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Benoît Magimel (; born 11 May 1974) is a French actor. He was 14 when he appeared in his first film, and has starred in a variety of roles in French cinema. At age 16, Magimel left school to pursue acting as a career. In 2001, he won the Best Actor award at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
for his role in
Michael Haneke Michael Haneke (; born 23 March 1942) is an Austrian film director and screenwriter. His work often examines social issues and depicts the feelings of estrangement experienced by individuals in modern society. Haneke has made films in French, Ge ...
's '' The Piano Teacher''. He also starred in
Claude Chabrol Claude Henri Jean Chabrol (; 24 June 1930 – 12 September 2010) was a French film director and a member of the French New Wave (''nouvelle vague'') group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s. Like his colleagues an ...
's '' La Demoiselle d'honneur''. He won two consecutive
César Awards The César Award is the national film award of France. It is delivered in the ' ceremony and was first awarded in 1976. The nominations are selected by the members of twelve categories of filmmaking professionals and supported by the French Min ...
for Best Actor for starring as an acting teacher diagnosed with late-stage cancer in '' Peaceful'' (2021) and the High Commissioner of French Polynesia De Roller in '' Pacifiction'' (2022). Magimel was named Chevalier of the
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The Order of Arts and Letters () is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant ...
in 2006 and was promoted to the rank of Officier in 2013.


Early life

Benoît Magimel was born in
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
on 11 May 1974. His mother was a nurse and his father worked in a bank. Through his maternal grandfather he is of Hungarian Jewish descent. He has a brother, Arnaud, and a sister, Bénédicte. In 1988, he landed his first film role in
Étienne Chatiliez Étienne Chatiliez (born 17 June 1952) is a French film director. He was born in Roubaix, France. After starting out directing many advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a Product (busi ...
's comedy ''
Life Is a Long Quiet River ''Life Is a Long Quiet River'' () is a 1988 French comedy film directed by Étienne Chatiliez. Through the age-old question of nature versus nurture, the film takes a satirical look at society in the industrial north by contrasting the precarious l ...
'', in which he played Maurice "Momo" Groseille. At sixteen, while in ''première'' (the second year of
lycée In France, secondary education is in two stages: * ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 14. * ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for students between ...
), Magimel left school without a diploma to pursue acting as a career.


Career


Breakthrough (1990s)

