Elsa Zylberstein was born on October 16, 1968, in Paris, France. Her father, Albert Zylberstein, was a Polish-Jewish physicist, and her mother, Liliane Chenkier, was a Catholic aesthetician. She grew up in Paris and began taking acting classes at a young age.
Zylberstein started her acting career in the late 1980s. Her early roles included appearances in television and short films. She quickly transitioned to feature films, demonstrating a versatility that would become a hallmark of her career.
Zylberstein’s career gained momentum throughout the 1990s and 2000s. She is known for her performances in both dramatic and comedic roles. She has worked with numerous prominent French and international directors.
She won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for her role in I’ve Loved You So Long (Il y a longtemps que je t’aime). This award recognized her portrayal of Léa, a woman struggling to reintegrate into society after a long prison sentence.
Other notable awards and nominations include multiple César Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.