The star of the film Amelie turns her hand to photography

The French actress who is perhaps best known for her breakout role in the film Amelie, is turning her hand to photography as she shows her photos to the public for the first time.

Source: Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles

A selection of self-portraits of Audrey Tautou is showing at the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival in France until 24 September.

The actress told the New York Times that photography became a refuge for after her meteoric rise to fame with the film Amelie in 2001: "I needed to do it," she said.

"Maybe because of what happened to me with this huge celebrity suddenly – it was a way for me to take a bit of distance from the storm."

The exhibition also features photographs of journalists who have interviewed the actress over the last 15 years. Called Superfacial, the exhibit addresses the themes of celebrity and image.

The photos were all taken with a film-camera and are not retouched.

You can have a look at some of them here:

Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles Source: Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles

Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles Source: Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles

Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles Source: Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles

Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles Source: Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles

Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles Source: Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles

Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles Source: Courtesy of the artist, © Rencontres Arles

Want more Audrey Tautou? Catch her in Hunting and Gathering and more French movies, streaming now at SBS On Demand:

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