Actor Vincent Cassel: biography, filmography, personal life and interesting facts

Biography of Vincent Cassel

Vincent Cassel (or Vincent Cassel) is one of the most popular and sought-after actors in the modern history of France. His controversial images leave no one indifferent, and the films with his participation are remembered the first time. The talented Frenchman successfully realized himself both in his native ("Hate", "Apartment", "Crimson Rivers") and in Hollywood cinema ("Black Swan", "Vice for Export", "Ocean's 12").

True Frenchman, Vincent Cassel

Personal life of the actor

In 1996, during the filming of a film from his filmography “The Apartment,” the young man met Monica Bellucci, who at that time was a famous model and had proven herself well as an actress. Later, in 1999, they got married and Vincent Cassel officially became Monica’s husband. Bellucci gave birth to Vincent 2 wonderful daughters. One of them is called Deva, and the second is Leoni.

For a long period of time, the family lived in Vincent’s homeland, that is, in France, but in 2013, they left for Brazil in order not to pay taxes, which were greatly increased. However, almost immediately at this time the couple realized that their union would soon simply “fall apart”; as a result, they divorced and separated.

Kassel speaks his native French well, and also knows 3 other languages, including colloquial Russian . In 2007, for his filmography, he participated in the filming of a film called “Vice for Export” - it was then that he had the opportunity to learn the language, although not ideally. Films with the participation of the actor in Russia, by the way, are very often shown on TV.

Childhood and family of Vincent Cassel

Vincent Cassel (real name Crochon) was born into the family of the well-known Parisian actor Jean-Pierre Crochon, better known by his stage name Cassel (star of the films “Army of Shadows”, “Rupture” and many others).

Vincent Cassel's father was a famous French actor. Vincent Cassel also has a younger brother, Mathias, who, albeit indirectly, also connected his life with cinema, becoming a screenwriter. He is also interested in hip-hop and even founded his own rap group, The Assassin. Vincent's sister, Cecile Casel, also known under the pseudonym Holly Siz, is very actively filming in France, but few people know her name outside her native country.

Vincent Cassel in childhood (pictured with his father) From early childhood, the boy grew up at an “interfaith crossroads”: the head of the family was a Protestant, his mother constantly rushed between Judaism and Catholicism. The fact that Vincent himself grew up in an area densely populated by people from Africa and the Arab world, and therefore there were a lot of Muslims among his friends and acquaintances, was also exaggerated. Thus, from a young age, the future actor learned to be tolerant of representatives of various faiths and absorbed into his character the best from the religious movements around him.

At the same time, Vincent himself was not at all a deeply religious person. He attended Catholic school, but was never particularly enthusiastic about it. His only passion as a teenager was and always remained theater. Vincent played in amateur school productions, attended acting classes, and improved his acting skills by watching the films of his favorite director, Martin Scorsese. To some extent, it was the films of the titled classic of cinema that pushed the guy onto the acting path. And before starting to become a film actor, Vincent Cassel graduated from the Annie Fratellini Circus School.

Vincent's childhood

Several striking facts from his biography are known. The boy's parents believed in God and therefore, the future actor with a large filmography studied at a Catholic school. However, he didn't really like it. He was mostly interested in theater, and he often took part in various productions.

Vincent Cassel

When Vincent was 13 years old, his father and mother divorced (this happened in 1980), he lived with his mother. Rebellion awoke in him - he was caught more than once stealing small products from a kiosk, and he also tried to steal a car. Having decided that he wanted to change, the young man began training at a circus school, and when he received his education there, he moved to New York to earn money.

His filmography at that time did not include a single film. But soon Vincent returned to his homeland. Upon his return, he realized that he would like to study acting with Jean-Louis Barrault, after which he was at one time a member of his troupe. At that time, the young man had not even thought about cinema.

Since he talentedly performed all theatrical roles, he nevertheless decided to achieve something more. The result of such aspirations were episodic roles for his filmography in the following films:

• "Hot chocolate";
• "Keys to Heaven"
• The series "Warburg".

The creative path of Vincent Cassel

Vincent Crochon began his professional acting career in the States, having previously heeded his father’s admonitions and taken the “family” (now) pseudonym – Cassel. The debut on the New York stage was not very successful; for the most part, the guy worked part-time on the streets as a “living statue,” so he soon returned to France.

In his youth, Vincent Cassel played in the theater. At home, he turned to an old acquaintance of his father, the outstanding actor and theater director Jean-Louis Barrault, founder of the D'Orsay theater (later renamed Rhode Point), which was famous for its very original interpretations of the works of Nietzsche and Voltaire. Barrault did not refuse the talented young man, and for some time Vincent became a permanent member of the theater troupe.