For his second film, the Christine Lipinska-directed comedy ''Papa est parti, maman aussi'' (1989), his name appeared at the top of the bill alongside Sophie Aubry and Jérôme Kircher. He spent the decade accumulating roles, on television and in cinema, growing up in front of the camera, often under the direction of respected filmmakers. In 1995, Magimel appeared as boyfriend Rémi in
Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having cont ...
's New Wave-style drama '' A Single Girl'', which stars
Virginie Ledoyen Virginie Fernández (born 15 November 1976), known by her stage name Virginie Ledoyen (), is a French actress. She has appeared in French, English and American films. Life and career Ledoyen was born in Paris and raised in Aubervilliers, the da ...
as a hotel waitress who discovers she is pregnant. That same year, Magimel made a brief appearance in
Mathieu Kassovitz Mathieu Kassovitz () is a French actor, film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has won three César Awards: Most Promising Actor for '' See How They Fall'' (1994), and Best Film and Best Editing for '' La Haine'' (1995). He also re ...
's black-and-white ''
banlieue In France, a banlieue (; ) is a suburb of a large city, or all its suburbs taken collectively. Banlieues are divided into autonomous administrative entities and do not constitute part of the city proper. For instance, 80percent of the inhabitant ...
'' drama '' La Haine'', which went on to become a
cult film A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated ...
. In 1996, Magimel took on a supporting role in
André Téchiné André Téchiné (; born 13 March 1943) is a French screenwriter and film director. He has a long and distinguished career that places him among the most accomplished post-French New Wave, New Wave French film directors. Téchiné belongs to a s ...
's psychodrama ''
Thieves Theft (, cognate to ) is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal short ...
'', starring
Catherine Deneuve Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born 22 October 1943), known professionally as Catherine Deneuve (, , ), is a French actress. She is considered one of the greatest European actresses on film. In 2020, ''The New York Times'' ranked her as one of th ...
,
Daniel Auteuil Daniel Auteuil (; born 24 January 1950) is a French actor and director who has appeared in a wide range of film genres, including period dramas, romantic comedies, and crime thrillers. In 1996 he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Fest ...
and Laurence Côte. His performance garnered him a nomination for the
César Award for Most Promising Actor Cesar or César may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama * ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt Places * Cesar, Portugal * Cesar Department, Colombia * Cesar River, in Colombia * Cesar ...
in 1997. He then achieved leading roles, often depicting rough and violent characters. In 1998, he shared the screen with
Romain Duris Romain Duris (; born 28 May 1974) is a French actor. He is best known for his role in Cédric Klapisch's ''Spanish Apartment'' trilogy, which consists of '' L'Auberge Espagnole'' (2002), '' Russian Dolls'' (2005), and '' Chinese Puzzle'' (2013) ...
and Zoé Félix for Olivier Dahan's crime drama '' Déjà mort''. He also starred in the
mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...
drama ''Une minute de silence'', directed by
Florent-Emilio Siri Florent-Emilio Siri (born 2 March 1965) is a French film director and screenwriter born in Lorraine (region), Lorraine. Siri studied cinema at the Sorbonne University and Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, ESRA in Paris. Siri is a mu ...
, who would become one of Magimel's most frequent collaborators. In 1999, he shared the screen with
Juliette Binoche Juliette Binoche (; born 9 March 1964) is a French actress. She has appeared in more than 60 films, particularly in French and English, and has been the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Juliette Binoche, numerous accolades, ...
in the romantic drama ''
Children of the Century ''Children of the Century'' () is a 1999 French biographical drama film co-written and directed by Diane Kurys. It is based on the tumultuous love affair between two French literary icons of the 19th century, novelist George Sand (Juliette Binoche ...
''. Under the direction of
Diane Kurys Diane Kurys (; born 3 December 1948) is a French director, producer, filmmaker and actress. Several of her films as director are semi-autobiographical. Personal life Kurys was born in Lyon, Rhône, France, the younger of two daughters. She is a ...
, he portrayed
Alfred de Musset Alfred Louis Charles de Musset-Pathay (; 11 December 1810 – 2 May 1857) was a French dramatist, poet, and novelist.His names are often reversed "Louis Charles Alfred de Musset": see "(Louis Charles) Alfred de Musset" (bio), Biography.com, 2007 ...
. In 2000, he appeared in
Xavier Beauvois Xavier Beauvois (; born 20 March 1967) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter. Career His film '' Don't Forget You're Going to Die'' was entered into the 1995 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Jury Prize. His film '' Of Gods an ...
's drama '' To Matthieu'', in which he portrayed the lover of Claire, played by
Nathalie Baye Nathalie Marie Andrée Baye (; born 6 July 1948) is a French film, television, and stage actress. She began her career in 1970 and has appeared in more than 80 films. A ten-time César Award nominee, her four wins were for ''Every Man for Himsel ...
. Magimel surprised audiences with his performance as
Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...
in the costume drama '' The King Is Dancing'', directed by Gérard Corbiau. The following decade allowed him to secure roles in more popular films.


Rise to prominence (2000s)

