Louise Portal is a Canadian actress, singer, and writer, and a prominent figure in Quebec culture. Her film career is marked by memorable roles, notably that of Diane in Denys Arcand's acclaimed film *The Decline of the American Empire* (1986), a character she reprised in the sequel *The Barbarian Invasions* (2003). Her other notable performances include roles in *Les Muses orphelines* (2000), for which she earned a Jutra Award nomination for Best Actress, and *Paul à Québec* (2015). Consistently active in television and theatre, Portal is also a prolific author, having published numerous novels, short stories, and poetry collections. For her extensive contributions to the arts, she has received several awards, including a Prix Gémeaux, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2022, one of the country's highest civilian honours.