Vincent Cassel's first film role was Pierre in the comedy “Storks Are Not What They Think They Are” (1989). The role was tiny, like the next work (the comedy “Keys to Heaven”). Then came the photographer from the romantic comedy “The Other Side of Passion,” as well as a young man named Dede from Jose Dayan’s film “Hot Chocolate.”

1989: Vincent Cassel's first film role By 1995, he had about 15 films to his credit, including the French-American film “Jefferson in Paris” with the participation of Seth Gilliam and Gwyneth Paltrow. The last film, in which Vincent Cassel played the young revolutionary Camille Desmoulins, was very successful at the box office. But a truly breakthrough role was already waiting for him just outside the door. It was in 1995 that he was lucky enough to meet director Mathieu Kassovitz, who approved the young man for the leading role in the drama about class and racial prejudice - “Hate.” Vincent Cassel played a Jewish boy named Vince, who accidentally found a gun and now seeks revenge for the death of his friend. For his role, the actor was twice nominated for a Cesar Award.

For Vincent Cassel, “Hate” became a truly breakthrough film. In 1996, Vincent Cassel starred in Gilles Mimouni’s melodrama “The Apartment” together with Monica Bellucci. The touching love story of the young entrepreneur Max and the mysterious Lisa brought the actors together, and a spark of passion ran between them, which very soon flared up into a real fire. The Dance of Love by Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci (“Apartment”, 1996) The most striking works of the late nineties in the filmography of Vincent Cassel became the films “Doberman”, “The Way You Want Me”, “Elizabeth” (the role of the Duke of Anjou), “Compromise”, “Saturday Night Fever” (where he also acted as a screenwriter and director), “Joan of Arc”. Already during this period, Vincent acquired the role of a straightforward, unpredictable actor ready for any experiments.

Young Vincent Cassel in the film “The Apprentice” (1996) In 2000, the epochal thriller “Crimson Rivers” was released, which gave the world the delightful acting duo of Vincent Cassel and Jean Reno. French movie stars are reincarnated as police officers investigating two seemingly completely unrelated cases. The role of the young detective Max Kerkerian brought Vincent Cassel a nomination for the European Film Academy Award and made him one of the most recognizable figures in French cinema.

“Crimson Rivers”: one of the best films with Vincent Cassel At the peak of his popularity, Vincent Cassel made a new attempt to conquer Hollywood. In 2001, the first English-language film with his participation was released - the crime drama “Birthday Girl”. He and Mathieu Kassovitz, who also participated in the filming, had to transform into Russian gangsters who came to the birthday of their “sister” played by Nicole Kidman.

“Birthday Girl”: Vincent Cassel and Nicole Kidman Then, in the film “Day of Reckoning,” the actor, along with Paul Bettany and Willem Dafoe, had to travel back to the 14th century to save a woman accused of witchcraft from execution. Vincent Cassel in an advertisement for Yves Saint Laurent in 2002 The film “Irreversible” was released on the screens with the participation of Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci, a star couple who managed to rivet the eyes of 600 thousand viewers in France alone to the screens. Obsessed with revenge, Vincent's hero tried to find and punish those responsible for the rape of his girlfriend. The film was even nominated for the main prize at the Cannes Film Festival, but the Palme d'Or was awarded to Roman Polanski's The Pianist.

Irreversible was nominated for the Palme d'Or. In 2004, a sequel to the acclaimed action-packed film Ocean's 11 starring George Clooney, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt was released. This time, Vincent Cassel joined the team of inventive robbers, or rather, Francois Toulour, nicknamed the Night Fox, who won the hearts of millions with his skillful performance of capoeira under the rays of laser signaling. “Ocean’s 12”: Vincent Cassel and his capoeira In 2008, Vincent Cassel starred in the film “Enemy of the State No. 1”, reincarnated as the legendary criminal Jacques Mesrine, famous for his amazing transformations using plastic surgery, makeup and genuine stagecraft. For this role, the actor specially gained and then lost 20 kilograms, which, according to him, was very difficult. In the same year, the French actor received a golden Cesar for it, the main cinematic award in France.

For his role in the film Enemy of the State, Vincent Cassel gained 20 kilograms. In the same year, he again tried on the image of a Russian gangster in the drama Vice for Export, playing the spoiled son of a Russian mafioso, the “master” of the cold-blooded killer Nikolai, Viggo Mortensen’s character.

