Jeanne Moreau dead: French star of Jules et Jim dies age 89

Actress and director was one of the most recognisable names in French cinema

French actress Jeanne Moreau has died aged 89.

The actress, singer, screenwriter and director was arguably best known for starring in the François Truffaut film Jules et Jim in 1962.

Born on 23 January 1928 in Paris, Jeanne Moreau spent part of her childhood in Vichy before returning to settle with her family in Paris. Her father ran a bar in the 9th arrondissement and her mother, of British origin, was a dancer at the Folies Bergère.

An icon of French cinema who reached the height of her fame during the 1960s; she was the recipient of multiple lifetime achievement awards, including a Bafta fellowship, which was awarded to her in 1996.

She was a friend and collaborator of many other of the most recognisable figures in French cinema, including Jean Cocteau, Jean Genet and Marguerite Duras.

She won a number of awards including the Best Actress prize at Cannes for Seven Days... Seven Nights in 1960.

She worked with Orson Welles on several films and won the Bafta Award for best foreign actress for Viva Maria! in 1967.

News of her death was first reported by AFP, which was apparently informed by her agent.

Jeanne d'Hauteserre, mayor of the 8th arrondissement in Paris, confirmed the news to the French publication Closer, describing her as: "The actress with the sensual beauty and the inimitable serious voice, which has fascinated the greatest directors during a career of 65 years."

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