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Arielle Dombasle

Arielle Dombasle

Actor, also director · Born April 27, 1953 (73) · Norwich, Connecticut, USA

Arielle Dombasle (born April 27, 1953) is a French-American singer, actress, director and model. Her breakthrough roles were in Éric Rohmer's Pauline at the Beach (1983) and Alain Robbe-Grillet's The Blue Villa (1995). She is best known to American audiences for her appearances on Miami Vice and the 1984 miniseries Lace. She has released eight singles between 1978 and 2011 and seven albums. Description above from the Wikipedia article Arielle Dombasle, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 27, 1953 (73)
From
Norwich, Connecticut, USA
Works as
Actor, also director
Titles
38 on Motif · 134 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 16% in 30 days

What are Arielle Dombasle's films like?

Across their 28 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Motif score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Motif score: 25th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Motif score: 37th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
33%
Bonds
18%
Morality
16%
Society
13%
Ideas
8%
Power
7%
Survival
4%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 6 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 8

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 10 · Charged 16 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 17 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 7

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 14 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 6

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 16 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 9

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 2 of 8 analyzed roles.

Trickster
2 of 8
Shapeshifter
2 of 8
Ally
2 of 8
Hero
1 of 8
Threshold guardian
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
11
Melancholic
10
Warm
9
Tense
8
Joyful
6
Other
21

How their films linger

Thought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous8

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Arielle Dombasle's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 38 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Arielle Dombasle's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

134 credits, 38 with a Motif page; 35 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Les derniers jours de Charles Baudelaire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Director · as Apollonie Sabatier

  • The Moment(2026)

    as Maria

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Vade Retro (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    as The Mother

  • Emergency Exit(2025)

    Actor

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Vamps (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    as Brigitte

  • The Librarians: The Next Chapter(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Dame Anna Mirinoff

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Le Livreur de Noël (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Olga

  • Pierre Koralnik : cinéaste et visionnaire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Elle-même

  • Les secrets de la princesse de Cadignan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · as Princess Diane of Cadignan

  • La fille et le garçon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    as Paula

  • Swing Rendez-vous(2022)

    as Mme Raynal

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Alibi.com 2(2023)

    as Appoline

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • My Neighbors' Neighbors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    as Isabelle (voice)

  • Morceaux de Cannes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • The Grand Restaurant III (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    as Lisa

  • Trop jeune pour moi (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jeanne Cabrol

  • The Egg Lasts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as (archive footage)

  • Amor maman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Arielle

  • Poor Bastards (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • My Mother Is Crazy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    as Jess

  • Alien Crystal Palace (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Writer · as Dolorès

  • Folle Amanda (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    as Lucette

  • Valentin Valentin(2014)

    as La mère de Valentin

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • L'Homme de ta vie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Charlotte

  • Magnum (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Arielle Dombasle

  • Strap Hanging (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • À votre bon coeur mesdames(2013)

    as Aphrodite

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Opium (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Screenplay · as Mnémosyne

  • Calm at Sea(2011)

    as Charmille

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • La rouge et la noire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as The Daughter

  • Hitler in Hollywood(2010)

    as Arielle Dombasle

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Crédit pour tous (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mme Gobert

  • El baile de San Juan(2010)

    as Virreina

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ni reprise, ni échangée (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Julie

  • Roses on Credit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Mme Denise

  • La traversée du désir(2009)

    Director · as Self

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • X Femmes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Screenplay · as Blond inspector

  • Sagan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Astrid

  • Arielle Dombasle au Crazy Horse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Arielle Dombasle

  • It's Gradiva Who Is Calling You(2006)

    as Leila / Gradiva

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Nouvelle chance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Bettina Fleischer

  • The Courage to Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Sabine Duchemin

  • When I'm a Star (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Diane de Montalte

  • Le genre humain - 1ère partie: Les Parisiens (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sabine Duchemin

  • Sissi, the Rebellious Empress (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sissi

  • Albert est méchant (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Barbara Lechat

  • Milady (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Milady

  • Lovely Rita, sainte patronne des cas désespérés(2003)

    as Mademoiselle Lecas

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Deux (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Professor Barbez

  • Les Frangines (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Alix

  • Hideous Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Crying woman

  • The Battle of Hernani (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mademoiselle Mars

  • Savage Souls (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Madame Numance

  • Gamer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Valérie Fisher

  • Amazon(2000)

    as Margot

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • 30 Years (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Geneviève

  • Evasions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Luce Ader

  • Vatel(2000)

    as Princess de Conde

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Libertine (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Madame de Jerfeuil

  • Lady Behave (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Les éléphants de la planète Mars (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mademoiselle Jacobonot

