Catherine Deneuve was born in Paris on this date in 1943, which makes the French actress and style icon 69 years old today. It’s kind of hard to believe that she’s been famous for six decades now, isn’t it? For those of you who are less familiar with the grand dame’s work as a young ingenue, we’ve scoured the Internet to find some of the most stunning stills and behind-the-scenes photos from her early career. As iconic fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent — who considered Deneuve a muse, frequently dressing her both onscreen and off — said in a 1992 interview, “She has always been extraordinary for me… This is a woman with a lot of charm and a wonderful heart.” Click through for some serious sartorial inspiration and vintage eye candy from the her mod days, and ask yourselves this: Has anyone ever looked lovelier in a trench coat?
Still from Vice and Virtue (1963). Image via
Still from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). Image via
Still from Repulsion (1965). Image via
Still from Belle De Jour (1967). Image via
On the set of The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967). Image via
On the set of Manon 70 (1968). Photo credit: Daniel Angeli via
Still from Heartbeat (1968). Image via
On the set of Mayerling (1968). Image via
On the set of Mississippi Mermaid (1969). Photo credit: Mary Ellen Mark
Still from The April Fools (1969). Image via