In the Besson familywe all know Luc, the father, emblematic figure of French cinema, director, screenwriter and producer. But we know a little less about his five children, four girls and a boy, born from three relationships. Children who have chosen to also follow an artistic path. and are trying to make a name for themselves in an environment where “nepo babies” abound – and are not all very well regarded.
Juliette was born on May 21, 1987. She is the daughter of Luc Besson and Anne Parillaud who were a couple from 1986 to 1991. The director directed the actress in only one film, Nikitawhich earned her the César for best actress in 1991. They separated shortly after. Shortly after his birth, and while he was filming The Big BlueLuc Besson recounted that Juliette had to undergo major surgery due to a “problem in the heart, artery. A small part which was atrophied”. chose to follow in her mother's footsteps by becoming an actress. A former student of the Florent course in Paris, she has starred in several clips, commercials, series, short films and films. In 2020, she became the mother of a little girl named Yumi.
Shanna Besson
Shanna was born on January 3, 1993. She is the daughter of Luc Besson and Maïwenn (The Besco). They married in 1992 when the actress (and future director) was just 16 – and he was twice that. Maïwenn had a small role in his film Léonand she was above all the divine singer Plavalaguna in The Fifth Element. A film which will be fatal to their relationship since the director will fall madly in love with Milla Jovovich, the interpreter of Leeloo (but that's another story). Shanna only had one chance to act. In 2004, she starred in I’m an actricea short film directed by his mother. But she hasn't left the world of cinema yet. In 2010, she took care of the making of The Ladya film directed by his father. And since 2012, it is as film set photographer that she exercises her talents. She had the opportunity to work on Taken 2 (his first professional experience), Taxi 5, Anna et Dogman (thanks dad) and My King et Mine (thanks mom), she also collaborated with Jacques Audiard (The Sisters Brothers, The Olympics, Emilia Perez), Arnaud Desplechin (Deception, Roubaix, a light), Louis Garrel (The faithful man, The crusade), Alexandra Aja (Oxygen) or even Philippe Lacheau (How I became a superhero). She also worked for the series Ten percent et The Serpent Queen.
Thalia Besson
Thalia was born on August 1, 2001. She is the eldest of Luc Besson's three children and Virginie Sillawho met the director in 1998, while working for Gaumont as a script reader. She became his assistant, before he gave her a producing role within his company, Europa Corp. They married in 2004. Their offspring grew up between France and the United States. Thalia became actress. She made her debut in front of the camera in 2017, her father having given her a very small role in his ambitious Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. In 2022 she was one of the protagonists of the film Arthur cursewritten and produced by his father, and inspired by the saga Arthur and the Minimoys that he imagined. Thalia most recently appeared in the role of Geneviève, the daughter-in-law of Sylvie Grateau, in the fourth season ofEmily in Paris (and she was in the famous scene with Brigitte Macron!). She has several films in project, For Elara, When I’m Ready et Tritononly Anglo-Saxon productions.
Sateen Besson
Sateen was born on May 7, 2003. She is the second daughter of Luc Besson and Virginie Silla. In 2021, she starred in a short film Caterpillar Kisses, directed by Ella Fields. Young singer et musician, she performed the song Autumn Star which appears on the film's soundtrack Dogmanreleased in 2023 and directed by his father. In November 2023, she released an EP titled Curtain Lectures.
Mao Besson
Mao was born on September 16, 2005. He is the third child of Luc Besson and Virginie Silla. The director's only son. We don't know if, like his big sisters, the youngest of the Besson siblings also has artistic flair.