  • Les infortunes de la beauté(1999)

    as Daphné

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • I Didn't Do It! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Vanessa Goudard

  • Marcel Proust's Time Regained(1999)

    as Madame de Farcy

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar(1999)

    as Mme Agecanonix

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Ivre-Mort pour la Patrie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Adèle

  • Foul Play (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Arielle Dombasle

  • Boredom(1998)

    as Sophie

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Let There Be Light! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Dieu la Blonde

  • Les amis de Ninon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as The client

  • Bo Ba Bu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Ba

  • Christmas at Bunny's (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Songs · as La Fée de Noël

  • Desert of Fire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as Magda Lassalle

  • Heads or Tails (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Rose Petipas

  • Day and Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Laure

  • Desert of Fire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Magda Lassalle

  • Three Lives and Only One Death (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Helene

  • Two Dads and One Mom (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Delphine

  • Raging Angels(1995)

    as Megan

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Blue Villa (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Sarah La Blonde

  • Concerning Nice (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Celestial Clockwork (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Céleste

  • Fado, Major and Minor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Leda

  • One Hundred and One Nights(1995)

    as Singer at the Garden Party (uncredited)

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Little Indian, Big City(1994)

    as Charlotte

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Eurotrash (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • L'homme au double visage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Régine Larnin

  • Villa Mauresque (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Sandra

  • Miroslava (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Miroslava

  • Grand bonheur (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as L'actrice

  • The Tree, the Mayor and the Mediatheque(1993)

    as Bérénice Beaurivage

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Absence(1992)

    Actor

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Off Season (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Mrs. Studer

  • Red Shoe Diaries (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Celeste

  • Lola Zipper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Loretta

  • Incognito (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Renata

  • Try This One for Size(1989)

    as Maggie

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Saint: Wrong Number (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Stella Moreau

  • Twisted Obsession(1989)

    as Marion Derain

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Around the World in 80 Days(1989)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lucette

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Sueurs froides (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie Bolbec

  • Paradise Calling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Director · as Elise

  • Rosette vole les voleurs (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as The woman at dinner

  • Jeux d'artifices (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Arielle

  • Trade Secrets(1986)

    as Marguerite Barnac

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Sins(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jacqueline Gore

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Boss' Wife(1986)

    as Louise Roalvang

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Lace 2 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Maxine

  • Lace II (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maxine

  • The Night Wears Suspenders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Secretary

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Callie Basset

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Berta's Motives (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mabel

  • Lace (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maxine Pascal

  • Rosette prend sa douche (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sapho

  • The Adventures of Rosette (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Pauline at the Beach(1983)

    as Marion

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Beautiful Prisoner(1983)

    as The hysterical woman

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Rosette sort le soir (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Katie

  • Laissé inachevé à Tokyo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • A Good Marriage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Clarisse

  • Chassé-croisé (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Composer · Writer · as Ermine

  • Véra (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Fruits of Passion(1981)

    as Nathalie

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Une robe noire pour un tueur (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Young drug addict on the motorbike

  • Junkopia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Singing Effects (voice)

  • Catherine de Heilbronn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Kunigunde de Thurneck

  • The French Atlantic Affair (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Hotel Operator

  • Tess(1979)

    as Mercy Chant

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • I've Got You, You've Got Me by the Chin Hairs(1979)

    as Actrice "Gerbastop"

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Mazarin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as L'Infante

  • Perceval le Gallois(1978)

    as Blanchefleur

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • En répétant Perceval (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • The Holy Mountain(1973)

    as (uncredited)

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 134 titles from 1973 to 2026; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

Alibi.com 2 (2023)

$34M worldwide

Highest rated

Pauline at the Beach (1983)

Motif 88th

Most popular right now

Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19732026

Peak 1999 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1973Screen debut· The Holy Mountain
  • 1981First top-billed film· Junkopia
  • 1983Breakout· Pauline at the Beach
  • 1983Career best· Pauline at the Beach

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting133 of 134: 125 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Motif score40thDirecting8 of 134: 1 only directing, 7 with another roleWriting4 of 134: 0 only writing, 4 with another roleMusic1 of 134: 0 only music, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 134: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

134 titles, 8 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1970s7 · acting1980s30 · 30 acting · 2 crew1990s35 · 35 acting · 1 crew2000s26 · 25 acting · 2 crew2010s20 · 20 acting · 2 crew2020s16 · 16 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 4% of 26 roles
73839803

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Arielle Dombasle's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Motif score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 38 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor, director

La traversée du désir (2009)

94th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Holy Mountain (1973)

Motif 94th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Arielle Dombasle's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 Motif titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity6 titles43–82 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 31

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Arielle Dombasle work with?

People who share at least 2 of Arielle Dombasle's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paulo Branco shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles