Bernadette Lafont (Nîmes, October 28, 1938 – Nîmes, July 25, 2013) was a French actress, regarded as one of the muses and most representative figures of the Nouvelle Vague. Launched by François Truffaut in the short film *Les Mistons* (1957), she soon became an iconic face of the movement, collaborating with directors such as Claude Chabrol on films like *Le Beau Serge* (1958) and *Les Bonnes Femmes* (1960). With her non-conformist style and exuberant personality, she often embodied free-spirited and rebellious women. Her career, which spanned over fifty years, includes more than 180 film and television roles, ranging from arthouse cinema to comedy. Among her most celebrated performances is her role in Jean Eustache's *La maman et la putain* (1973). In 1986, she won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for *L'Effrontée* by Claude Miller, and in 2003, she was awarded an Honorary César for her lifetime achievement.