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Julie Delpy and her husband Dimitris Birbilis. | Source: Getty Images
Julie Delpy and her husband Dimitris Birbilis. | Source: Getty Images

Julie Delpy's Family: All We Know about the Actress' Husband, Son and Parents

Jana Stevens
Dec 23, 2022
07:15 A.M.

Julie Delpy's son, Leo Streitenfeld, is being raised in a similar fashion she was, but with the advantage of having the finances and space for a myriad of musical instruments and creative pursuits.

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She made a career working on the fringes of the Hollywood machine, and Julie Delpy's Greek husband, Dimitris Birbilis, seems to have a similar outlook.

The actress said she loved everything about becoming a mother in her mid-thirties, like looking down while breastfeeding her son, who she likened to a koala bear. Many of her friends also had sons later in their lives, which forms the core of her series, "On the Verge."

French actress Julie Delpy with her parents Albert Delpy and Marie Pillet promoting their film "Two Days In Paris," at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 25, 2007. | Source: Getty Images

French actress Julie Delpy with her parents Albert Delpy and Marie Pillet promoting their film "Two Days In Paris," at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 25, 2007. | Source: Getty Images

Julie Delpy Was Born into a Family of Actors, but Her Childhood Was Impoverished

Julie is the only child of loving, struggling artists. Her parents were not interested in fame and raised their daughter backstage in experimental theatre productions. While romantic on paper, this kind of existence does not pay the bills, and the actress was eight before living in a home with a private bathroom for the family.

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The actress stressed that while her actor parents were "free spirits," it was not in the "creepy hippy" bed-hopping way, as they were loyal to each other. Her mom Marie Pillet, born July 20, 1941, had cancer when she gave birth to Julie and could not have more kids.

She made her only child the "center of her universe." Her family members were communists of Italian heritage who fought in the Resistance against the Nazis, of which only her mother survived.

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"Even when she was sick, she would always protect old people in the building. She was the first one out on strike," Julie said. Pillet lost her final battle with cancer on February 13, 2009, at the age of 67, weeks after the birth of her only grandson, Leo.

The "On the Verge" director's father, Albert Delpy, was born in Saigon, Vietnam, on September 13, 1940. He wrote and starred in the 1982 drama "Les bancals," and has over 150 acting credits.

Julie cast her parents in a few of her film projects, most notably "Two Days in Paris," as her character's parents. Her father reprised his role in the sequel, "Two Days in New York," where his habit of smuggling French cheeses and meat was written into the script.

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Julie Delpy Is Married to Dimitris Birbilis, Who Is Also in the Movie Business

The "Before the Sunrise" actress is married to Dimitris Birbilis, a Greek line producer, production manager, and first assistant director. Birbilis was the production manager of "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" and "The Lost Daughter." He worked with his wife as the location manager of "Before Midnight."

At the age of 51, Julie realized her childhood dream of owning a piano, and her teenager mastered the instrument in a few days.

Julie's husband attends most of her industry events with her, but the actress rarely discusses him in the media. One rare mention was that she perfected her recipe for moussaka, a traditional savory dish of Greece, for him.

 Actress Julie Deply (C) with her son Leo Streitenfeld and guests during a ceremony where she received the French Order of Arts and Letters from France's Culture Minister Mme Fleur Pellerin at La Residence de France on February 1, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images

Actress Julie Deply (C) with her son Leo Streitenfeld and guests during a ceremony where she received the French Order of Arts and Letters from France's Culture Minister Mme Fleur Pellerin at La Residence de France on February 1, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images

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Delpy Has a Son from a Previous Relationship Who Is Her Pride and Joy

After directing her first film in 2009, Julie made the conscious decision to have a child with her then-boyfriend, German composer Marc Streitenfeld. Leo Streitenfeld was born in January 2009. She hoped to have another child but ran out of time as she built her director career. She said:

"I love being a mother. And I think I'm a good mother in my limitation of who I am - I'll never be someone who is completely level-headed at all time. I'll never be always calm, always relaxed and be like, it's okay."

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Albert gave her the typical advice of a French parent, "Don't protect him too much. Get him a little dirty." It was months before the actress spent time away from Leo, who sat on her lap while she was directing his grandpa in "Two Days in New York."

At the age of 51, Julie realized her childhood dream of owning a piano, and her teenager mastered the instrument in a few days. There's no indication yet if her talented progeny will follow in her footsteps, like her friend Ethan Hawke's daughter Maya Hawke.

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