Lambert Wilson mini-bio: Since graduating from London’s Drama Centre, multi-talented French actor Lambert Wilson has worked extensively in films and stage on both sides of the Atlantic. He recently wrapped production on two features: Babylon A.D. directed by Mathieu Kassovitz and starring Vin Diesel and The Heaven Project with Paul Walker about a reformed criminal who wants to be reunited with his family. In addition, he will next be seen in the independent film Flawless with Demi Moore and Michael Caine. Wilson previously starred in the Alain Resnais film Private Fears in Public Places marking his third collaboration with the director. However, it was Wilson’s role as ‘Merovingian’ in both Matrix sequels (Reloaded and Revolutions) that first captured the attention of American audiences.
Wilson has been nominated five times for the French Cesar (equivalent of our Academy Awards), most recently for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Fabian Onteniente’s comedy Jet Set. His first starring role was opposite Sean Connery in Five Days One Summer. He has also worked with Penelope Cruz in the adventure film Sahara; Halle Berry in Catwoman; Jodie Foster in Claude Chabrol’s The Blood of Others and with Juliette Binoche in Rendez-Vous. Other film credits include the Resnais’ films Pas Sur la Bouche with Audrey Tatou and Same Old Song; Richard Donner’s Timeline; Andrzej Wajda’s The Possessed; Peter Greenaway’s The Belly of an Architect; Carlos Saura’s El Dorado; James Ivory’s acclaimed Jefferson in Paris; Vera Belmont’s Red Kiss and Marquise; John Duigan’s The Leading Man; Jacques Doillon’s Trop(peu) d’amour; Deborah Warner’s The Last September; and Raul Ruiz’ Combat d’amour en Songe, among others.
On stage, Wilson has performed in both French and English. He just completed a series of performances (in English) of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, in which he portrayed three different characters: ‘Voltaire,’ ‘Pangloss’ and ‘Martin.’ Previously, he starred in A Little Night Music, directed by Sean Matthias, with Judi Dench for the Royal National Theater in London and in Harold Pinter’s Ashes to Ashes. Other stage credits include L’Amour de L’Amour, La Machine Infernale, La Celestine, Eurydice and Ruy Blas. Wilson has also directed himself in Musset’s Les Caprices de Marianne, which opened in Peter Brooks’ Theatre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, and subsequently toured throughout France. In addition he directed Kristen Scott Thomas and performed in Racine’s Berenice at the Avignon Festival and at the Chaillot National Theatre in Paris.
As a singer, Wilson recorded an album of songs from the Great American musicals entitled Musicals. The album, released by EMI and produced by John McGlinn, formed the basis of his concert series Lambert Wilson chante at the Casino de Paris and on tour. He recorded a collection of classic songs from the golden age of French cinema entitled Demon et Merveilles on Virgin Classics as well and opened the new Theatre des Abbesses in Paris with concert performances based on these recordings. The show, also titled Demons et Merveilles, toured France and was presented in Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan. In addition, Wilson is set to go back into the studio to record his first pop album of French songs for EMI.
