[3] Merlant began her career as a professional model before attending the Cours Florent acting school in Paris.

[6][7] In 2020, Merlant starred in Zoé Wittock's Jumbo, a film about a woman who falls in love with an amusement park ride.

[10] In 2023, it was announced that Merlant would play the titular character Emmanuelle in a reboot of the iconic franchise directed by Audrey Diwan.

[11] In June 2023, Merlant was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In 2021, she made her feature directorial debut with Mi Iubita Mon Amour, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.