Maïwenn's mother, Catherine Belkhodja, introduced her to the entertainment industry at a young age, an experience later chronicled by Maïwenn in her one-woman shows Le Pois Chiche The Chickpea and I'm an Actress.
She performed as a standup comedian in an autobiographical one-woman-show, and reentered the movie business after several filmmakers saw her comedy routine in Paris.
During this period, she only appeared in a supporting part in Besson's Léon 1994 , in which she was credited as Ouin-Ouin.
After her breakup with Besson, Maïwenn returned to France.