“Vice for Export”: Vincent Cassel as Russian mafioso Kirill In 2010, the actor was included in the main cast of the drama “Black Swan”. The story about the backstage of the ballet, about a talented but constrained ballerina who is gradually losing the line between reality and hallucinations, brought the leading actress Natalie Pore for Best Actress, and Mila Kunis the Mastroianni Award for Best Talent. Vincent Cassel was left without awards, but critics unanimously argued that he incredibly convincingly coped with the rather formulaic role of Tom Leroy, the main choreographer of the theater.

In “Black Swan,” Vincent Cassel played a pretentious choreographer. In 2014, the Frenchman played the Beast in the film adaptation of the famous fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast.” His partner was the beautiful Lea Seydoux. It is noteworthy that Vincent Cassel had to play all the scenes in the guise of the Beast twice: first, he was filmed in a suit, and then they focused on the actor’s facial expressions, in order to then superimpose his facial expression on the head of the Beast, created using computer special effects.

Still from the film "Beauty and the Beast"

Vincent Cassel: 'I am a man of light, not darkness'

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Vincent Cassel is one of the most sought-after and popular actors in France. Films with his participation are remembered for a lifetime, and the contradictory images that he creates leave no one indifferent. Now Cassel is at the peak of fame, and the divorce proceedings with the beautiful Monica Bellucci only adds interest to the actor’s persona. Advertising:
Vincent Cassel was born in Paris on November 23, 1966. His father, Jean-Pierre Cassel (real name Crochon), was a famous French actor, and his mother, whose ancestors were from Corsica, was a housewife. In addition to Vincent, the parents raised two more children: son Mathias and daughter Cecile. They also followed in their father’s footsteps and became actors.

Vincent Cassel photography

From childhood, Vincent's fate was closely connected with religion. His father was an ardent Protestant, and his mother, Jewish by birth, tossed between Judaism and Catholicism. In addition, Kassel lived in an area that was inhabited mainly by Muslims from the Arab world. Thanks to this, the future actor learned from childhood to be tolerant of people of different faiths and nationalities.

Vincent himself was never a pious person, despite the fact that he went to a Catholic school. According to the actor, his hobbies were the school theater, where he sometimes played in amateur productions, and watching his favorite Martin Scorsese films. It was the films of this director that pushed Cassel to become an actor. The father said the last word. He insisted that his son continue the family business and complete acting courses.

Vincent Cassel photography

After graduating from film school, Vincent set off to conquer America. He didn't want to be constantly compared to his father in France, so he first decided to make a name for himself in Hollywood. However, the 'dream factory' received him unfriendly. After several unsuccessful attempts, Cassel moved to New York in 1990. Here he was luckier. A year later, he made his film debut, playing a small role in the film 'Keys to Heaven' (1991).

Despite the successful debut, Vincent's career was not built. The roles in the miniseries 'Warburg: Man of Influence' (1992) and the film 'Hot Chocolate' (1992) were very tiny, and the young actor was soon forgotten. Disillusioned with the American film industry, Cassel returned to France, where he got a job in the theater of an old family friend, Jean-Louis Barrault. Here he continued to hone his acting skills, never leaving the thought of returning to the set.

Vincent Cassel photography

Worldwide popularity

If Vincent Cassel failed to become famous in Hollywood, then in France it was not difficult. After the actor played in his first French-language film, Mestiza (1993), his career took off sharply. In 1995, Cassel appeared in two iconic films: the historical film Jefferson in Paris and the underground drama Hatred. Both films competed in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival and attracted the attention of critics.

Vincent Cassel photography

The first leading role in the film “Hate” brought Vincent a nomination for the Cesar Award and many positive reviews. This work became a turning point in the actor’s career. A year later, he appeared in another acclaimed French film - the dramatic thriller 'The Apartment' (1996). And again, several nominations for prestigious awards and a lot of high marks.

Best of the day

The film 'Apartment' influenced not only the actor's career, but also his personal life. On the set of this work, Vincent met the aspiring Italian actress Monica Bellucci. They developed mutual sympathy, and soon both realized that they could not live without each other. In 1999, after dating for three years, Cassel and Bellucci got married. In 2004, their first daughter, Deva, was born, and in 2010, their second daughter, Leoni.

Together Vincent and Monica starred in many films. This is the crime drama 'Doberman' (1997), and the adventure thriller 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' (2001), and the hard arthouse film 'Irreversible' (2002). It is noteworthy that all these works were highly praised by critics, and the acting caused real delight. No less successful was the thriller 'Crimson Rivers' (2000), for his role in which Cassel was nominated for a European Film Academy Award.