In 2001, he played a young protégé to a masochistic piano teacher who attempts to engage him in a sadomasochistic relationship, played by Isabelle Huppert, in the acclaimed drama '' The Piano Teacher'', directed by
Michael Haneke Michael Haneke (; born 23 March 1942) is an Austrian film director and screenwriter. His work often examines social issues and depicts the feelings of estrangement experienced by individuals in modern society. Haneke has made films in French, Ge ...
. He won the Best Actor award at the
2001 Cannes Film Festival The 54th Cannes Film Festival took place from 9 to 20 May 2001. Norwegian actress and director Liv Ullmann was named Jury President for the main competition. Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti won the ''Palme d'Or'' for the drama film '' The Son's ...
for his performance. Then in 2002, he reunited with Florent-Emilio Siri for the action thriller '' The Nest''. In 2003, he shared the screen with
Laetitia Casta Laetitia Marie Laure Casta (; born 11 May 1978)FMD profile
Retrieved 4 December 2009.
is a ...
for the drama ''Errance''. He also accepted a supporting role under
Jacques Villeret Jacques Villeret (; 6 February 1951 – 28 January 2005) was a French actor, best known internationally for his role as François Pignon in the comedy '' Le Dîner de Cons''. During his career, he earned many awards including the prestigious ...
and André Dussollier in Jean Becker's drama '' Strange Gardens''. He then portrayed a son alongside
Nathalie Baye Nathalie Marie Andrée Baye (; born 6 July 1948) is a French film, television, and stage actress. She began her career in 1970 and has appeared in more than 80 films. A ten-time César Award nominee, her four wins were for ''Every Man for Himsel ...
in
Claude Chabrol Claude Henri Jean Chabrol (; 24 June 1930 – 12 September 2010) was a French film director and a member of the French New Wave (''nouvelle vague'') group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s. Like his colleagues an ...
's family drama '' The Flower of Evil''. He continued this momentum in 2004 with Olivier Dahan's police thriller '' Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse'', in which he appeared opposite
Jean Reno Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez (born 30 July 1948), commonly known as Jean Reno (), is a French-Spanish actor. He established himself as a Leading actor, leading man of French cinema through his collaborations with director Luc Besson, and has w ...
. He then appeared alongside Laura Smet in
Claude Chabrol Claude Henri Jean Chabrol (; 24 June 1930 – 12 September 2010) was a French film director and a member of the French New Wave (''nouvelle vague'') group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s. Like his colleagues an ...
's psychological thriller '' The Bridesmaid''. He continued in 2005 with the thriller '' Trouble'', starring Natacha Régnier. He then shared the screen with
Clovis Cornillac Clovis Cornillac (born 16 August 1968) is a French actor, film director, and screenwriter. Life and career Clovis Cornillac was born to actors Myriam Boyer and Roger Cornillac. He started studying theatre at the age of 14. He made his debut ...
for the blockbuster '' Sky Fighters''. Around the same time, Magimel was also approached by
Barbet Schroeder Barbet Schroeder (born 26 August 1941) is an Iranian-born Swiss film director and producer who started his career in French cinema in the 1960s, working with directors of the French New Wave such as Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Rivette and Eric Rohm ...
to portray French criminal
Jacques Mesrine Jacques Mesrine (; 28 December 19362 November 1979) was a French criminal responsible for numerous murders, bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings in France, the US, and Canada. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made internation ...
after
Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He has earned a César Awards, César Award and a Canadian Screen Awards, Canadian Screen Award as well as nominations for a European Film Awards, European Film Award and a Screen Ac ...
withdrew from the role. Magimel refused the role because he felt his physique would be unsuitable to portray Mesrine. The project was later revived by
Jean-François Richet Jean-François Richet (born 2 July 1966) is a French screenwriter, film director, and film producer. He grew up in Meaux, a suburb east of Paris. Select filmography * ''Inner City (1995 film), Inner City'' (1995) – nominated at the 21st Césa ...
, with Cassel returning, which produced the widely acclaimed '' Mesrine''. On 2 January 2006, Magimel was named Chevalier of the
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The Order of Arts and Letters () is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant ...
by Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. In 2006, he was part of the choral cast of
Nicole Garcia Nicole Garcia (born 22 April 1946) is a French actress, film director and screenwriter. Her film '' Charlie Says'' was entered into the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Her film '' Going Away'' was screened in the Special Presentation section at the ...
's drama '' Charlie Says''. He played an office employee in Lionel Bailliu's '' Fair Play'', a psychological thriller about moral harassment in the workplace. Magimel had four film releases in 2007. In January, he led the Parisian organized crime thriller '' Paris Lockdown'', directed by Frédéric Schoendoerffer; in August, he co-starred with Ludivine Sagnier for '' A Girl Cut in Two'', by Claude Chabrol; in October, he reunited with
Florent-Emilio Siri Florent-Emilio Siri (born 2 March 1965) is a French film director and screenwriter born in Lorraine (region), Lorraine. Siri studied cinema at the Sorbonne University and Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, ESRA in Paris. Siri is a mu ...
for the Algerian War drama '' Intimate Enemies''; and in December, he plays in the multi-narrative drama ''24 Mesures'', by
Jalil Lespert Jalil Lespert (born 11 May 1976) is a French actor, screenwriter and director. He has been described as "one of the best actors of his generation." Early life and education Lespert was born in Paris to a Pied-Noir, ''pied-noir'' father, actor J ...
. In 2008, the novelist
Michel Houellebecq Michel Houellebecq (; born Michel Thomas on 26 February 1956) is a French author of novels, poems, and essays, as well as an occasional actor, filmmaker, and singer. His first book was a biographical essay on the horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. H ...
directed Magimel in a film adaptation of one of his bestsellers, ''
The Possibility of an Island ''The Possibility of an Island'' () is a 2005 novel by French novelist Michel Houellebecq, set within a cloning cult that resembles the real-world Raëlians.Worton, Michael ''A dog's life (poodles excepted)'' in The Guardian Saturday October 29 ...
''. Magimel also traveled to Japan to star in
Barbet Schroeder Barbet Schroeder (born 26 August 1941) is an Iranian-born Swiss film director and producer who started his career in French cinema in the 1960s, working with directors of the French New Wave such as Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Rivette and Eric Rohm ...
's mystery thriller '' Inju: The Beast in the Shadow'', based on the novel by
Edogawa Ranpo , better known by the pen name , was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery and thriller fiction. Many of his novels involve the detective hero Kogoro Akechi, who in later books was t ...
.


