Delphine Seyrig, More Than a Muse

Delphine Seyrig was a favorite of visionary directors such as Chantal Akerman, Resnais, Truffaut, and Buñuel, bringing an air of ethereal mystery to her minutely detailed performances. Yet Seyrig bucked against the muse role that the era’s filmmaking offered her: her penchant for working with women auteurs was an extension of her feminist politics, which she also expressed in her often-overlooked directorial work, including the revealing documentary Be Pretty and Shut Up!, about the experiences of actresses working in a sexist, male-dominated film industry. Her contributions, both on and off screen, are invaluable.