Guillaume Canet

Born on 10 April 1973, Guillaume Canet is a critically acclaimed French actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer, and talented show jumper. Initially pursuing a career as a show jumper, Canet turned to acting after a fall from his horse at the age of 18. He enrolled in the Cours Florent drama school and made his acting debut in the Théâtre Hébertot production of La Ville dont le prince est un enfant with Christophe Malavoy. He made his film debut in the short film Fils unique, after working in various television shows and commercials. Canet saw his breakthrough in the thriller Barracuda, winning a prix d'interprétation (best actor award) at the Festival Saint-Jean-de-Luz in 1999. He continued to garner acclaim through the years, with notable roles in films like The Beach, Joyeux Noël, and Love Me If You Dare.

In 2002, Canet ventured into directing and writing with his first feature film, Mon Idole, which starred his then-wife Diane Kruger. His biggest achievement as a director came in 2006 with Tell No One, an adaptation of Harlan Coben's novel. The film became the ninth top-grossing French film of 2006 and won four César awards, including a César Award for Best Director for Canet. Besides his illustrious film career, he is also an accomplished show jumper, with participation in 623 competitions between 2012 and 2017, winning 33 of them and taking nearly €67,000 in prize money.