Lola Dewaere

Lola Dewaere is the daughter of actor Patrick Dewaere and Élisabeth (known as Elsa) Malvina Chalier. She is the half-sister of Angèle Herry-Leclerc (born in 1974), daughter of Patrick Dewaere and the actress Miou-Miou, who was adopted by Julien Clerc in 1992.

After her father’s suicide on 16 July 1982 in Paris, her mother faced the tax authorities because of the debts he left, and entrusted Lola to her own parents, who lived in Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay (Maine-et-Loire). Coluche offered to be Lola’s godfather at her baptism, but her grandparents refused.

Although bright, she was often unruly and had difficulty at school. She developed certain insecurities, particularly because of her height, the high expectations her grandparents placed on her, and the frequent references to her father. She returned to live with her mother in Paris during early adolescence and continued her schooling at the private Catholic school Saint-Michel-de-Picpus from year 7 onward. Rebellious and refusing to accept authority, she was expelled. During this period, anything concerning her father was a taboo subject. However, her mother would sometimes mention his suicide in what Lola describes as “very blunt” terms, saying that he had shot himself in the mouth.

Around the age of 16, she nevertheless discovered several of her father’s films, including *Coup de tête*, *La Meilleure Façon de marcher*, *Adieu poulet*, and *Psy*, which she liked. In 1997, upon reaching adulthood, she enrolled in the Cours Florent drama school to train as an actress.

After a serious car accident, she had to support herself. In 2001, she began working for the women’s magazine *Jalouse*, then found a job in real estate. In 2007, she resigned in order to pursue a career as an actress.