Valerie Quennessen's journey as an actress was marked by a series of unexpected turns. Initially, she began performing as a child acrobat, showcasing remarkable skills and earning recognition at the tender age of ten. However, she had not seriously considered a career in the performing arts. In her late teens, she enrolled in acting classes as a form of therapy to overcome severe shyness. To her surprise, she discovered a newfound passion for acting, and her abilities were warmly received by others.
After briefly attending the prestigious Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Techniques du Théâtre, she decided to leave school to pursue acting full-time. She landed supporting roles in various projects, but it was her role in French Postcards (1979) in 1978 that marked a significant turning point in her career. The following year, she completed her studies and traveled to the United States to seek out opportunities in Hollywood.
Her breakthrough role came when she was cast as a princess in Conan the Barbarian (1982). She accepted the part because of her childhood fondness for fairy tales. She further solidified her status as a household name with her starring role in Summer Lovers (1982) alongside Peter Gallagher and Daryl Hannah. In this film, she played an archaeologist who, much to everyone's astonishment, uncovered some genuine ancient pottery dating back 3,500 years. Despite receiving poor reviews, the film achieved box office success.
Following her success, Quennessen left Hollywood to focus on her family life. Tragically, her life was cut short in 1989 when she was involved in a fatal automobile accident at the age of 31.
