Meet one of France’s Best-Loved Actors

A look at the career of one of France’s finest and most versatile film actors, François Cluzet.

“I think there’s a kind of love relationship between an actor and an audience, and this is something I really feel with the audiences in France.” So said François Cluzet and, it seems, the feeling is mutual, for the 69-year-old is one of France’s best-loved actors.

Born in 1955, Cluzet grew up in Paris and developed a passion for acting early on, inspired by weekly theatre outings with his father. At 17, he started training at the prestigious Cours Simon, making his stage debut in 1976, in Jean Genet’s Haute Surveillance. But it wasn’t long before he made the move to film and his first screen appearance came in 1979’s Cocktail Molotov, directed by Diane Kurys.

Throughout the 1980s, he worked with some of France’s most respected directors, including Bertrand Tavernier (Round Midnight, 1986), Claude Chabrol (L’Enfer, 1994), and Pierre Jolivet (Force majeure, 1989). Known for portraying complex, often troubled characters, Cluzet soon gained critical acclaim. A high point was Guillaume Canet’s 2006 thriller Ne le dis à personne (Tell No One), in which he played a grieving widower caught in a web of deception. His gripping performance won him the César Award for Best Actor, cementing his place as one of France’s most accomplished actors. He continued working with Canet on films like Les Petits Mouchoirs (2010) and its sequel Nous finirons ensemble (2019).

Cluzet gained international recognition with, in 2011, with Intouchables, directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Starring as Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic who forms an unlikely friendship with his free-spirited caregiver (played by Omar Sy), Cluzet delivered a deeply moving, understated performance. The film became a global phenomenon and remains one of France’s most successful films of all time.

Cluzet seems to thrive on a variety of roles, seamlessly transitioning between genres, including thrillers like À l’origine (2009) and dramas like Médecin de campagne (2016). Renowned for his naturalistic style of acting, François Cluzet has built a career studded with acclaimed performances, making him a cornerstone of French cinema. No wonder there’s so much love between this actor and his audience.

François Cluzet’s 10-Second CV

A screen star’s life in one take..

Name: François Cluzet

Born: September 21. 1955, Paris

Early career: He trained at Cours Simon and made his film debut in 1976’s Cocktail Molotov. His breakthrough role was in Ne le dis à personne (2006), for which he won the César for Best Actor.

I know the name…

That’ll be thanks to Intouchables (2011), which is one of France’s most successful films ever, with more than 30 million tickets sold outside France.

What’s his style?

A nuanced actor, his style is characterised by an emphasis on non-verbal communication, allowing him to convey complex emotions and narratives through subtle physical expressions. He has said: “I’m an actor who isn’t fond of dialogue and who loves to act silently.”

What should I watch?

Ne le dis à personne for a gripping thriller or Intouchables for his incredible performance.

C’est pas vrai!

Cluzet is often compared with Dustin Hoffman for their striking resemblance and similar acting styles.

From France Today Magazine