Fatou N’Diaye (1980- ) is a French actress and model who was born in Senegal. She is not the dancer of the same name. Since 2001 she has appeared in both French film and television. Her best film to date is probably “Nha fala” (2003) though “A Sunday in Kigali” (2006) seems to be better known.
She was born in Saint-Louis in Sengal. Her native language is Wolof. When she was eight she left Senegal with her mother to live in France.
In 1997 at age 17 she was discovered by photographer Oliviero Toscani, who is famous for the United Colors of Benetton ads. He urged her to become a model. She is tall, thin and pretty
She is 5 foot 10 inches tall (1.78 m) and her measurements are 31.5-23-35 (80-58.5-89 cm), giving her a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of 0.66.
She did do some modelling, but her heart was set on acting. She wanted to go to drama school, but then director Daniel Vigne asked her to play the lead in a made-for-television film he was making – even though she had no acting experience!
She spent a few days with an actress who taught her the tricks of the trade and then did her best.
The film was “Fatou la Malienne” (2001). It was the true story of a woman from Mali who lived in France but was forced to get married. It got her noticed: 8 million people in France saw it.
After that she worked with the famous French actor Charles Aznavour. She loves jazz and he was able to tell her about all the jazz greats that he once knew.
In 2002 she had a small part in “Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre”, starring Monica Bellucci. It was her first experience of a big film production.
In 2003 she starred in “Nha Fala” (“My Voice”), directed by Flora Gomes. It is a Portuguese-French-Luxembourger musical comedy (yes) set in France and Cape Verde. It is in both French and Portuguese Creole.
She plays a mixed-race character who comes from a family where the women die if they sing. When she leaves Cape Verde for France she promises her mother that she will not sing. Not only did she forget her promise, she became a singer! People were amazed at how well she could sing. She came back to Cape Verde to prepare for her funeral – but she did not die!
N’Diaye says the film is about expressing yourself. Some see it as a metaphor for colonialism, about how trying to be white goes against being your true self – which is why her being mixed-race is important.
In 2006 she played the female lead in a French-Canadian film, “Un dimanche à Kigali” (“A Sunday in Kigali”). It is abouat a man who comes to Rwanda and falls in love with a woman there. Separated by the genocide he tries to find her.
Her next leading part was in “Tropiques amers” (2007), the first French television series about slavery in the French Caribbean. It is a historical drama set in Martinique in the late 1700s.
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she’s really pretty
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She is pretty. Amazing measurements (*smile*). Thanks for posting this. I’m into foreign film. I’m gonna look for these on Netflix!
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*kisses* abagond is the best!
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🙂
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D3ar Abagond,
Elle est TROP FORTE! Je l’adore!
Thank you Abagond..I agree w/ Monica!
I’ve watched everything she’s in.
She is incredibly beautiful to me!
Do you think you could do Grace Jones?
I ABSOLUTELY love this woman!
Pretty please? 🙂
Sincerely,
***Marie-Francoise**
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she s really pretty but this pic of her doesn t really show it
senegalese women are really beautiful
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I stumbled upon your blog while looking for more information about Fatou. She is the most beautiful African woman I have ever seen in my life. I’m not even lesbian but I am strangely drawn to her ever since I saw her in Tropiques Amers. hahaha!!
Thanks for posting. Greetings from Manila!! 🙂
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wow! probably one of the most perfect human beings i’v ever seen!! gal u rock when are u coming to south africa u have a huge fan base here!!
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I wish to see more of her in Hollywood productions.
Amazing actress
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