Juliette Binoche and Emmanuelle Béart, two of France’s best-loved film stars, have joined more than a thousand figures from showbiz and the arts in backing France's "yellow vest" protests.

They were among more than 1,400 signatories to an open letter published in the Left-wing newspaper Libération this weekend.

The letter, entitled "Yellow Vests: we are not fooled!", denounces what it says are official attempts to discredit the anti-government movement.

It backs protesters’ demands for greater social justice, a fairer tax system, and radical measures to tackle the “environmental emergency”.

Binoche and Beart are among the most famous signatories, who also include directors, scriptwriters and composers. Binoche won an Oscar for her role in "The English Patient" and Beart is best known internationally for her role in the first "Mission Impossible" film.

The letter condemns what it says is increasingly tough policing of the protests, noting that international organisations including the United Nations and the European Union have expressed concern.

“We are disgusted by the repression, manipulation and irresponsibility of this government at such a turning point in our history,” the letter says.

It condemns police brutality, noting since the protests started in November, police have caused one death — a woman in her eighties who was hit by a tear gas grenade while closing her window shutters. It also points out that 248 protesters have suffered head injuries, 23 have lost an eye and five have lost hands. In most cases, their hands were blown off when they picked up tear gas grenades thrown by police.