Vincent Cassel

Vincent Cassel, born Vincent Crochon on November 23, 1966, is a renowned French actor with a distinguished career spanning various genres and languages. He has earned accolades such as the César Award and the Canadian Screen Award, along with nominations for prestigious awards like the European Film Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
Cassel first gained widespread acclaim for his portrayal of a troubled Jewish youth in Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film "La Haine" (Hate), a role that earned him two César Award nominations. He further solidified his reputation with his intense performance in Gaspar Noé's "Irréversible" (2002), a film in which he also served as a co-producer. His portrayal of the infamous criminal Jacques Mesrine in "Mesrine" (2008) earned him the coveted César Award for Best Actor. Additionally, he has received César nominations for his roles in "Read My Lips" (2001), "Mon Roi" (2015), "It's Only the End of the World" (2016), and "The Specials" (2019).


Cassel has successfully transitioned to English-speaking roles, showcasing his versatility and talent in films like "Elizabeth" (1998), "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), and "Ocean's Thirteen" (2007), as well as "Eastern Promises" (2007), "Black Swan" (2010), and "Jason Bourne" (2016). In 2020, he made a notable appearance in the HBO series "Westworld."

With his exceptional acting skills and diverse range of roles, Vincent Cassel has cemented his status as one of the most respected and sought-after actors in the international film industry.

Vincent Cassel was born in Paris, France, to journalist Sabine Litique and actor Jean-Pierre Cassel (born Jean-Pierre Crochon). Cassel's brother, Mathias, is a rapper with the group Assassin under the name "Rockin' Squat". His half-sister, Cécile Cassel, is also an actress.


Vincent Cassel's breakthrough role came in Mathieu Kassovitz's critically acclaimed film La Haine (1995), where he portrayed a troubled youth living in the deprived outskirts of Paris. His performance earned him nominations for two César Awards, for Best Actor and Most Promising Actor.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Cassel appeared in several French films. In 1996, he starred alongside Monica Bellucci (before they married) in the moody French film L'Appartement, which was a critical success and won awards at BAFTA and the British Independent Film Awards. In 1998, he portrayed Henry, Duc d'Anjou in Elizabeth, and in 1999, he played Gilles de Rais in Luc Besson's The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.
Other notable roles during this period include the violent film Dobermann (1997), the genre-bending Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001), and the controversial Irréversible (2002), where he appeared fully nude alongside Monica Bellucci.

Since the early 2000s, Vincent Cassel has expanded his repertoire to include English-language films. He voiced Monsieur Hood in Shrek (2001) and appeared in Birthday Girl (2001), Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen (2004, 2007), and Derailed (2005). Additionally, he provided the French dubbing for Diego in the Ice Age franchise and Rodney Copperbottom in Robots.
In 2007, Cassel received significant critical acclaim for his role in David Cronenberg's thriller Eastern Promises, starring alongside Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. His performance was praised for its intensity and depth, earning him accolades from critics and audiences alike.
Following this success, Cassel became the face of a new Yves Saint Laurent men's fragrance, La Nuit de l'Homme, launched worldwide in 2009. He also starred in a two-part film about Jacques Mesrine, winning the César Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the notorious French criminal. In addition to his film work, Cassel made his debut as a singer on Zap Mama's album ReCreation, collaborating on the singles "Paroles, Paroles" and "Non, Non, Non".

In 2010, Vincent Cassel portrayed Thomas Leroy in Darren Aronofsky's acclaimed film Black Swan, starring alongside Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. His performance in the psychological thriller earned considerable acclaim, and the film received numerous accolades. Cassel's portrayal of Leroy, the manipulative ballet director, showcased his versatility as an actor. For his role in Black Swan, Cassel was nominated, along with his castmates, for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
In 2011, Cassel took on the lead role in the French-Spanish thriller-drama film The Monk, directed by Dominik Moll. His performance in the film was praised for its depth and intensity by Screen Daily, with critics noting Cassel's ability to exude otherworldly gravitas. Additionally, in 2011, Cassel starred in the German-Canadian historical film A Dangerous Method, directed by David Cronenberg. In this film, he acted alongside Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, and Viggo Mortensen, marking their second collaboration. A Dangerous Method premiered at the 68th Venice Film Festival and was also featured at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, further solidifying Cassel's reputation as a versatile and respected actor on the international stage.


In 2014, Vincent Cassel portrayed The Beast opposite Léa Seydoux as Belle in the French-language adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. The film premiered at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival and received positive reviews upon its release in France in February 2014. It became a box office success, topping the box office in Japan upon its release, marking the first time a non-English-language foreign film had achieved this since 2009. Additionally, it was the first French film to lead the Japanese box office since 2001.


In 2016, Cassel appeared in the American action thriller film Jason Bourne, directed by Paul Greengrass. The movie, which is part of the Bourne film series, received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $400 million worldwide. That same year, Cassel garnered critical acclaim for his role as Antoine in Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. His performance earned him the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor and nominations for the César Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actor, and the Jury Prize for Best Actor at the Riviera International Film Festival.
In 2019, Cassel starred in The Specials, directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. The film, based on the true story of Stephane Benhamou, who helped people with autism find employment and activities outside institutionalized settings, was screened out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Cassel's portrayal earned him a nomination for the César Award for Best Actor.

References

1.  Upton, George (25 October 2018). "Vincent Cassel". PORT Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020. Vincent Cassel, bearded and barefoot, is at home in these conditions – until recently he lived in Rio de Janeiro", "After five years in Brazil, Cassel is moving back to Paris to be closer to his children, Deva, 13, and Léonie, 8, where they live with their mother – he and Bellucci separated in 2013. Cassel had to renounce his Brazilian citizenship: "I've become French again, does it show?"
2. ^ "Jean-Pierre Cassel, 74, Actor Who Starred in '60s French Comedies, Dies". The New York Times. Agence France-Presse. 21 April 2007.
3. ^ Secher, Benjamin (28 July 2009). "Vincent Cassel interview for Mesrine". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
4. a b c d "Vincent Cassel". Oh No They Didn't!. 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
5. ^ Annabel Rivkin (20 April 2009). "French Fancy: Cécile Cassel". ES Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
6. ^ "Vincent Cassel - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
7. ^ "L\'Appartement (1996) - JPBox-Office".