Actor
Claire Maurier
Born 27 March 1929 · Ceret, Pyrénées-Orientales, France — died 3 May 2026
Claire Maurier (1929–2026) was a French actress who appeared in more than 90 films from the late 1940s. She is best remembered as the mother in Truffaut's The 400 Blows and as café owner Madame Suzanne in Amélie, which brought her international recognition late in her career.
Key films
The 400 Blows (1959)On Cinespective
Her first major role, as Gilberte Doinel, mother of Antoine, in Truffaut's landmark New Wave debut.
La Cage aux Folles (1978)
Played Simone in the hit comedy that became one of France's best-known international successes.
A Bad Son (1980)
Her role as a seductive older woman earned a César nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Amélie (2001)
As Madame Suzanne, the café owner, she joined a worldwide hit and reached a new global audience.
My Afternoons with Margueritte (2010)
Late-career role as the neglectful mother of Gérard Depardieu's character.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here; she received a César nomination (1981, Best Supporting Actress) for A Bad Son.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 55
- 1952This Rascal of Anatole · as Germaine de la BoëtieActor
- 1952Rayés des vivants · as A girlActor
- 1953La belle de Cadix · as Alexandrine DupontActor
- 1953A Caprice of Darling Caroline · as Jeannette, Caroline's chambermaidActor
- 1953Les vacances finissent demainActor
- 1956Tonight the Skirts Fly · as Le mannequin espagnolActor
- 1956The Adventures of Gil Blas · as PaquitaActor
- 1957La Parisienne · as Caroline HerblayActor
- 1958Back to the Wall · as GhislaineActor
- 1959The 400 Blows · as Gilberte DoinelActor
- 1960A Mistress for the Summer · as VivianeActor
- 1960Take Me As I Am · as June ChalmersActor
- 1960Rendezvous · as Claire Médina-EtiévantActor
- 1961Daniella by Night · as EsmereldaActor
- 1961Les Livreurs · as BédéliaActor
- 1961Desperate Flight · as Marina LarsenActor
- 1962Sweet Ecstasy · as ClaireActor
- 1963My Wife's Husband · as Christiane ColombeyActor
- 1964Requiem pour un caïd · as Jeannette SorelActor
- 1965Angelique: The Road to Versailles · as Ninon de LenclosActor
- 1965When the Pheasants Pass · as Micheline CamusActor
- 1965Don Quijote · as Die HerzoginActor
- 1969A Very Curious Girl · as IrèneActor
- 1970La Brune que voilà · as ChristineActor
- 1971Cash-Cash · as Caroline SinclairActor
- 1973The Hostage Gang · as Nelly CeruttiActor
- 1974Impossible Is Not French · as Mauricette Brisset, l'épouse de LouisActor
- 1976Le Cœur sous le paillasson · as LiseActor
- 1977Les Filles · as PaulaActor
- 1978La Cage aux Folles · as Simone DeblonActor
- 1978The Little Wheedlers · as La mère de SophieActor
- 1978Le Rabat-joie · as Armance DuponActor
- 1979The City of Silences · as MurielActor
- 1980A Bad Son · as MadeleineActor
- 1981L'Amant de Bornéo · as RégineActor
- 1983Vous habitez chez vos parents ? · as Alice MartellActor
- 1983Side Roads · as MartheActor
- 1984La vie est trop courte · as CécileActor
- 1985Blanche and Marie · as Neighbor (uncredited)Actor
- 1986La Berlue · as MathildeActor
- 1986Appelez-moi Fouks · as StellaActor
- 1996Family Resemblances · as La mèreActor
- 1999Man of My Life · as NellyActor
- 2001Amélie · as SuzanneActor
- 2001Les Deux Vieilles Dames et l'accordeurActor
- 2003The Car Keys · as Old Lady in ParkActor
- 2003The Birch-Tree Meadow · as GinetteActor
- 2006Family Hero · as ColetteActor
- 2006Granny boom · as Grand-mèreActor
- 2007Ambitious · as Mme ZahnActor
- 2007La Vie d'artiste · as l'agent d'AliceActor
- 2008TOC TOC · as MarieActor
- 2010My Afternoons with Margueritte · as La mèreActor
- 2010Paris Express · as L'experteActor
- 2012La Guerre du Royal Palace · as Hortense VerdierActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.