Laurent Lucas

As a young man, Laurent Lucas studied under the prominent French acting teacher Charles Dullin and quickly became one of the most admired performers at the prestigious Strasbourg National Theatre. In 1997, he landed his first professional acting role, in the French film "I Hate Love," and wowed audiences with his riveting performance of an HIV-positive man. The success of that film gave Lucas the opportunity to work with acclaimed French director Dominik Moll in the 2000 psychological thriller "Harry, He's Here to Help." Lucas played a man who's tormented by a high school acquaintance; at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, the film was nominated for the Golden Palm. Lucas worked with Moll again on the 2005 psychological thriller "Lemming." His stirring performance in that film, as a newlywed on the brink, certified Lucas's status as one of the leading French actors of his generation.