A display element includes: an actuator including a piezoelectric film having a pair of surfaces and a pair of electrodes coated onto at least a portion of each of a pair of respective surfaces of the piezoelectric film; a movable flexing portion, in contact with one of the pair of electrodes, to support the actuator; a fixed portion for holding the flexing portion so that the flexing portion can move; means, connected to the actuator, for transmitting a displacement of the actuator; and a plate for transmitting light, disposed closely to the displacement-transmitting means. In this display element, a voltage is applied into the actuator through the pair of electrodes so as to control a rest position and a displacement of the actuator as well as a contact and a separation between the displacement-transmitting means and the plate so that a light emission at a predetermined position in the plate is controlled. Alternatively, a display element may include a laminated piezoelectric body having a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of electrode layers, wherein the piezoelectric layers and the electric layers are laminated. A display apparatus includes a plurality of display elements. The display element and the display apparatus have quick response, consume little electric power, have a small size, and have high brightness of a screen. Further, a colored screen does not need to increase the number of picture elements in comparison with a monochrome screen.