Vincent Cassel Photo: Theo Kingma / Rex Features / FOTODOM.RU

In 2004, Vincent Cassel, as promised, conquered America by starring in the crime action film Ocean's Twelve. The role of Ocean's main adversary, the mysterious villain nicknamed 'Night Fox', was so loved by fans of the film that, due to their numerous requests, the director had to include him in the plot of the third film - 'Ocean's Thirteen' (2007). Although this role was small, it brought the actor worldwide fame.

Vincent Cassel photography

Another plus for Cassel’s film career was his collaboration with director David Cronenberg. In 2007, he starred in his acclaimed thriller 'Vice for Export', and in 2011 - in the biographical drama 'A Dangerous Method'. These works secured Vincent's status as one of the best actors of our time. His roles in the films 'Black Swan' (2010) and 'Trance' (2013) were also a great success.

Vincent Cassel photography

In recent years, the actor has increasingly sought to diversify his career. In 2020, he played the King of the Lonely Cliff in the film adaptation of Giambattista Basile's tales called Penny Dreadful. The film participated in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival, but did not receive any awards. Next up with the actor's participation is the release of a film, which is now called 'The Untitled Project About Jason Bourne' (2016).

Vincent Cassel photography

In 2013, sad news became known: Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci broke up. Once giving an interview, Monica said that making wishes in marriage is pointless. That everything is fine now, but what will happen in a year is unknown. Unfortunately, her words turned out to be prophetic. According to Cassel, he and his wife have rarely seen each other lately, so divorce seems like the logical thing to do. However, they maintain warm, friendly relations, because they still have children to raise.

In films, Vincent Cassel mostly plays negative characters, but in real life he considers himself a man of light, not darkness. According to the actor, sometimes he really can get lost, but still finds a way out to the bright side. Cassel loves to travel and appreciates life as it is. He believes that you should enjoy every minute because life is very short. Although Vincent does not consider himself a great hero, he committed one brave act in his life - he became a father. According to him, this is the greatest happiness on Earth.

Best weeks

Personal life of Vincent Cassel

Surprisingly, in the first days of filming the film “The Apartment,” which became fateful for both Vincent and Monica Bellucci, the actors, to put it mildly, did not like each other. According to Monica, she considered her filming partner too arrogant. And Vincent, in turn, angrily asked the director if it was possible to choose a French actress for the role, and not “an Italian lingerie model.” Off set, they went out of their way to avoid each other.

The love story of Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci began back in 1996. One day, after one of the first difficult days of filming, Vincent went on his usual tour of nightclubs. At the entrance to one of the hot spots, his gaze was caught by the back of a luxurious brunette. The actor immediately rushed to get acquainted and stopped, stunned - in front of him stood the “busty model” he hated, Monica Bellucci.

Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci in their youth After this, the ice between the actors was broken. And soon Kassel fell victim to the inexorable charms of one of the most beautiful women in the world. It was clear to everyone present during the filming that Monica, having reincarnated as Lisa, was no longer seducing Max, but Vincent himself. He also understood this, remembering all the ancient legends about insidious witches, charming men with one stroke of their long eyelashes. “The way you want me”: dialogue between Cassel and Bellucci Their love relationship had only just begun, when the Frenchman realized that he had met a completely unusual girl. She was in no hurry to move things to his apartment; on the contrary, when flying to her homeland, Italy, she strictly emphasized: “I have my own life, you have yours.” The thought of family routine disgusted her. “There is nothing worse than everyday life when everyone returns from work and has dinner in front of the TV,” the actress admitted.

Cassel and Bellucci lived in a “guest marriage” for a long time. For the sake of time spent with his beloved, the actor began to “protect” Monica to French directors: “Dobermann”, “The Way You Want Me”, “Pleasure”, “Rebellious”... The audience fell in love with this passionate a couple who, time after time, embodied the crazy chemistry of love on screen.

Still from the film “Irreversible” (2002) Their “guest marriage” lasted three years, until Vincent Cassel had an accident in 1999. After this, Bellucci changed her view of what was happening and agreed to let Vincent take her down the aisle. However, even after the actors said their wedding vows, everything went as before: immediately after the ceremony, Monica returned to Italy.