Established actor (2010s)

In 2010, he co-starred in the crime thriller '' Sans laisser de traces'' with François-Xavier Demaison and played the title lawyer in Cédric Anger's thriller ''L'Avocat''. The year also marked his return to the comedy genre with two new films. He was cast in
Guillaume Canet Guillaume Canet (; born 10 April 1973) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter, and Show jumping, show jumper. Canet began his career in theatre and television before moving to film. He starred in several films like ''Joyeux Noël'', ...
's hit comedy-drama film '' Little White Lies''. He also shared the screen with
Édouard Baer Édouard Baer (born 1 December 1966) is a French actor, director, screenwriter, film producer and radio personality. In 2001, Edouard Baer played the Egyptian scribe Otis in Alain Chabat's hit comedy Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. Baer ...
in Marc Esposito's ''Mon pote''. The same year, he provided the voice for the Ken doll in the French dub of the
Pixar Pixar (), doing business as Pixar Animation Studios, is an American animation studio based in Emeryville, California, known for its critically and commercially successful computer-animated feature films. Pixar is a subsidiary of Walt Disney ...
animation film ''
Toy Story 3 ''Toy Story 3'' is a 2010 American animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The third installment in the Toy Story (franchise), ''Toy Story'' series, it was directed by Lee Unkrich, the editor ...
''. In 2011, he starred under Diane Kruger in Afghanistan war adventure film '' Forces spéciales''. He then reunited with
Jalil Lespert Jalil Lespert (born 11 May 1976) is a French actor, screenwriter and director. He has been described as "one of the best actors of his generation." Early life and education Lespert was born in Paris to a Pied-Noir, ''pied-noir'' father, actor J ...
for the intimate drama '' Headwinds'', appearing opposite Isabelle Carré. Finally, he lends his voice to the video game '' Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3''. In 2012, audiences saw him collaborating once again with
Florent-Emilio Siri Florent-Emilio Siri (born 2 March 1965) is a French film director and screenwriter born in Lorraine (region), Lorraine. Siri studied cinema at the Sorbonne University and Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, ESRA in Paris. Siri is a mu ...
for the biopic ''
My Way "My Way" is Paul Anka's English-language lyrical adaptation of the French song " Comme d'habitude", released by Frank Sinatra in 1969. The original song was written by Jacques Revaux, Gilles Thibaut, and Claude François, and was first recor ...
'', in which he portrayed the entertainment producer Paul Lederman. His performance was hailed and garnered him a nomination for the César Award for Best Supporting Actor in
2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
. In 2013,
Diane Kurys Diane Kurys (; born 3 December 1948) is a French director, producer, filmmaker and actress. Several of her films as director are semi-autobiographical. Personal life Kurys was born in Lyon, Rhône, France, the younger of two daughters. She is a ...
cast him opposite
Mélanie Thierry Mélanie Thierry (born 17 July 1981) is a French actress. Early life and career Mélanie Thierry began her career as a model in France, then moved into acting. She began with a series of roles in French productions, and at the age of 17 appeared ...
in the drama '' For a Woman''. On 9 July 2013, Magimel was promoted to the rank of Officier of the
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The Order of Arts and Letters () is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant ...
by Minister of Culture
Aurélie Filippetti Aurélie Filippetti ( ; born 17 June 1973) is a French politician and novelist. She served as French Minister of Culture and Communications from 2012 until 2014, first in the government of Jean-Marc Ayrault and then in the government of Man ...
. In 2014, he appeared in the action crime thriller '' The Connection'', led by actor
