After working for a time as a maidservant and a seamstress, she first appeared in Valenciennes at an amateur production in January 1797.

Despite her plain looks, she was picked out by Madame de Montesson who managed to have her trialled by the Théâtre-Français for a period of five months.

She gained the respect of François-Joseph Talma, a leading actor at the Comédie-Française, quickly becoming his stage partner.

[1][3] Duchesnois became one of Napoleon's many mistresses, rivalling fellow actress Mademoiselle George who had also succeeded in attracting his favours.

The rivalry grew to be so intense that Count Remusat, the Comédie's director, was forced to elevate both women to the status of sociétaire the same day.