Maria Schneider (1952-2011) was a French actress, a symbol of a restless and rebellious generation in cinema. Her fame exploded in 1972 with Bernardo Bertolucci's *Last Tango in Paris*. Alongside Marlon Brando, she played the young Jeanne, an audacious and controversial role that established her as an icon of a liberated yet tormented sexuality, but deeply marked her.

Subsequently, she worked with internationally renowned directors, including Michelangelo Antonioni in *The Passenger* (1975), where she appeared alongside Jack Nicholson in another nuanced and complex performance. Schneider was distinguished by her magnetic presence and her ability to embody female characters who were often marginalized, rebellious, fragile, and intense, capable of great vulnerability and inner strength. Her career, though not without its difficulties, remained a testament to her authenticity and her impact on auteur cinema.