She was born to a French mother and Czech father near Paris.

[2] She was orphaned at the age of 14, and worked to support herself and her two younger brothers, but enjoyed watching plays.

During the Occupation of France, she had a prominent role in Love Story and Summer Light (both 1943), and The Bellman (1945).

Because she had acted during the Occupation, Robinson found it difficult to get work afterwards, but again came to prominence in Une si jolie petite plage (1949).

[1] Madeleine Robinson won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress in 1959 for her role in À double tour.