Dorziat was a fashion trend setter in Paris and helped popularize the designs of Coco Chanel. The Théâtre Gabrielle-Dorziat, a theater in Épernay, France is named for her. Dorziat made her onstage debut in 1898 at the Théâtre Royal du Parc in Brussels.
She moved to Paris and appeared in Alfred Capus" Louisiana Bourse ou la vie (1900), but it was her performance as Thérèse Herbault in Chaîne anglaise (1906) that brought her to public attention.
She became known for her offstage life as well, becoming romantically involved with actors Lucien Guitry and Louis Jouvet. She had close friendships with Jean Cocteau, Jean Giraudoux, Coco Chanel, Paul Bourget and Henri Bernstein.
During World War I Dorziat left France to tour the United States where she raised money for war refugees. After the war she toured Canada, South America and the rest of Europe.
In 1921 Dorziat appeared in her first film L"Infante à la rose.
She went on to play in over sixty films including Mayerling, Les Parents terribles and Manon. She published her memoirs Côté cour, côté jardin in 1968. She died in 1979.