The wedding of Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci was eagerly awaited for three years. Of course, it was not without jealousy, which Vincent tried to hide as best he could. Many actors have their eyes on the charming Monica Bellucci: George Clooney, Keanu Reeves, Bruce Willis and even Gerard Depardieu! Monica was never seen in unambiguous situations, but each new film with her participation caused a lot of rumors regarding her relationship with her next film partner. In addition, the actress herself has repeatedly stated: “Changing partners is natural. This is inherent in human nature. Therefore, I cannot tell you whether Vincent and I are together forever or not.”

Their union became the pure embodiment of passion and sexuality. After these words, rumors appeared in the press about a romance between Vincent Cassel and Jennifer Aniston, to which Monica reacted with her characteristic wisdom and calmness, declaring: “To be jealous means to claim his freedom.”

In 2004, when the number of rumors about the imminent breakup of Cassel and Bellucci reached their peak, the star couple pleased fans of their union with good news: their first child, a girl named Deva, was born. Both parents were incredibly happy, so much so that they even gave up filming for a while, devoting all their time to family happiness.

Vincent Cassel is a happy father of two daughters. And in 2010, baby Leonie Cassel was born. Evil tongues said that Monica decided to have a second child in order to save her husband, who had recently completely stopped paying attention to her. And more and more often there were reports in the press that Vincent was seen in the company of another beauty with a model appearance.

After 17 years of relationship, the marriage of Bellucci and Cassel cracked. In 2013, the family moved to Brazil because, according to Vincent and Monica, there were more favorable conditions for raising children. However, the media cited changes in French tax legislation as a more likely reason for the move. The couple purchased a house on the coast of Rio and began to settle in their new place.

The house of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel in Rio. Unfortunately, Vincent and Monica failed to save the family. In 2013, the media vied with each other to trumpet the breakup of perhaps the most popular (after Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, of course) star couple. The actors did not wash their dirty linen in public, but judging by how hard Bellucci experienced the divorce, it was Vincent Cassel who initiated the breakup.

Rumors about Vincent Cassel's numerous affairs turned out to be true. As the woman later claimed, a warm relationship remained between them forever, albeit without the former spark of passion. As for children, Vincent still loves them more than anything in the world and spends almost every free minute with his daughters.

Vincent Cassel and his daughters on the beach in RioA in 2020 Vincent Cassel showed the world his new chosen one. More precisely, it was shown by the paparazzi, who photographed the actor while on vacation in Ibiza in the company of a young dark-skinned beauty.

Vincent Cassel did not waste any time after the divorce

Personal life

Vincent Cassel, whose personal life, of course, worries the public, was married only once - to an actress of Italian origin, Monica Bellucci. In 2004, their first daughter was born, and in 2010, their second. The couple stayed together for thirteen years, but then separated.

Vincent admits that when he saw Monica for the first time, he could not help but fall in love with her. She reminded him of the heroines of Federico Fellini's cult films. After the wedding, the couple did not sit still: the stars lived in Italy, France, or Rio de Janeiro. However, there were times when Vincent and Monica existed separately from each other. But on the set the married couple met more than once: “Irreversible”, “Brotherhood of the Wolf” and so on.

It was a strange marriage: it was difficult to understand what kept these two together. According to Cassel, Monica and he had different friends, they often lived in different countries, and their tastes also did not match. It turns out that the actors just wanted to live together, and when interest in each other disappeared, they broke up. Now Monica is in no hurry to find a new boyfriend, and Kassel is still left alone.

Vincent Cassel now

Vincent Cassel still remains one of the most famous French actors, in incredible demand both at home and abroad. So, in 2020, he starred in the fourth part of the Bourne tetralogy as the killer Asset. He was accompanied by both recognized Hollywood stars (Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Tommy Lee Jones) and recent “discoveries”, for example, Alicia Vikander.

In 2020, Vincent Cassel played the villain in Bourne

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Actor career

One of the first roles in Vincent's filmography, which brought him fame, was performed by him in the film "Mestisque". His friend the director invited him to film in 1993.

Two years later, he starred in another film - for his role in the film “Hate” he was awarded the Cesar Award. After this, Cassel became picky and did not agree to all the roles that the producers of television projects could offer him.

Time passed, and the actor’s filmography was only replenished with new films, which brought him more and more popularity with each new role. His acting career flourished.

1996 - showing the film “Apartment”, then “Doberman” - in these projects he was simply irresistible in his roles . Critics only commented positively on his acting, and more and more offers to appear in other films were received. Films with Vincent Cassel flashed one after another on the big screen.

Among the films in Vincent’s filmography that were shot not so long ago, one can highlight “Our Day Will Come” - here Vincent tried himself as a producer, and he did it quite well. Among the films that he also produced in his filmography, “Shaitan” and “Irreversibility” can be distinguished.