouisson, with whom she collaborated on several creative projects, including the interactive film République.

They never married and eventually separated.

She is currently in a relationship, though her partner’s identity has not been publicly disclosed.

In late 2025, she confirmed her first pregnancy during a public appearance in Paris.

Career

Merlant‘s professional acting career began in 2011 with L’Orpheline avec en plus un bras en moins.

She gradually built her reputation through supporting roles in film and television until her breakthrough performance in Heaven Will Wait (2016), in which she portrayed a teenager vulnerable to radicalization.

Her career reached a turning point when Céline Sciamma cast her in Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

The film’s success at the Cannes Film Festival and internationally elevated her to global recognition.

Following this, she expanded into English-language cinema, notably appearing alongside Cate Blanchett in Tár (2022) as Francesca, Lydia Tár‘s assistant.

In addition to acting, Merlant has established herself as a director and screenwriter.

Her debut feature, Mi Iubita, Mon Amour (2021), which she co-wrote and directed, premiered to critical attention.

Her second feature, The Balconettes, a genre-blending feminist film, was released between late 2024 and 2025.

She continues to balance acting in high-profile productions with increasingly ambitious directing projects.

Awards

• Lumières Award for Best Actress – Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2020)
• César Award for Best Supporting Actress – The Innocent (2023)
• Nomination: César Award for Most Promising Actress – Heaven Will Wait (2017)
• Nomination: César Award for Best Actress – Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2020)
• Nomination: Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress – Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
• Nomination: European Film Award for Best Actress – Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Net Worth

Noémie Merlant has an estimated net worth of approximately $5 million.

Her income comes primarily from her acting work in French and international cinema, including high-budget productions such as Tár and Emmanuelle.

Her earnings are further supported by her work as a director and screenwriter, as well as early modeling work and select fashion collaborations.

Social Media

• Instagram: @noemiemerlant

Filmography

• L’Orpheline avec en plus un bras en moins (2011)
• The Brother (2014)
• Once in a Lifetime (2014)
• One Wild Moment (2015)
• The Girl King (2015)
• Heaven Will Wait (2016)
• Curiosa (2019)
• Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
• Jumbo (2020)
• A Good Man (2020)
• Mi Iubita, Mon Amour (2021)
• Paris, 13th District (2021)
• One Year, One Night (2022)
• The Innocent (2022)
• Baby Ruby (2022)
• Tár (2022)
• A Difficult Year (2023)
• Lee (2023)
• Emmanuelle (2024)
• The Balconettes (2024)
• Duse (2025)