After marrying a successful Parisian writer known commonly as Willy, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette is transplanted from her childhood home in rural France to the intellectual and artistic splendor of Paris. Soon after, Willy convinces Colette to ghostwrite for him. She pens a semi-autobiographical novel about a witty and brazen country girl named Claudine, sparking a bestseller and a cultural sensation. After its success, Colette and Willy become the talk of Paris and their adventures inspire additional Claudine novels.

Keira Knightley
as Colette

Dominic West
as Willy

Denise Gough
as Missy

Fiona Shaw
as Sido

Robert Pugh
as Jules

Eleanor Tomlinson
as Georgie Raoul-Duval

Ray Panthaki
as Veber

Dickie Beau
as Wague

Jake Graf
as Gaston De Caillavet

Polina Litvak
as Lily