LONDON, England (CNN) -- For "Coco Avant Chanel" director Anne Fontaine, there was only one actress who could play Coco Chanel in her biopic about the legendary couturier -- French actress Audrey Tautou. In "Coco Avant Chanel," French actress Audrey Tautou plays Coco Chanel, founder of the iconic Parisien haute couture house, Chanel. Already uncannily similar in looks, Tautou's strong  performance breathes life into Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the fiery designer who would found iconic Parisian haute couture house, Chanel. From the way she holds her cigarette to Coco's famously sharp gaze, Tautou is a dead-ringer for the young Coco. "She is perfect for the part," Fontaine told CNN. "She has this determination and authority."
@highlight
Biopic charts early years of designer who founded iconic couturier, Chanel
@highlight
French actress Audrey Tautou plays Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel
@highlight
Writer/director Anne Fontaine would not have made the film without Tautou as Chanel
@highlight
Fontaine on Chanel: "She's the beginning of the modern woman"
Audrey Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Tautou
Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Tautou
But, while @placeholder's unmistakable similarity to Coco Chanel made her an obvious choice for the role, the striking actress says she wasn't interested in doing a "birth to death" biopic of the designer.
Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel
Coco
Coco
Chanel
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel
But, while Tautou's unmistakable similarity to @placeholder made her an obvious choice for the role, the striking actress says she wasn't interested in doing a "birth to death" biopic of the designer.
Audrey Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Tautou
Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Tautou
It was Fontaine's vision that finally convinced the 32 year-old actress to take on the role: "When Anne explained how she intended to treat the subject, I immediately agreed," @placeholder told CNN.
Audrey Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Tautou
Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Tautou
The blue-striped mariner's sweater @placeholder wears in one scene didn't actually come into being until the 1930s, and the quilted sewing pouch, which in the film, prompts the idea for Chanel's world-famous bag was not the true inspiration.