Jean Dujardin Jean Edmond Dujardin (; born 19 June 1972) is a French actor and comedian. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in Paris before guest starring in comedic television programmes and films. He first came to prominence with the cult TV series ...
. In 2015, he co-starred with
Kad Merad Kad Merad (born Kaddour Merad, ; 27 March 1964) is a French-Algerian writer and actor. Life and career Kad Merad was born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, on 27 March 1964 to an Algerian father and a French mother. During his teens, he played d ...
and Charles Berling in the
buddy comedy The buddy film is a subgenre of adventure and comedy film in which two people go on an adventure, mission, or road trip. The two typically are males with contrasting personalities. The contrast is sometimes accentuated by an ethnic difference be ...
''On voulait tout casser''. The same year, he starred in Emmanuelle Bercot's coming-of-age drama '' Standing Tall''. His performance as a counselor to a troubled teen was hailed and won him the César Award for Best Supporting Actor in
2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...
. In 2016, Magimel was again directed by Emmanuelle Bercot in her medical drama '' 150 Milligrams'', starring Sidse Babett Knudsen. He was also again directed by Frédéric Schoendoerffer in the action thriller ''Le Convoi''. Magimel returned to television for the political drama series ''
Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...
'', developed by
Florent-Emilio Siri Florent-Emilio Siri (born 2 March 1965) is a French film director and screenwriter born in Lorraine (region), Lorraine. Siri studied cinema at the Sorbonne University and Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, ESRA in Paris. Siri is a mu ...
for
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
. He appeared alongside
Gérard Depardieu Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu (, , ; born 27 December 1948) is a French actor. An icon of French cinema, considered a world star in the same way as Alain Delon or Brigitte Bardot, he has completed over 250 films since 1967, most of which as ...
and
Géraldine Pailhas Géraldine Pailhas (born 8 January 1971) is a French actress. Career In 1992, she won the César Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in ''La neige et le feu'', directed by Claude Pinoteau. She had her first international success in ...
. In 2017, he played a supporting role in the drama ''
Memoir of War ''Memoir of War'', also known as ''Memoir of Pain'' (), is a 2017 French drama film directed by Emmanuel Finkiel that stars Mélanie Thierry and Benoît Magimel and is based on the 1985 autobiographical novel '' La Douleur'' by Marguerite Dur ...
'', carried by
Mélanie Thierry Mélanie Thierry (born 17 July 1981) is a French actress. Early life and career Mélanie Thierry began her career as a model in France, then moved into acting. She began with a series of roles in French productions, and at the age of 17 appeared ...
. He then played the protagonist of the crime thriller ''
Carbon Carbon () is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalence, tetravalent—meaning that its atoms are able to form up to four covalent bonds due to its valence shell exhibiting 4 ...
'', which marked his first collaboration with director
Olivier Marchal Olivier Marchal (born 14 November 1958) is a French actor, director, screenwriter, and a former policeman. In 2005, he was nominated for three César Awards (César Award for Best Director, Best Director, César Award for Best Film, Best Film a ...
. Then in 2019, he became attached to ''Nous finirons ensemble'', the sequel to the hit comedy-drama ''Little White Lies'', again directed by
Guillaume Canet Guillaume Canet (; born 10 April 1973) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter, and Show jumping, show jumper. Canet began his career in theatre and television before moving to film. He starred in several films like ''Joyeux Noël'', ...
. The series ''Marseille'' was not renewed for a third season, following poor reviews.


