Romy Schneider (1938-1982) was an Austro-German actress, an icon of European cinema. She rose to fame at a very young age by playing Princess Sissi in the eponymous trilogy (1955-1957), but she soon sought to break free from that saccharine image for more complex and dramatic roles.

After moving to France, she collaborated with prominent directors such as Luchino Visconti, Orson Welles and, above all, Claude Sautet, with whom she made some of her most memorable films. Among her most significant works are "La Piscine" (1969), "César et Rosalie" (1972), "L'important c'est d'aimer" (1975), for which she won the César Award, and "Le Vieux Fusil" (1975), another César.

Her style was characterized by her ability to portray complex women: sensitive and vulnerable, yet also strong-willed, often enveloped in a veil of melancholy. Her intensity and innate elegance made her one of the most fascinating and tragically charismatic figures of the big screen.