One of the most physically committed actors of all time, Denis Lavant is a prominent figure in the acting world, internationally praised for his outstanding and haunting performances. His signature style is quintessentially inspired by dramaturgy, pantomime and circus, which he started exploring at the age of 13 out of his fascination for legendary mime artist Marcel Marceau. Born in 1963 in Neuilly, Lavant entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1982, where he was trained by renowned French playwright, director, actor and writer Jacques Lassalle. He made his first steps in theatre, which he has continued throughout his entire career, before making his breakthrough in the big screen. It is hardly possible to discuss Lavant’s filmography without that of another genius of the seventh art, namely Leos Carax. The beginning of their longstanding friendship and fruitful collaboration started in 1984, with Lavant’s performance in Carax’s directorial debut Boy Meets Girl, which launched both of their careers. Since then, the actor has starred in nearly every film by Carax, incarnating Alex in Mauvais Sang (1986), again Alex inLes Amants du Pont-Neuf (1991), and Mr. Oscar in Holy Motors (2012). Lavant has nevertheless collaborated with many talented directors and made significant appearances in shorts, features, TV series and music videos. Amongst his most acclaimed performances are his roles in Claire Denis’ Beau Travail (2000) and Tokyo! (2008), co-directed by Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon-Ho.
