Gilles Lellouche

Gilles Lellouche is a French actor and filmmaker who has established a prominent career in French cinema through work both in front of and behind the camera. He is widely recognized for his roles in numerous feature films as well as his efforts as a director. Throughout his professional life, his artistic contributions have earned him multiple nominations for major national cinematic honors.

Born on July 5, 1972, in Savigny-sur-Orge, France, Lellouche was raised in a multicultural family environment. His father was of Algerian-Jewish lineage, while his mother came from an Irish Catholic heritage. Performance and film were shared interests within his immediate family, as his brother Philippe Lellouche also pursued a career as an actor and director.

Lellouche built his screen acting reputation through a variety of high-profile feature films. He gained notable attention for his performances in the 2006 film Tell No One and the 2008 biographical drama Mesrine. Over the following decade, he expanded his filmography with roles in Little White Lies in 2010, The Players in 2012, and The Connection in 2014. His later acting roles include appearances in C'est la vie! in 2017, In Safe Hands in 2018, and BAC Nord in 2020.

Parallel to his acting, Lellouche expanded his career into film direction. He directed the feature film Sink or Swim in 2018 and later helmed Beating Hearts in 2025. His work across both disciplines has been recognized by the French Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques. He has received several César Award nominations, notably earning Best Actor nominations for his work in In Safe Hands and BAC Nord, alongside two Best Director nominations for Sink or Swim and Beating Hearts.

In his personal life, Lellouche was in a relationship with French actress Mélanie Doutey from 2002 to 2013, with whom he has a daughter born on September 5, 2009. In 2015, he began a relationship with Alizée Guinochet, a former model and jewelry designer. The couple welcomed a son in November 2022.

Lellouche drew public attention in January 2017 when he commented on the controversy surrounding Roman Polanski's appointment as president of the 2017 César Awards. Amid widespread criticism regarding Polanski's past conviction for sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl and his fugitive status, Lellouche defended the decision in an interview with Le Parisien, questioning the sudden backlash given Polanski's long-standing presence and prior acclaim in the French film industry. Following extensive public outcry and petitions, Polanski ultimately withdrew from the position.