In February 1980, Marceau and her mother came across a model agency looking for teenagers. Marceau had photos taken at the agency, but did not think anything would come of it. At the same time, Françoise Menidrey, the casting director for
Claude Pinoteau's
La Boum (1980), asked modeling agencies to recommend a new teenager for the project. After viewing the rushes,
Alain Poiré, the director of the
Gaumont, signed Marceau to a long-term contract.
La Boum was a hit film, with 4,378,500 tickets sold in France. In 1981, Marceau made her singing debut with French singer François Valéry on record "Dream in Blue", written by Pierre Delanoë. She rejected the main role in a soon-to-be controversial film,
Beau-père, in which she would have played as a teenage girl who seduces her step-father for a sexual relationship. The role was eventually played by
Ariel Besse. In 1982, at age 16, Marceau bought back her contract with Gaumont for one million
French francs. She borrowed most of the money. After starring in the sequel film
La Boum 2 (1982), Marceau focused on more dramatic roles, including the historical drama
Fort Saganne in 1984 with
Gérard Depardieu and
Catherine Deneuve,
Joyeuses Pâques (
Happy Easter) in 1984, ''
L'amour braque and Police in 1985, and Descente aux enfers (Descent into Hell
) in 1986. In 1988, she starred in L'Étudiante (The Student
) and the historical adventure film Chouans!. That year, Marceau was named Best Romantic Actress at the International Festival of Romantic Movies for her role in Chouans!'' s, 1993 In 1989, Marceau starred in
My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days, which was directed by her long-time partner
Andrzej Zulawski. In 1990, she starred in
Pacific Palisades and
La note bleue, her third film directed by her companion. In 1991, she ventured into the theater in
Eurydice, which earned Marceau the
Moliere Award for Best Female Newcomer. She was selected to be on the jury for the main competition section of the
2015 Cannes Film Festival. == Author and director ==