Vincent Cassel Actor Date of Birth: 23.11.1966 Country: France

Biography of Vincent Cassel

Vincent Cassel is one of the most sought-after and popular actors in France. His films leave a lasting impression, and the controversial characters he portrays never fail to captivate audiences. Currently at the peak of his fame, his divorce from the beauty Monica Bellucci only adds to the intrigue surrounding the actor.

Vincent Cassel was born in Paris on November 23, 1966. His father, Jean-Pierre Cassel (real name Crochon), was a well-known French actor, and his mother, of Corsican descent, was a homemaker. Vincent had two siblings, his brother Mathias and his sister Cécile, both of whom followed in their father's footsteps and became actors.

From a young age, Vincent's life was closely intertwined with religion. His father was a staunch Protestant, while his mother, of Jewish origin, fluctuated between Judaism and Catholicism. Additionally, Cassel lived in a neighborhood predominantly populated by Muslims from Arab countries. This upbringing taught him to be tolerant towards people of different faiths and nationalities. Despite attending a Catholic school, Vincent himself was never particularly religious. According to him, his interests revolved around school theater, where he occasionally performed in amateur productions, and watching his favorite films by Martin Scorsese. It was these movies that inspired Cassel to pursue acting, with the final push coming from his father, who insisted that he continue the family tradition and complete acting courses.

After finishing film school, Vincent set off to conquer America. He did not want to be constantly compared to his father in France, so he decided to establish himself in Hollywood first. However, the "dream factory" did not welcome him warmly. After several unsuccessful attempts, Cassel moved to New York in 1990, where he had better luck. A year later, he made his film debut in the movie "Keys to Paradise" (1991), in which he played a small role. Despite this promising start, Vincent's career did not take off. His roles in the miniseries "Warburg: A Man of Influence" (1992) and the film "Hot Chocolate" (1992) were minuscule, and the young actor was soon forgotten.

Disillusioned with the American film industry, Cassel returned to France and joined the theater of his family friend, Jean-Louis Barrault. Here, he continued to hone his acting skills while considering a return to film. If Hollywood did not bring him fame, it was not difficult for him to achieve it in France. After starring in his first French-language film, "Metisse" (1993), his career took off. In 1995, Cassel appeared in two iconic films: the historical drama "Jefferson in Paris" and the underground drama "Hate." Both films competed in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival and garnered critical acclaim. His first leading role in the film "Hate" earned Cassel a Cesar Award nomination and numerous positive reviews. This work became a turning point in his career. A year later, he starred in another critically acclaimed French film, the dramatic thriller "The Apartment" (1996). Once again, he received several award nominations and widespread acclaim. The film "The Apartment" not only influenced his career but also his personal life. It was during the filming of this movie that Cassel met the aspiring Italian actress Monica Bellucci. They felt an immediate connection and soon realized they couldn't live without each other. In 1999, after three years of dating, Cassel and Bellucci got married. They welcomed their first daughter, Deva, in 2004, and their second daughter, Léonie, in 2010.

Together, Vincent and Monica appeared in many films, including the crime drama "Dobermann" (1997), the adventure thriller "Brotherhood of the Wolf" (2001), and the intense arthouse film "Irreversible" (2002). All of these works were highly praised by critics, and their performances garnered immense admiration. Another successful film was the thriller "Crimson Rivers" (2000), which earned Cassel a nomination for the European Film Academy Award. In 2004, Vincent Cassel fulfilled his promise to conquer Hollywood by starring in the crime action film "Ocean's Twelve." His portrayal of the main antagonist, the enigmatic villain known as "Night Fox," was beloved by fans, leading to his inclusion in the third film, "Ocean's Thirteen" (2007), due to popular demand. While his role was small, it brought him worldwide recognition. Another boon to Cassel's film career was his collaboration with director David Cronenberg. In 2007, he appeared in Cronenberg's sensational thriller "Eastern Promises," and in 2011, he starred in the biographical drama "A Dangerous Method." These works solidified Vincent's status as one of the best actors of our time. His roles in films such as "Black Swan" (2010) and "Trance" (2013) were also highly successful.

In recent years, the actor has been striving to diversify his career. In 2015, he played the role of the King of the Lonely Mountain in the film adaptation of Giambattista Basile's fairy tales, titled "Tales of Tales." The film competed in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival, although it did not receive any awards. Cassel's upcoming project is a film currently known as the "Untitled Jason Bourne Project" (2016). In 2013, the unfortunate news broke that Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci had separated. In an interview, Bellucci stated that making predictions about a marriage is pointless, as no one can foresee the future. Sadly, her words turned out to be prophetic. According to Cassel, they had been seeing each other less frequently, so their divorce seemed like a logical step. However, they maintain warm, friendly relations, as they still have children to raise together.

In film, Vincent Cassel primarily portrays negative characters, but in real life, he considers himself a man of light rather than darkness. According to him, he may occasionally get lost, but he always finds his way back to the bright side. Cassel adores traveling and cherishes life as it is, believing that every moment should be enjoyed since life is short. Although he does not consider himself a great hero, becoming a father was his bravest act. According to him, it is the greatest happiness on Earth.