She is best known internationally for playing the title character in Luc Besson's film La Femme Nikita.

While in school, she studied ballet but began her film career at 16 in Michel Lang's L'hôtel de la plage (1978).

She starred in Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita (1990).

[2][3] After La Femme Nikita, Parillaud left France to star in three films abroad: Map of the Human Heart, Innocent Blood, and Frankie Starlight.

In 2010 she starred in the French psychological thriller In Their Sleep[4] which was directed by Caroline du Potet and Eric du Potet.