DeLaun� Michel is an American author and actress. She was raised in southern Louisiana in a literary family which includes her uncle, Andre Dubus; her mother, Elizabeth Nell Dubus; and her cousins, mystery writer James Lee Burke, Andre Dubus III, and Alafair Burke. Michel was named for Helene DeLaun�, according to family history the first woman over from France on her mother's side of the family. Helene DeLaun� was in the court of Marie Antoinette and her husband, Jules Andr� Dubus, fought in the French Revolution. Antoinette gave Helene DeLaun� jewels to help her and her husband escape to Louisiana. Michel's father's family was the eleventh family in New Orleans. Upon leaving high school, Michel moved to New York City. She did some modeling there and in Europe, then spent several years studying acting in NYC with teachers from the Neighborhood Playhouse, The Actor's Studio, Juilliard, and the Yale Drama School. After moving to Los Angeles, Michel had guest starring roles on TV shows such as NYPD Blue, The Gilmore Girls, and Judging Amy, among others. She did a number of independent films that never saw the light of day and Equity-waiver theatre, including her own one-woman show. 

Baton Rouge