The Model-Actor
French rising star and one of today's most exciting actor Gaspard Ulliel in profile!
by Jed Medina and Kathleen Sydenham

Reported to have been discovered by famed French director Andre Techine, Gaspard Ulliel is your definitive French leading man. With his smashing good looks and intense acting skills, the former male model is on his way to becoming an international celebrity.

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But his acting career began earlier than that. Says Ulliel in an interview:

"I began at twelve years old, but in fact I began really by chance. It was a friend of a friend of my mother's who was opening an agency, and she was looking for young kids. And so I entered the agency, but more by curiosity than real passion. And at first I had some small parts in TV movies--in fact my parents didn't want me to miss school, so I was working just once or twice a year.

"And I had a really regular progression--and this is really pleasant, I think--because I had small parts in TV movies, then bigger parts in TV movies, and then small parts in films. And I think this allows you to get...experience of the set and to get familiar with [the process]. And as I had a really slow progression, I think it really helped me to stay lucid and not get carried away."

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A Very Prominent Role: With no qualms about doing scenes that require him to bare some skin, Gaspard has acted in some of the most fascinating French films in recent history including A Very Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiancailles), Strayed and Le Dernier jour. For his role in A Very Long Engagement, director Jean Pierre Jeunet spent more than 3 hours with Ulliel before he was even cast.

Says Gaspard: " It was a great audition (with Jeunet) because usually auditions in France are really short, you would just work really fast on a small scene, but there we had 2 or 3 hours, working sessions with costumes, make-up, accessories; he was really directing me as if we were on the set. It was really enjoyable."

The film which became one of the most expensive French movies ever made, was a big hit, earning Ulliel immediate recognition as an important actor in both France and Europe. Gaspard commented: "It's the second or third most expensive - it's 45 million euros. There were eight months of pre-production and six months of shooting, which is very rare in France, usually we have two months to shoot."

Before teaming up with Audrey Tatou for A Very Long Engagement, he worked briefly with Peter Greenaway on one of his "Tulse Luper Suitcase" films, and though he doubts that the fragmentary scenes he shot will wind up in the final print, he enjoyed the opportunity.

"For me, it was more the experience itself," he says. "It was the first time I was working with a foreign director and with a foreign crew. The English way of working is quite different from French crews. I worked on a movie just after this one that was completely the opposite--it was shot in six weeks with a really low budget, and it was great, because I think it's important for an actor to try different cinemas. A smaller movie which is called 'The Last Day.' And I just finished the shooting of another movie which takes place during World War II. It's the story of a woman who welcomes orphans coming out of the camps. The title is 'Nina's Home.' I'm playing a young orphan coming out of Buchenwald, and he is one of the most traumatized characters in the movie, and he is speechless. So it was interesting to act without speaking."

Next spring he's scheduled to start shooting an epic set in the post-Napoleonic period. "It's a much more popular movie," he says. "I'm going to learn how to ride a horse, and to do swords, so it's very exciting. 'What I like in this job is the fact that it's always different, and each time it's a new adventure, with a new crew and a new director and a new way of working." [ interview excerpt from The MovieChicks.com ]

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Now Showing: In Jacquou Le Croquant, he will once again entertain the audience in a period film that is both romantic and thrilling. But it was in securing the role of the young Hannibal in Hannibal Rising that Gaspard achieved a certain distinction, and one his peers would die for. Hannibal Rising is certainly getting its share of the buzz, ranging from the expected comparisons between Ulliel and Anthony Hopkins, who played the older version of the notorious character, to media speculation about how the prequel came to fruition. One of the most interesting snippets is with regard to how Ulliel got the part.


In an interview with MoviesOnline, Ulliel said that he was at first hesitant to accept the role: "...to just take on this role that is so popular and for so many people it's like they own the character and it's part of their lives so I knew that they would be very picky on this new film and expecting a lot, and also coming after Anthony Hopkins is not very easy and it was a bit scary for me."

The initial hesitation, however, did not prevent Ulliel from impressing his director, as this news feed says: "Hannibal Rising director Peter Webber knew he'd found the right "sick puppy" to play the young Hannibal Lecter when his lead started finding his autopsy research fascinating. In order to play the infamous fictional cannibal, French actor Gaspard Ulliel had to learn all about the insides of the human body and how to slice it open, and so Webber sent him to autopsy lessons."

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Webber says: "It seemed, to me, very important that if Gaspard were to play Hannibal Lecter with any conviction he needed to go through some of his experiences. A lot of the story takes place in medical school and we know that Lecter is involved with preparing dead bodies, so what better thing to do than to send him to a medical school to see how bodies are cut up?"

