Céline

**Céline** is one of the two main characters of the Before trilogy who is in a relationship with Jesse Wallace. She is portrayed by Julie Delpy.

## Overview and personality

Celine appears to be a thoughtful and introspective individual with a romantic outlook on life. She is grateful for her loving family and enjoys traveling, which has broadened her horizons.

As a college student, she feels some pressure about her future career but remains uncertain about her path. Celine is conflicted about relationships and the tension between being independent and wanting to be loved.

She values meaningful conversations and is comfortable discussing a range of topics, including personal experiences and existential questions. Although usually in control, she may be open to letting loose and taking risks, as seen by her decision to delay her train to spend time with Jesse in Vienna.

## Throughout the *Before* trilogy

### *Before Sunrise*

Céline was born on December 1, 1974, in Paris, France, to loving parents. Her father was a successful architect, and they traveled all around the world, which allowed Céline to experience different cultures and customs. She grew up knowing she was lucky to have such a great family.

Céline was a college student attending the Sorbonne in Paris when she met Jesse on a train from Budapest to Vienna. She was returning to university after visiting her grandmother, and Jesse was on his way back to the United States after spending time in Madrid with his girlfriend. They struck up a conversation, and as they approached Vienna, Jesse convinced Céline to disembark with him to roam around the city until his flight the next morning.

As they explored Vienna, they shared a kiss at the top of the Wiener Riesenrad, and their connection grew deeper. They spoke about love, life, religion, and their observations of Vienna, with Céline admitting that her last boyfriend broke up with her because he claimed she "loved him too much." Jesse, on the other hand, shared that he bought a flight that wasn't much cheaper just to escape from his life after his breakup.

During their evening together, they decided not to exchange any contact information but to meet at the same place in six months. Céline was conflicted about her feelings for Jesse, unsure if she should sleep with him or not. At the train station, just as Céline's train was about to leave, the couple decided not to exchange contact information but to meet at the same place in six months.

Céline was a romantic at heart and always felt the pressure of being a strong and independent icon of womanhood, but she believed that loving someone and being loved meant a lot to her. She was conflicted about relationships, but her evening with Jesse made her realize that she wanted to be involved with someone who shared her values and beliefs. She graduated from the Sorbonne and embarked on a successful career in architecture, always wondering what would have happened if she had picked someone else that night in Vienna.

### *Before Sunset*

Nine years later after *Before Sunrise*, Jesse wrote a bestselling novel, *This Time*, based on his experience with Céline, which brought them back together when he went on a book tour in Europe. During a reading at Shakespeare and Company in Paris, Céline attended, and the two reconnected.

As they walked around Paris, Jesse and Céline shared intimate conversations about their lives and how they had changed since their encounter in Vienna. Jesse was married with a son named Hank, while Céline was in a relationship with a photojournalist and working to protect the environment.

Their old romantic feelings began to resurface as they talked, and Jesse confessed that his novel was inspired by the hope of seeing Céline again. However, reading the novel brought up painful memories for her. Despite Jesse's impending flight, they went to Céline's apartment where they played music and danced.

Céline's passion for music was evident as she played a waltz on her guitar that she had written about their encounter in Vienna. Jesse then played Nina Simone's "Just in Time" on her stereo, which Céline danced to as they both acknowledged that he would miss his flight.

### *Before Midnight*

Céline met Jesse, the man who would become the love of her life, nine years before the birth of their twin girls. At that time, she was in Vienna, grappling with the loss of her grandmother, and Jesse was a young writer on a book tour. The two hit it off immediately and spent a magical evening together, but they were unable to stay in touch.

Years later, Céline and Jesse reconnect, this time in Greece, where they are vacationing with their children. Although they are happy together, they are also grappling with the challenges of raising a blended family and balancing their individual ambitions. Jesse is a successful writer, but he is struggling to maintain a relationship with his teenage son. Meanwhile, Céline is considering a job with the French government, but she worries that this will limit her ability to pursue her passions.

Despite these challenges, Céline and Jesse remain deeply in love. They reminisce about their initial meetings and wonder if they would have fallen for each other if they had met under different circumstances. However, their bliss is short-lived, as they have a fierce argument about the future of their relationship. Céline tells Jesse that she no longer loves him, and she storms out of their hotel room.

Jesse is devastated, but he refuses to give up on their love. He tracks Céline down at the hotel's outdoor restaurant and tries to lighten the mood by joking about time travel. Céline is unimpressed, but she eventually joins in the joke, and the two reconcile. Although their love may not be perfect, it is real, and they are willing to work through their challenges together.

Throughout her life, Céline has struggled to balance her many roles and responsibilities. She is a devoted mother, a successful environmental activist, and a loving partner to Jesse. Although her path has not always been easy, she remains committed to pursuing her passions and living life on her own terms.