Continued acclaim (2020s)

In 2022, he received the
César Award for Best Actor This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor (). History Superlatives Winners 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple wins and nominations The following individuals received two or more Best ...
and
Lumière Award for Best Actor The Lumière Award for Best Actor () is an annual award presented by the Académie des Lumières since 1996. Winners and nominees Winners are listed first with a blue background, followed by the other nominees. 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s T ...
for '' Peaceful'' (2021), directed by Emmanuelle Bercot, in which he starred opposite
Catherine Deneuve Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born 22 October 1943), known professionally as Catherine Deneuve (, , ), is a French actress. She is considered one of the greatest European actresses on film. In 2020, ''The New York Times'' ranked her as one of th ...
in portraying an acting teacher diagnosed with late-stage cancer. In 2022, he starred as the enigmatic High Commissioner of French Polynesia De Roller in '' Pacifiction'', directed by Catalan auteur filmmaker Albert Serra. Set in
Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...
, the film explores De Roller's work and social engagements amid the surrounding political and colonial tensions of the island territory. The film is distinct for its lush widescreen panoramic shots of the Polynesian landscape and for its hypnotic atmosphere. With a nearly three-hour runtime, ''Pacifiction'' is a thriller that juxtaposes its "aesthetic sublime" with a "sense of paranoia and dread as its narrative is consistently thwarted in favour of modulated moods and atmospheres". The film premiered in competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, and was awarded the
Louis Delluc Prize The Louis Delluc Prize ( ) is a French film award presented annually since 1937. The award is bestowed to the Best Film and Best First Film of the year on the second week of each December. The jury is composed of 20 members, consisting of a group ...
. Magimel received widespread acclaim for his performance, for which he received both the César and Lumière awards for Best Actor. In doing so, Magimel became the first actor in the history of both the Lumière and César Awards to win Best Actor two years in a row. In 2023, Magimel starred in three films presented at the 76th Cannes Film Festival:
Stéphanie Di Giusto Stéphanie Di Giusto (also known by her former pseudonym "Paf le chien") is a French film director, photographer and art director. Life and career After her studies at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs and ESAG Penninghen in ...
's '' Rosalie'', a historical drama set in 1870s Brittany and starring Nadia Tereszkiewicz as a
bearded lady A bearded lady (or bearded woman) is a woman with a naturally occurring beard normally due to the condition known as hirsutism or hypertrichosis. Hypertrichosis causes people of either sex to develop excess hair over their entire body (including ...
; '' The King of Algiers'', a comedy set in Algeria and starring
Reda Kateb Reda Kateb (; ; born 27 July 1977) is a French actor. Life and career Kateb was born in Ivry-sur-Seine, France, to an Algerian actor, Malek-Eddine Kateb, and a French nurse of Czech and Italian origin. He is a grandnephew of the Algerian writer ...
; and
Tran Anh Hung Trần Anh Hùng (English: Anh Hung Tran), born December 23, 1962) is a Vietnamese-French filmmaker. Early life and education Hung was born in Da Nang, South Vietnam. Following the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, he immi ...
's '' The Taste of Things'', a historical drama starring that depicts a romance between a cook, played by Juliette Binoche, and the gourmet she works for. In June 2024,
Apple TV+ Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...
announced the six-part thriller series ''À l'ombre des forêts'' starring Magimel and
Mélanie Laurent Mélanie Laurent (; born 21 February 1983) is a French actress and filmmaker. She has received two César Awards and a Lumière Award. Internationally, Laurent is known for her roles in ''Inglourious Basterds'' (2009), '' Now You See Me'' (2013 ...
, created and directed by Cédric Anger.


