It turns out that the mystery buyer, who last year paid millions for a Los Feliz property on a trendy hilltop street, was Marion Cotillard, the Oscar-winning French actress who has worked continuously in the industry for nearly 30 years. tea Chanel Muse47, is also apparently a skilled tradesman — records show the transaction closed at a hefty discount of $5.4 million, well off the property’s original high price of $7 million.
Born in 1970s Paris to an artistic family, Cotillard first gained global fame for an iconic lead role in the 2007 film La Vie En Rose, in which she portrayed the legendary singer Edith Piaf. The French-language film grossed more than $86 million worldwide and earned Cotillard the Oscar for Best Actress, among a host of other awards. Since then, she has worked with some of the most respected filmmakers around the world and starred in a host of Hollywood blockbusters (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Public Enemies,” “Midnight in Paris”) . She also co-owns the Paris-based production company Newtopia.
As for Cotillard’s new American pied-à-terre, the nearly 4,000-square-foot structure strives to be as elegant as its owner. Built in the 1930s, the two-story home is described as “traditional in style” in its listing, but the place has more than a subtle hint of Mediterranean cottage-inspired energy.
No part of the house is visible from the road, as it lies tucked atop a tall log, behind mature trees and other dense foliage. A hidden alley leads behind the property to a detached two-car garage; directly below it is a discreetly placed guest house. From there, a gated walkway has steps leading to the main house, which is surrounded by an array of live flowers, original fountains and a red brick courtyard.
Inside, wooden floors flow throughout the apartment. Main floor spaces include a gym, a library, a living room with an ornate fireplace, and a formal dining room with sliding doors that open to an alfresco patio. The kitchen adjoins a cozy family room and there are two guest bedrooms – one with French doors opening onto the gardens.
Upstairs are two master suites, both with bathrooms and balconies with spectacular views of the downtown LA skyline and beyond. There is also a large bonus room that could be a fifth bedroom, or perhaps an executive office, glam room or private reading room.
The north side of the house has a wide brick terrace shaded by trees, which can accommodate a romantic dinner or a grand gala alike. And behind the house lies an unexpectedly large swimming pool, complete with an old diving board and the most impressive view of the city lights. Other outdoor amenities include a built-in barbecue center, various fruit trees and an organic vegetable garden.
Cotillard and her longtime partner, French thespian Guillaume Canet, continue to split their time between California and a home in Paris.