Began stage career under the aegis of Jean Anouilh and after several small film roles, went on to win two Cesars (the French Oscar): for Bertrand Tavernier's "A Sunday in the Country" (1984) and Alain Resnais's "Melo" (1986). Azema also appeared in Resnais's "Life is a Bed of Roses" (1983) and "Love Unto Death" (1984).