Estelle Skornik (born 4 July 1971 in Paris) is a French actress, known in the United Kingdom for playing "Nicole" alongside Max Douchin ("Papa") in a range of Renault Clio advertisements.[1] [2]
Her ancestors were Polish Jews, and her grandfather was killed trying to escape from Auschwitz.[3]
Her theatre debut was with the Francis Huster Company, at the same times as the actresses Valérie Crunchant, Christiana Reali, Clotilde Courau and Valentine Varela. She has subsequently devoted her career more to cinema and notably appeared in Prise au piège (director: Jérôme Enrico) with Lucia Sanchez and Nils Tavernier.
In the United Kingdom she is most notable for playing "Nicole" alongside Max Douchin ("Papa") in a range of Renault Clio advertisements; the last was in May 1998 and featured the comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. It has been said that she was unable to drive when the advertisements were made. However, she has stated this was untrue. [4]
She also played in the theatre, in the production Home Truths at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, United Kingdom, between 19 and 24 May 1997.