Denis Lavant

**Denis Lavant** is a renowned French actor with a career dating back to 1982. Born on 17 June 1961, he is characterized by his distinctive face and the physically demanding aspects of his roles, often involving slapstick, acrobatics, or dance. Lavant is especially known for his longstanding association with director Leos Carax and has played the lead role in all but two of Carax's films. Lavant's acting prowess is showcased in films like Claire Denis' Beau Travail and Harmony Korine's Mister Lonely. Lavant's journey into acting started at a young age; at 13, he explored pantomime and circus arts, spurred by his fascination with Marcel Marceau. He then trained at the Paris Conservatoire under Jacques Lassalle. His professional career started in theatre in 1982 where he acted in Shakespeare's plays such as Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice, and later transitioned to films and television. His breakthrough came in 1984 with the lead role in Boy Meets Girl. Over the years, Lavant and Carax worked together on various projects, including acclaimed films like Mauvais Sang and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf. He has also starred in music videos, such as Jonathan Glazer-directed video for the UNKLE song 'Rabbit in Your Headlights', and has taken on roles that required him to learn new languages phonetically.