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Malik Zidi

Actor

Malik Zidi

Born February 14, 1975 in Saint Maur des Fossés, France53 films

Malik Zidi was born in Châtenay-Malabry to a Kabyle Algerian father and a Breton mother. He spent his formative years in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, a suburb of Paris. Zidi abandoned his conventional studies early to concentrate on a career in comedy. Following courses at the Théâtre Véronique Nordey, and the Théâtre de Proposition in Paris, he briefly studied acrobatics and mime at the Théâtre de la Piscine and cinema at the Studio Pygmalion. Zidi made his first film appearance in the 1998 Sébastien Lifshitz-directed Les Corps ouverts.

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In 2000, Zidi was chosen by director François Ozon to appear as the troubled, lovelorn, bisexual youth Franz in the Teddy Award-winning film Water Drops on Burning Rocks (French:Gouttes d'eau sur pierres brûlantes). The film was based on the play Tropfen auf heisse Steine by German film director and screenwriter Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The film is a four-part comedy-drama shot entirely on one set and featuring only four actors: Zidi, Bernard Giraudeau, Ludivine Sagnier and American actress Anna Levine. Zidi's role in Water Drops on Burning Rocks garnered him his first of four César Award nominations.

Malik Zidi followed up with roles in the 2002 Antoine Santana-directed Un moment de bonheur (English: One Moment of Happiness) opposite Isild Le Besco, earning his second César Award nomination for Most Promising Actor. In 2004, he appeared in the André Téchiné-directed romantic drama Les Temps qui changent (English release title: Changing Times) as Sami, the bisexual son of Cécile (portrayed by Catherine Deneuve), who visits his parents in Tangiers so that he may visit his Moroccan boyfriend. The film also starred actor Gérard Depardieu and was nominated for a Satellite Award. Zidi received his third César Award nomination.

In 2006, Zidi appeared in the Emmanuel Bourdieu-drama Les Amitiés maléfiques (English release title: Poison Friends). The film was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival and Bourdieu received the Critics Week Grand Prize and the Grand Golden Rail. The film also won the SACD Screenwriting Award and Zidi was once again nominated for a César Award, winning the Award for Most Promising Actor 2007.

In addition to film, Zidi has appeared in numerous television roles.

In 2020, Zidi penned his first novel L'ombre du soir, which was published by Éditions Anne Carrière.

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Play posterFirst watchPlay20197.3as Mathias AdlerIn 1993, Max was 13 when he was offered his first camera. For 25 years he will not stop filming. The bunch of friends, the loves, the successes, the failures.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

53 films as actor
  1. TBAQue demande le peuple
  2. TBAIncarnation
  3. 2026Child
  4. 2024When Fall Is ComingLaurent
  5. 2024The Soul EaterFabrice Gonnet
  6. 2023Sons of RamsesMichaël
  7. 2022What's Wrong with My Family?Mathieu
  8. 2021OxygenLéo Ferguson
  9. 2020The Color of KingsNadji
  10. 2019Towards the BattleLouis
  11. 2019PlayMathias Adler
  12. 2019Whatever Happened to My RevolutionSaïd
  13. 2017Gauguin: Voyage to TahitiHenri Vallin
  14. 2017The Sky of the Centaur
  15. 2016Marie CurieAndré-Louis Debierne
  16. 2016DaguerrotypeThomas
  17. 2015Made in FranceSam
  18. 2015The AssistantThomas
  19. 2014Sir Gawain and the Green KnightBertilak / Le Chevalier Vert
  20. 2013Wolfy: The Incredible SecretLoulou
  21. 2013The MarchersPhilippe, le RG
  22. 2013Amaro amoreAndrè
  23. 2012You, Me and UsVictor
  24. 2012Lines of WellingtonOctave Ségur
  25. 2012Berthe MorisotEdouard Manet
  26. 2012The Gordji AffairLuc Delair
  27. 2011RebellionJP Perrot
  28. 2010Mysteries of LisbonVisconde de Armagnac
  29. 2010Après moiHugo
  30. 2010The Queen of ClubsAurélien
  31. 2009La mort n'oublie personneJean Ricouart
  32. 2009Pardon My FrenchAntoine
  33. 2009ExMarc
  34. 2008ClaraJohannes Brahms
  35. 2008Le baiserBoy
  36. 2008Miroir, mon beau miroirLepic
  37. 2007Les Zygs, le Secret des DisparusJean / Béjean
  38. 2007Jacquou the RebelTouffu
  39. 2006The Great MeaulnesFranz
  40. 2006Poison FriendsEloi Duhaut
  41. 2006Beyond the OceanBruno
  42. 2005Looking for CheyennePierre
  43. 2004Changing TimesSami
  44. 2004Old GoriotEugène de Rastignac
  45. 2004Sissi, the Rebellious EmpressRodolphe
  46. 2003My Children Are DifferentThomas
  47. 2002Almost PeacefulJoseph
  48. 2002A Moment of HappinessPhilippe
  49. 2001Her Mother, the WhoreBimbo
  50. 2000Water Drops on Burning RocksFranz
  51. 1998Place VendômeSam's Son
  52. 1998L'Onzième Commandement
  53. 1998Open BodiesClassmate