Macha Méril, born Marija-Magdalena Vladimirovna Gagarina on September 3, 1940, in Rabat, is a French actress, writer, and producer of Russian origin. She became a prominent figure of the French New Wave for her leading role in Jean-Luc Godard's *A Married Woman* (1964), which brought her international recognition. Her career has included collaborations with major European directors, such as Luis Buñuel in *Belle de Jour* (1967), Marco Ferreri, and, in Italy, Dario Argento for the cult film *Deep Red* (1975), in which she portrays the medium Helga Ulmann. Among her numerous performances, her role in Agnès Varda's *Vagabond* (1985) is a standout, earning her a nomination for the César Award for Best Supporting Actress. In addition to her prolific film and television work, she is the author of several cookbooks and novels. In France, she was made a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contribution to culture.