Lambert Wilson established himself as a versatile and acclaimed actor with his feature film debut in Fred Zinnemann’s ‘Five Days One Summer’ (1981), starring opposite Sean Connery. He quickly garnered recognition in France throughout the 1980s, appearing in films like ‘La Boum 2’ (1982) and ‘Sahara’ (1983) alongside Brooke Shields. His talent earned critical attention, securing his first César Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for ‘The Public Woman’ (1984), followed by a Best Actor nomination for ‘Rendez-vous’ (1985). A career-defining role as Abbé Pierre in ‘Hiver 54, l’abbé Pierre’ (1989) earned him widespread critical acclaim and the prestigious Prix Jean Gabin.
Showcasing his diverse talents, Wilson was selected as a jury member at the International Film Festival of Marrakech in 2012 and served as Master of Ceremonies for the esteemed Cannes Film Festival in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, he released his tribute album, ‘Wilson chante Montand,’ highlighting his musical artistry. The same year, he delivered a critically acclaimed performance as Jacques Cousteau in ‘The Odyssey,’ a role for which he was nominated for a Globes de Cristal Award for Best Actor. In 2017, Wilson received one of France’s highest honors, being raised to Commandeur de lOrdre national du Mérite by President Emmanuel Macron.
He further engaged to assist the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in 2018. Wilson notably portrayed Charles de Gaulle in ‘De Gaulle’ (2020), earning another César Award nomination for Best Actor. He reprised his iconic role as The Merovingian in ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ (2021) and appeared in the acclaimed film ‘Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’ (2022), maintaining his prominent presence in both French and international cinema.