Alexandre Desplat

Alexandre Michel Gérard Desplat, born on August 23, 1961, in Paris, France, grew up in a multicultural and musical household with a Greek mother and a French father who met in California. His early musical education included piano and trumpet, before he specialized in the flute. Desplat cultivated a diverse musical taste, encompassing French symphonists like Ravel and Debussy, world music, and jazz. Inspired by film composers such as Maurice Jarre and Bernard Herrmann, he decided to dedicate his career to film scoring after experiencing John Williams’ score for “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” in 1977. While recording his first feature film, he met violinist Dominique Lemonnier, who became his artistic collaborator and wife, influencing his musical style.

Desplat’s career trajectory saw him compose over 50 scores for European films, working with directors like Philippe de Broca and Jacques Audiard. His international breakthrough came in 2003 with the score for “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” which earned him a Golden Globe nomination and a BAFTA nomination. This pivotal moment launched his Hollywood career while he maintained his European collaborations. He went on to compose for “Syriana” (2005), “Birth” (2004), and “Hostage” (2005). In 2005, he received the Silver Bear of the Berlinale and his first César Award for “The Beat That My Heart Skipped.” His first Oscar nomination arrived in 2007 for Stephen Frears’ “The Queen,” where he also secured his first European Film Award and won the Golden Globe for “The Painted Veil.” Further notable scores include “Lust, Caution” (2007) and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008), leading to his second Oscar nomination.

The period from 2010 to 2018 marked significant achievements and recognition for Desplat. He won his second César and European Film Award in 2010 for Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer” and composed the platinum-selling score for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” His work on “The King’s Speech” (2010) garnered a BAFTA, a Grammy Award, and his fourth Oscar nomination. He contributed music to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (2010) and “Part 2” (2011), the latter becoming a massive box office success. Other major projects include Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” (2011), “Zero Dark Thirty” (2012) for Kathryn Bigelow, and “Argo” (2012) for Ben Affleck, which earned him numerous nominations. In 2014, he received two Oscar nominations for “The Imitation Game” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” winning an Oscar, BAFTA, and Grammy for the latter. In 2018, Desplat secured his second Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water.”