Laurent was scheduled to direct her first play , '' Mi-cuit cœur pistache '' ( the name of a dessert she particularly likes ) in January 2009 at the Théâtre Marigny in Paris . She had to abandon the project when she was cast as Shosanna Dreyfus , a Parisian who seeks revenge on Nazis in the Quentin Tarantino film '' Inglourious Basterds '' alongside Brad Pitt , Diane Kruger and Christoph Waltz . It was a French-language role for which she learned to speak English for a few scenes . The film was a huge commercial and critical success , grossing over $ 321 million in theaters worldwide . Laurent 's performance was praised by several critics . Kyle Buchanan of '' Movieline '' wrote : " Mélanie Laurent provides '' Inglourious Basterds '' its heart and soul . It falls to the 26-year-old French actress to anchor some of the World War II film 's most challenging scenes as Shosanna . " Owen Gleiberman of '' Entertainment Weekly '' wrote that Laurent should have received the nomination at the 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards saying , " In drawing attention to one performer , in particular , whom they left out of the Best Supporting Actress category , ... I flat-out adore this performance and I suspect that many others do too , " and further lauding Laurent 's performance added , " Laurent is radiant and , in a unique Tarantino way , heartbreaking . Sexy and luminous in the heat of her valor . Putting out fire – and setting it . It becomes an anthem of noirish dread and excitement , a sign that Laurent , as Shosanna , has found her destiny . " In an interview , Laurent said that she went into '' Inglourious Basterds '' with an adoration for Quentin Tarantino . " The French do n't see him like an independent director ; we just see him as the best director , ever , from the United States . " About the process of auditioning , Laurent said that she knew right from the start that this was a film she had to be in as she felt a connection to her role in the film , because the history of her Jewish family
16th Screen Actors Guild Awards
16th Screen Actors Guild Awards
Mélanie Laurent