Swann Arlaud

Swann Arlaud, born on 25 March 1981 in Fontenay‑aux‑Roses, France, comes from a family steeped in the performing arts. His mother, Tatiana Vialle, works as an actress and casting director, while his father, Yan Arlaud, is a well‑known production designer; his grandparents include actor Max Vialle and singer‑songwriter Sonia Laroze, giving him a rich artistic lineage. Raised alongside two younger step‑siblings, Tobias and Galathée Nuytten, Arlaud was exposed to theater and cinema from an early age, which informed his decision to pursue acting professionally. He began his on‑screen career in 1987 and quickly earned a reputation for nuanced performances, appearing in a diverse range of French films such as Romantics Anonymous (2010) and Elles (2011). By the mid‑2010s he had established himself as a versatile talent, starring in Les Anarchistes (2015) and the thriller The Wakhan Front (2015), and he expanded his artistic scope by directing the short films Venerman (2016) and Zorey (2021), the latter co‑written with his mother and premiered at Cannes. His breakthrough came with the critically acclaimed drama Bloody Milk (2017), where his portrayal of Pierre earned him the César Award for Best Actor in 2018, cementing his status among France’s leading performers. Arlaud’s subsequent roles have continued to attract both audience and critical praise; in By the Grace of God (2019) he delivered a powerful depiction of a child‑sex‑abuse survivor, a performance that won the César Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2020 and highlighted his commitment to socially relevant storytelling. He further demonstrated his dramatic range in Justine Triet’s legal thriller Anatomy of a Fall (2023), playing lawyer Vincent and securing a second César for Best Supporting Actor in 2024. Beyond the screen, Arlaud is an outspoken advocate for gender equality and human rights: he wore a white ribbon for the MeToo movement at the 2018 César ceremony, signed open letters condemning the 2023 Gaza conflict, and publicly supported fellow actors such as Adèle Haenel. In 2024 he joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, reflecting his growing influence in international cinema. His personal life is anchored by his partnership with cinematographer Sarah Boutin, with whom he shares a son and collaborated on the short Venerman. Known for his thoughtful choice of projects and dedication to activism, Swann Arlaud continues to shape contemporary French film both in front of the camera and behind it.