VINCENT CASSEL

Risk-taking, roguishly charasmatic and simply electrifying on the screen, the multi-talented French lm star Vincent Cassel has the power to captivate audiences every time with his vastly eclectic and multi-layered character portrayals.

WORDS KIMB E R LE Y MC LO U G HL I N s one of the most captivating and enigmatic contemporary lm stars of our time, award-winning French actor Vincent Cassel has starred alongside the crème de la crème of the French and international lm industry, notably Natalie Portman, George Clooney and Michael Fassbender, and has worked with top international lm directors such as Darren Aronofsky, Steven Soderbergh and David Cronenberg. With rugged good looks, a devilish smile and a razor-sharp sense of wit, Vincent Cassel is described as a man of hidden depth who is disarmingly charismatic, often outspoken and a bundle of nervous energy.

Traversing the spectrum of lm roles, Vincent Cassel is renowned for his ability to transform from a terrifying villain, to a roguishly handsome lover, or a gut-wrenchingly violent criminal from one successive lm to the next. Whether playing the anarchic disciple of Sigmund Freud in A Dangerous Method , a controlling and lascivious artistic director in the award-winning Black Swan, or a limber jewel thief in Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s irteen, he brings passionate intensity, intellect and deep commitment to his performances. Drawn to dark and complex roles, he thrives in the challenge of playing real-life characters with con icting personalities. He gained a grueling 10 kilograms for his role in Mesrine as notorious French gangster, Jacques Mesrine; he spent

2 months learning Russian for Eastern Promises, and he even perfected Austrian-accented English for A Dangerous Method

In spite of this, Vincent Cassel de es the Hollywood star archetype by remaining out of the glare of the Hollywood spotlight. Born in Paris in September 1966 into an artistic household, his mother was a journalist and his father was French lm actor, JeanPierre Cassel, otherwise known as “the French Fred Astaire”, who starred alongside screen legends such as Gene Kelly, Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve. Cassel spent his early childhood backstage in lm sets and theaters, then became a rebel in his teenage years when he ran away from three boarding schools. Fleeing to New York when his parents divorced, he trained as a ballet dancer and circus performer, then launched his lm career in the 1990s. Success arrived early with a César award nomination in 1995 for his breakthrough role as a troubled hoodlum growing up in the outskirts of Paris in Mathieu Kassovitz’s critically-acclaimed French lm, L a Haine

He then went on to star opposite the ravishingly beautiful Italian actress, Monica Bellucci—who later became his wife and the mother of their two daughters—in the moody L’Appartement (1996), and the highly controversial rape-revenge drama,

Irréversible (2002), where incidentally he appears fully nude. He went on to win a César and other awards in 2008 for his gripping portrayal of notorious French gangster in the two-part French lm series directed by Jean-Francois Richet, Mesrine, which set his trajectory to star status on an international scale. He worked with Bellucci on ten lm projects during their relationship; the couple split amicably in late 2013.

As one of the industry’s most in-demand French actors, he has also been featured in a number of Englishlanguage lms, including Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s irteen, Elizabeth, Eastern Promises, and was also the voice of Monsieur Hood in Shrek. French lm historian, Tim Palmer, describes Cassel as, “one of the most charismatic and idiosyncratic of all France’s contemporary stars, working in both popular and more intellectual modes of cinema, typically playing characters that veer unpredictably between positive/ alluring and negative/grotesque—often, in fact, within a single role and performance”.

In addition to his impressive lm career, he also runs his own lm production company, 120 Films, which produces lm and music video projects in collaboration with cutting-edge young talent, such as Romain Gavras (the son of acclaimed Greek-born director, Costa Gavras). Cassel is also a trained ballet dancer, speaks multiple languages—including French, English, Italian,

Portuguese—and can even throw down a serious capoeira challenge. With his sharp, yet understated sense of style, Vincent Cassel exudes a roguish charisma that landed him a campaign in 2008 as the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s men’s fragrance, La Nuit de l’Homme

Yet refreshingly, and despite his highly accomplished credentials, Vincent Cassel seems to shun the celebrity spotlight, where you could still walk past him on the street without really knowing it was him. His Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky claims that, “Vincent Cassel is just the freest of spirits. He has a dancer’s soul”.

With a raft of international lm projects currently in production, he is currently lming Rien Ne Sert de Courir with Emmanuelle Bercot and director Maïwenn, and is also set to star in two-time Festival de Cannes awardwinning director Matteo Garrone’s e Tale of Tales with Salma Hayek, which will start lming in Italy this summer. He also has several lms in post-production, including Partisan directed by Ariel Kleiman, Daniel Espinosa’s Child 44, and Rio, Eu Te Amo (Rio, I Love You) directed by Fernando Meirelles. A global nomad travelling with his family between his homes in Paris’s eclectic Menilmontant neighbourhood, Rome, Rio de Janeiro and lm sets all over the world, Vincent Cassel is nonetheless a quintessential Parisian at heart who makes sure to never sit still for too long.

What hotel would you like to wake up in? I would love to wake up with my loved one at the Park Hyatt Vendome hotel, which has all of the advantages of a luxury hotel but with an intimate atmosphere. Michel Jauslin, the manager of the hotel, has created a beautiful and unique environment where you really feel at home.

What are your favourite experiences in Paris? I love to stroll along the Seine, the Tuileries garden, walk across the Pont des Arts , and then visit the Musée d’Orsay where I would stop to visit one of their beautiful art exhibitions. I would also spend part of the afternoon visiting the Louvre, then I would go to an amazing bookstore in the Saint Germain district called L’Ecume des Pages, followed by a delicious hot chocolate at Chez Angelina

What are your favourite restaurants in Paris? For lunch, I love to sit next to artists and writers at Café de Flore , or otherwise dine at Apicius restaurant for a more gastronomic experience. We celebrated

ANNA SHERBININA Actress & Model

Originally from Russia, Anna Sherbinina first came to Paris when she was signed as a model and has since worked for fashion brands such as Givenchy, Kenzo, Versace and Jitrois. Simultaneously pursuing a career as an actress, she graduated from the famous French drama school, Cours Florent, has featured in several European films and received a Best Actress Award during the 2010 Milan International Film Festival. We find out her ultimate way to spend 24 hours in the city that she now calls home.

my birthday there and it was divine. At night, I would attend an opera or ballet performance at the Opera National de Paris , followed by a romantic dinner at La Maison Blanche restaurant which serves delicious food. If it is during the summer, I would book a table on the terrace with beautiful views of the Ei el Tower. Otherwise, I would also be very happy going to a typical Parisian bistro to enjoy magret de canard , homemade tarte tatin and a nice glass of Bordeaux wine.

Where do you love to go out in Paris? Since I love to party, I like to go to Mathis club where you’ll nd a lot of people from the movie industry—we have so much fun there. I also recently discovered the David Lynch-designed club, Silencio, which has a really cool atmosphere. My favourite club for dancing is the legendary Le Queen on the Champs-Elysées. e ambiance is really crazy, like being in the 80s! All these places make Paris such a glamorous and photogenic city, with thousands of di erent atmospheres to experience. Everyone will enjoy their own experience in Paris. In my case, I really love this city.