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.