"My next project is very different. It's a very small art house film and the role is kind of the opposite of this one. I'm playing a guardian angel and it's a director from New Zealand, Niki Caro, who did North Country and Whale Rider. It's a nice small story about a vintner, a winemaker who is going to meet his guardian angel. It's going to be shot in France and New Zealand and it's with another French actor, Jérémie Renier, and the actress that was in the last Scorsese [film], The Departed, Vera Farmiga."

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Why you should watch all of Gaspard Ulliel’s movies, even those that suck!: I’m a big fan of French movies. Sometimes I get to see a number of top French actors making their way into big Hollywood productions, although many have failed to make an impact at the box office. The latest is Gaspard Ulliel. [ read more ]

THE VINTNER'S LUCK: Gaspard Ulliel and Jeremie Renier: Two of today's most talented young actors, rising French stars Gaspard Ulliel and Jérémie Renier, will play pivotal roles in the new Niki Caro film called The Vintner's Luck. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by New Zealand author Elizabeth Knox. [ read more ]

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Profile of Gaspard Ulliel written by Jed Medina and Kat Sydenham for the Movie-Fanatic, with info/tidbits taken from various sources, including gaspardulliel.net and his IMDb page.

Comments (16)

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Strayed...
written by Redge Castro, June 11, 2007

Hannibal Rising was a disappointment, Gong Li was great, and Gaspard did ok, but the movie is not. :upset

I like Strayed best.

hmmm
written by Admin, June 14, 2007

I watched both Strayed and Hannibal Rising and thought that yeah, Strayed is the better among the two- impressive even. Gaspard is younger there, but more intense and his acting seems more focused, in Hannibal, it was also ok for me, but not impressive. I think the box office results show that many film goers did not like it either...

...
written by Rina H., June 17, 2007

Though I had the impression that many people who went into "Hannibal Rising" did not even give Ulliel the chance to shine. They were biased because of Anthony Hopkins' brillant performances as Hannibal Lecter.

For me personally I think Ulliel did a good job. To quote a friend of mine who is a Hannbial fan: "Everybody has to start little to become great!"... even Hannibal.

I watched it twice!
written by Redge Castro, June 21, 2007

Hiya Rina!

I watched Hannibal 2x, yeah gaspard was ok but he's better in the other movie, Hopkins' really made it hard for anyone to do the role and not get compared. but Gaspard started already fine!

\"Un long dimanche de fiancailles\" was
written by Krista, October 30, 2007

It is probably one og the greatest novie of all time! It also doesn't hurt that Gaspard is sexy. :roll

I Love Gaspard.
written by SomeBody, February 14, 2008

Oh I love Gaspard Ulliel a lot.I first came to know him from Hannibal Rising,because I'm a huge huge Dr.Lecter fan.Well I think he is amazing.

Omelet?!
written by SomeBody, February 14, 2008

P.S:I had already seen that interview,an OMELET?!That was FUNNY AS HELL!! ) =))

Most popular
written by jedmed, February 14, 2008

yes, Gaspard is quite an actor, he's also our most popular profile, with more than 1k views. Hannibal Rising was not an impressive film, but I think may critics have been quite unfair in their reviews. Ulliel did a great job and I hope he'll star in other english version movies. He's in The Vintner's Luck, our most favorite film feature here!

Gaspard
written by Grace, February 19, 2008

I looove him I really believe him when he's acting lol

too bad he's not playing Edward in Twilight, the upcoming film u-u bcuz he's just perfect for that part D:

gaspard
written by toastie, March 25, 2008

hey grace!
ur so right!!! gaspard would have made an awsome edward...i even made a shorrt movie of him as edward, but they say that after all the makeup, you can't really tell

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written by Ann, April 17, 2008

I absolutley loved "A Very Long Engagement"! Gaspard did a great job and I was blubbering at the end. I haven't seen Hannibal, since I can't really handle gore and blood. I'm actually read The Vintner's Luck right now, and I'm very interested to see it portrayed on film. Xas' character is fascinating and I'm excited to see what Gaspard brings to the table. Does anyone know if its going to have a worldwide release?

Oh Gaspard!
written by Annina, May 21, 2008

Mr. Ulliel is the man of my dreams. I adore him

yay!
written by trixie!:D, May 28, 2008

wow, i think that gaspard is possibly the hottest man alive. not george cloony. ahah

i think he was amazing in hannibal rising, creepy yet very atractive, wich made the movie so much more enjoyable :].
even though he had to follow anthony hopkins brilliant performance in "scilence of the lambs' he did great.


gaspard, your awsome.

keep up the good work!


p.s HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EDWARD!

...
written by IloveUlliel, May 30, 2008

I love him.


He is such a amazing actor and a great model. So gorgeous. I love the movies he's in and his skills.

None can compare to Gaspard
written by Ilina, July 10, 2008

I loooove Gaspard!! especially in A Very long Engagement...he shud do more English movies!

mm..
written by Daria, July 22, 2008

He is too sexy )

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