Sophie Marceau (born Sophie Maupu) grew up far from the studio spotlights. When she was 14 she was living in the Paris suburb of Gentilly with her father, a truck driver. She learned from friends that director Claude Pinoteau was looking for new faces for a movie about teenagers called Boum, La (1980). She auditioned for the role, got it, and the film was a success. She has gone on to star in many other French films and has won numerous acting awards.