France is a country with a rich and complex history. Famous French faces – heroes or villains – come from many fields, including politics, science, literature, the arts and humanitarian work. Who are your favourites? Who are definitely not?

Like them or loathe them – you make the call

Here are our ‘Famous French Faces’ – just sixteen men and women out of potentially hundreds, who have left an indelible mark on French society. Some you will recognise, some will be totally unfamiliar.

We have listed them in no particular order but how would you rank them?

Joan of Arc (1412-1431)

Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc), also known as the Maid of Orleans, was born into a peasant family. As a young girl, she claimed to have divine visions, which prompted her to lead troops in support of King Charles VII during the Hundred Years’ War. Her role in the Siege of Orléans was pivotal, turning the tide of the war in favour of the French. She was captured by the English and, at the age of just 19, burned at the stake in Rouen. Joan’s legacy has endured. She was canonised a saint in 1920 and remains a symbol of French resistance and national pride.

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power during the French Revolution. His military prowess and political acumen led to his self-coronation as Emperor. His reforms, particularly the Napoleonic Code, had a lasting impact on French law. Despite his controversial legacy, Napoleon’s role in spreading the ideals of the French Revolution across Europe cannot be understated.

Josephine Baker (1906-1975)

Although not really one of the famous French faces, as an entertainer, activist and French Resistance agent, Josephine Baker was ‘big’ in France. She was the first African American to star in a major motion picture and she used her fame to contribute to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and to assist the French Resistance during World War II.

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

Louis Pasteur was a scientist from Dole in Burgundy. His groundbreaking work in microbiology and chemistry revolutionised public health. His discoveries related to vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurisation have saved countless lives. Pasteur’s development of vaccines for diseases such as rabies and anthrax underscored his commitment to improving public health.

Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970)

As the leader of the Free French Forces during World War II, Charles de Gaulle played a crucial role in the liberation of Paris. He established the Fifth Republic and his Presidency saw significant social and economic reforms. De Gaulle’s enduring impact on French politics and his legacy as a symbol of French resistance and independence continue to resonate today.

Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793)

Olympe de Gouges might be the least familiar of our famous French faces. She was a playwright and political activist whose feminist and abolitionist writings reached a large audience. She is best known for her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen (1791), in response to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. She was guillotined during the Reign of Terror after the French Revolution.

Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

Victor Hugo’s literary contributions, particularly his novels Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, highlighted social issues and advocated for social justice. Hugo was a leading figure in the Romantic literary movement and his works have had a profound impact on French literature and culture.

Marie Curie (1867-1934)

Marie Curie’s pioneering work in radioactivity led to her becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields. Her role in promoting women’s participation in the sciences and her enduring legacy in the fields of physics and chemistry continue to inspire scientists around the world.

Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870)

Alexandre Dumas’ adventure novels, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, have become global classics. His vivid storytelling and memorable characters have played a significant role in promoting French literature and culture around the world.

Coco Chanel (1883-1971)

Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was a fashion designer and a businesswoman. She is credited with liberating women from the constraints of the ‘corseted silhouette’ and popularising a more relaxed, sporty, ‘casual chic’ as the feminine standard of style from the 1920s. Her name lives on in the fashion brand and the classic scent Chanel No.5.

Simone Veil (1927-2017)

A lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Health under Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Simone Veil was President of the European Parliament and a member of the Constitutional Council of France. She was a survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. She is best known for advancing women’s legal rights in France and, particularly, the law legalising abortion (the Veil Law).

Emile Zola (1840-1902)

Emile Zola is one of the famous French faces of literature and journalism. During the Dreyfus Affair, his open letter J’Accuse…! accused the French government of anti-Semitism and wrongful imprisonment. His series of novels, including the Rougon-Macquart series, highlighted the social and political issues of his time. His work has left a lasting impact on French literature and society.

Voltaire (1694-1778)

François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was a leading figure of the French Enlightenment. He was a staunch advocate for freedom of speech and a critic of the Catholic Church. Among his many philosophical and literary works, the satirical novel Candide remains a cornerstone of French literature. Voltaire’s intellectual thought continues to influence French and global intellectual discourse.

Abbé Pierre (1912-2007)

Abbé Pierre’s humanitarian work, particularly his founding of the Emmaus movement, was dedicated to providing help to the poor and homeless. He was part of the French Resistance in WWII and later continued to be a tireless advocate for social justice. His enduring legacy as a symbol of compassion and charity in France continues to inspire humanitarian efforts.

George Sand (1804-1876)

Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, under her nom de plume George Sand, was one of the most popular writers in Europe in the 19th century. She was also known for challenging the societal norms of her time, particularly as they pertained to women. She caused a scandal in Paris by wearing traditionally male clothing and smoking in public. Her most famous novel was La Mare Au Diable (The Devil’s Pool).

Brigitte Bardot (1934-present)

Brigitte Bardot was an actress, singer, and fashion model, often associated with the new Wave films of the late 1950s and 1960s. She was also a widely recognised ‘sex symbol’, referred to by her initials, BB. After retiring from films in the 1970s, she became, and remains, an animal rights activist.

The famous French faces are just a starting point

These thumbnail sketches don’t begin to do justice to the lives of these sixteen men and women. Look them up, find out more about their work and their lives.

Each one of the people on the list is a reminder of the power of the individual to effect change. These famous French faces, whether you admire them or not, in their unique way embody the spirit of France – its resilience, intellectual vigour, commitment to social justice, cultural influence and its characteristic and proud claim to be ‘different’.

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