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 father, actor Jean Lespert, and a Kabyle Algerian mother who is an attorney and a jurist. Lespert initially studied law to please his mother.
Career
Lespert made his film debut in 1995, in Laurent Cantet's short film Jeux de plage, alongside his father. His first major role came in 1999, in Jacques Maillot's film Our Happy Lives. The following year, he appeared in another Cantet film, Human Resources, which earned him a César Award for Most Promising Actor in 2001. Lespert's career took off and he appeared in several films, playing a wide range of characters, such as a sensual gardener in Sade, a body builder addict in Vivre me tue, a boxer in Virgil, a pretentious artist in Alain Resnais's Not on the Lips, and a journalist in Robert Guédiguian's The Last Mitterrand.
Lespert directed his first film in 2007, 24 mesures, featuring Benoît Magimel and Sami Bouajila. His second feature as director, Headwinds in 2011, featured Magimel alongside Audrey Tautou and Isabelle Carré.
In 2010, he appeared in the French television series Pigalle, la nuit.
Personal life In 2009, Lespert married Sonia Rolland, a former Miss France. The couple had one child (born 2010), and separated in 2018. He also has two other children from a previous relationship.
Filmography As actor Year Title Role Notes 1995 Jeux de plage Éric Short film; directed by Laurent CantetCredited as Djellil Lespert 1997 Les Sanguinaires Stéphane Credited as Djallil Lespert 1999 Our Happy Lives Etienne French: Nos vies heureuses Human Resources Franck French: Ressources humaines A Major Inconvenience Laurent French: Un dérangement considérable 2000 Sade Augustin 2001 Inch'Allah Dimanche Le chauffeur de bus English: Sunday God Willing Bella ciao Oreste Mancini Directed by Stéphane Giusti 2002 L'idole Philippe English: The Idol Vivre me tue Daniel Smaïl English: Life Kills Me 2003 Les Amateurs Jamel Mezaoui "J.P." Directed by Martin Valente Not on the Lips Charley French: Pas sur la bouche 2004 L'ennemi naturel Lieutenant Luhel Directed by Pierre Erwan Guillaume 2005 The Last Mitterrand Antoine Moreau French: Le Promeneur du Champ de Mars Virgil Virgil Le Petit Lieutenant Antoine Derouère English: The Young Lieutenant 2006 Le voyage en Arménie Simon Directed by Robert Guédiguian Tell No One Yaël Gonzales French: Ne le dis à personne 2008 Pa-ra-da Miloud 2009 Ligne de Front Antoine Directed by Jean-Christophe Klotz 2011 Chez Gino Oncle Giovanni A Butterfly Kiss Paul French: Un baiser papillon Love and Bruises Giovanni 2013 Landes Txomin Iban Post partum Ulysse 2014 De guerre lasse Alex Directed by Olivier Panchot 2015 First Growth Charlie Maréchal French: Premiers crus 2016 Orphan Darius French: Orpheline Iris Antoine Doriot 2017 The Escape Philippe 2018 Magical Nights Jean-Claude Bernard Italian: Notti magiche 2019 Mon frère Igor English: Brother 2020 Dreamchild François French: L'enfant rêvé Beasts Sylvain Rousseau French: La terre des hommes 2021 Tralala Benjamin Trescazes With or Without You Mathieu Italian: Una relazione 2023 Infinity Pool Alban Bauer 2024 GTMax Elyas
As director and writer 2007 - 24 Bars (24 mesures) 2011 - Headwinds (Des vents contraires) 2014 - Yves Saint Laurent 2016 - Iris 2024 - Dakar Chronicles
Awards and accolades César Award for Most Promising Actor (26th César Awards, for Human Resources) Lumière Award for Most Promising Actor (6th Lumière Awards, for Human Resources) (2001, Best Actor, for Human Resources)
References
External links