**Irène Jacob** (born in Suresnes, France, July 15, 1966) is a French-Swiss actress and an icon of international art-house cinema.

Her career peaked thanks to her collaboration with Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski. She gained international recognition and the Best Actress Award (Prix d'interprétation féminine) at Cannes for her enigmatic role in *The Double Life of Véronique* (1991), where she embodied two women with parallel destinies. Her partnership with Kieślowski continued with *Three Colors: Red* (1994), the final chapter of the renowned trilogy, solidifying her image as a profound and sensitive actress.

Often cast in complex roles, with a melancholic or ethereal aura, Jacob managed to convey intense emotion with great subtlety. She also worked with directors such as Wim Wenders (*Beyond the Clouds*, 1995, with Michelangelo Antonioni) and Ang Lee, while remaining inextricably linked to Kieślowski's poetic imagery.