Personal life

In 1998, Magimel began a relationship with
Juliette Binoche Juliette Binoche (; born 9 March 1964) is a French actress. She has appeared in more than 60 films, particularly in French and English, and has been the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Juliette Binoche, numerous accolades, ...
, who he met during the filming of ''
Children of the Century ''Children of the Century'' () is a 1999 French biographical drama film co-written and directed by Diane Kurys. It is based on the tumultuous love affair between two French literary icons of the 19th century, novelist George Sand (Juliette Binoche ...
''. They have a daughter, Hana, who was born in 1999. They separated in 2003. In 2004, Magimel began a relationship with actress Nikita Lespinasse, who he had met during the filming of '' Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse''. Their daughter, Djinina, was born in 2011. Magimel and Lespinasse separated in 2014. In February 2016, Magimel appeared at the
César Awards The César Award is the national film award of France. It is delivered in the ' ceremony and was first awarded in 1976. The nominations are selected by the members of twelve categories of filmmaking professionals and supported by the French Min ...
ceremony alongside his partner Margot Pelletier. The couple were married on 10 November 2018, during a ceremony held at the town hall of the
16th arrondissement of Paris The 16th arrondissement of Paris (; ) is the westernmost of the 20 arrondissements of Paris, the capital city of France. Located on the city's Right Bank, it is adjacent to the 17th and 8th arrondissements to the northeast, as well as to the ...
.


Legal issues

On 11 March 2016, he was taken into police custody after hitting a 62-year-old woman in Paris, on the boulevard Exelmans while driving a rental car without a licence. He was charged with
hit and run In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the criminal act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions. Additional obligation In many jurisdictions, there ma ...
, unintentional injury, and driving despite cancellation of a driving licence. He was subject to drug testing, which revealed traces of
cocaine Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant, derived primarily from the leaves of two South American coca plants, ''Erythroxylum coca'' and ''Erythroxylum novogranatense, E. novogranatense'', which are cultivated a ...
in his system. The pedestrian, who suffered injuries to her legs, was hospitalised. In June 2017, he was sentenced on appeal to a fine of 5,000 for having hit the pedestrian and a 1,200 fine for driving under the influence of drugs. On 18 September 2017, Magimel was again arrested in Paris in his car and in the company of another man while driving against traffic in a one-way street. Pouches of white powder containing
heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the Opium, dried latex of the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its eupho ...
were found in his possession although he tested negative on a saliva test. He was sentenced to a three-month suspended prison sentence for possession of narcotics.


Filmography


Film


Television


Dubbing

* 2005: ''
Hostage A hostage is a person seized by an abductor in order to compel another party, one which places a high value on the liberty, well-being and safety of the person seized—such as a relative, employer, law enforcement, or government—to act, o ...
'' – Mars Krupcheck ( Ben Foster) * 2007: ''
Alpha Dog ''Alpha Dog'' is a 2006 American crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes. It is based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz in 2000. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Foste ...
'' – Jake Mazursky (Ben Foster) * 2010: ''
Toy Story 3 ''Toy Story 3'' is a 2010 American animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The third installment in the Toy Story (franchise), ''Toy Story'' series, it was directed by Lee Unkrich, the editor ...
'' – Ken * 2011: '' Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3'' – Yuri


Honours and distinctions

* 2006: Chevalier of the
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The Order of Arts and Letters () is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant ...
* 2013: Officier of the
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The Order of Arts and Letters () is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is the recognition of significant ...


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Magimel, Benoit 1974 births Living people 20th-century French male actors 21st-century French male actors French male film actors French male television actors French male child actors Male actors from Paris Best Supporting Actor César Award winners Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor winners Best Actor César Award winners Officiers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Best Actor Lumières Award winners