Matthias Schoenaerts

Matthias Schoenaerts (/ˈʃoʊnɑːrts/ SHOH-narts, Dutch: [ˈmɑtijɑs ˈsxunaːrts]; born 8 December 1977) is a distinguished Belgian actor. He carved a place for himself in the cinematic world at the young age of 13, managing to secure his film debut in Daens back in 1992; a film which also received a nomination for the coveted Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Schoenaerts managed to capture the global audience with memorable roles in films such as Loft (2008), the Oscar-nominated Bullhead (2011), Rust and Bone (2012), and The Drop (2014). Additionally, he added another feather to his cap in 2015 with his successful portrayal of an ex-soldier in Disorder, a role which endeared him to critics.

Incidentally, his artistic talent does not stop at acting. As a teenager, Schoenaerts dabbled into the world of graffiti under the pseudonym Zenith. As an actor, he continues to set the bar high for his contemporaries by choosing diverse roles—from being an inmate who trains a wild horse in The Mustang (2019), to the infamous Uncle Vanya in Red Sparrow (2018). Schoenaerts even garnered international fandom with his act in films like Far from the Madding Crowd, Suite Française, and The Danish Girl. In recognition of his significant contribution to arts and cinema, he was knighted in the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2015.