Editor’s Note: Supporting women should not be limited to a month. So at Reel 360 News, we have decided to amplify and promote dynamic women’s voices all year long. Today, let us introduce you to talented actress and model Maewenne Declerieux.
Rising star in the global entertainment industry, French Chinese actress/model Maewenne Declerieux was born in Lyon, France in 2004. At age 17, the exotic beauty embarked on her modelling and acting career, and she hasn’t looked back.
Her recent acting achievements have included being cast in lead roles in the French-language short film Timid Intentions, directed by Leo Louvel, and in the Chinese-produced shorts, I Don’t Care (director Hui Yu), Echoes (director Fei Cao), starring alongside Anthony Sayo, and Lucky Time (director MinJia Du). She also has a supporting role in the French short Edibles by director Kliverth Matos.
She will play the lead role in the upcoming short film Montparnasse, Au Revoir, directed by Yuxuan Zhang, starring alongside actor Zhu Ran. Her television work included lead roles in the series Little Secrets Between Family(director Gilles Maillard) that aired on France’s top channel TF1, and she shot the
pilot Hide & Seek (director Magalie De Genova) for TV5. She also stars in the music video Sweet Delusion for the song by Filipina social media star and singer Bella Poarch.
On the modeling and commercial side, Maewenne was booked as the lead model for the global campaign for Westfield featuring French haute couture designers Dylan Parienty and Christophe Guillarme. She also has appeared in the commercial campaign for French Korean beauty brand Brynn Beauty.
The international artist speaks four languages: French, Mandarin, English, and Spanish, and studied film production and communications at the University of Montreal.
Let’s meet Maewenne!
What’s your origin story?
I grew up between two very different cultures, always feeling like I was navigating different worlds. That made me hyper-observant; I was always analyzing and absorbing my environment. I think that curiosity shaped me more than anything. The visceral need to see more, experience more, to take in “everything, everywhere, all at once”.
How did you break into acting?
I don’t think there was just one moment, but auditioning for Francis Ford Coppola at 17 shifted something in me. I walked into that room feeling like a kid with a dream, and I walked out realizing that I could actually belong in this world. Even though I didn’t get to be in the movie, it was the nudge I needed at this time in my life.
Who were your mentors, and how did they influence your journey?
I think my first mentor might be my dad, he is the one who really educated me on the topic of movies and the arts. He just knows so much about everything. He is the biggest Hitchcock fan. At a certain point as a kid, I thought he was an uncle of ours by how much his name was circulating in our home. Even though he has never worked in this industry, my dad gave me great career advice and taught me a lot about the creative process.
Growing up, we would do pottery, sculptures, paintings, stop motion videos together, whenever he had free time. Having supportive parents gave me the courage to choose an “uncertain” path.
What fuels your creativity?
People and places. Observing them, listening to conversations, walking for hours in different cities, countries. And of course, films. I often get completely lost in a great movie. Sometimes, it’s just a random feeling that sticks with me, a moment I can’t shake, and I know I have to do something with it.
What’s the biggest myth about women in your field?
That actresses are divas. If a male actor is intense about his craft, he’s a genius. If a woman does the same, she’s “demanding”. There’s still a double standard in how ambition and confidence are received. The good thing is I feel like we are slowly witnessing the change, little by little, but still; changing.
Name a creative risk you took that paid off.
Saying yes to small indie projects that didn’t necessarily seem like career moves but felt right artistically. Those experiences helped me grow so much, not just as an actress but also as a person.
What’s your take on the rise of AI?
It’s fascinating but mostly unsettling. Technology should serve storytelling, not replace it. What makes a film powerful is human experience, the messy, unpredictable emotions that AI just can’t replicate. It doesn’t only concern the entertainment industry, obviously, but I strongly think regulations and boundaries should be clearly stated and defined.
What’s a piece of advice from another woman you carry with you?
“Don’t wait for permission.” It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need someone else to say you’re ready or that you deserve something, but I now believe the only validation we need comes from ourselves.
Are you rebooting Soul Train, American Bandstand, or MTV Spring Break?
I never watched any of them, but from the snippets I caught, I think MTV Spring Break would be a fun one because spring break culture seems really fun. As someone who didn’t grow up with it, I think I would quite enjoy it.
How do you balance ambition with self-care?
I’m still figuring it out! I get caught up in wanting to do everything, so I try to remind myself that rest is part of the game too. Surrounding myself and spending time with people I love, and slow mornings are how I recharge.
You’re writing a memoir. What’s the title?
Don’t Read This Memoir – No, but honestly, I have no idea. I did get into memoirs lately, though, and I’ve been in love with Julia Fox’s Down the Drain. I’ve read it 4 times already and have recommended it to basically everyone I know.
Go-to karaoke song?
Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey or something by Adele. Not that I can sing any of them decently, but the passion is there!
In 10 years, what do you hope to look back and say you changed?
I hope that I will have played my part in shifting the way women are seen, treated and valued; not just in my industry but in society as a whole. Right now, I’m implementing actions at my scale, but I hope to have the resources and platform to have a bigger impact. What matters to me is that I am consistent with this will, no matter the circumstances around me.
Maewenn’s Socials:
Instagram: @maewennedeclerieux
To see who else is a Reel Woman, click here.
REELated:
REEL WOMEN Spotlight: Franny Titus, Actress
