Blue-eyed Vincent Cassel was born in Paris to a leading actor father, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and a journalist mother, Sabine Litique. Often labeled as a tough guy because of his roles, eclectic choices and talent have made of him a star of European cinema. First in La haine (1995), the young actor, actually coming from upper classes, succeeded to expr...
Show more »
Blue-eyed Vincent Cassel was born in Paris to a leading actor father, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and a journalist mother, Sabine Litique. Often labeled as a tough guy because of his roles, eclectic choices and talent have made of him a star of European cinema. First in La haine (1995), the young actor, actually coming from upper classes, succeeded to express the despair of a social class living in the suburbs of towns. This veracity in his play comes from the fact that he was in fact since years in connection with many hip-hop artists from the rising generation, (his own brother was leader of a legendary french rap group). Then the success of The crimson rivers, where he plays a young French cop alongside Jean Reno, made of him "the man to count on." He never hid his taste for rap music, break dance, Capoeira, Brasil and his endless energy, but Vincent is also a family man, married to Monica Bellucci, his Italian co-star from L'appartement (1996) (aka The Apartment); and recently a father. Show less «
I love playing baddies.
I love playing baddies.
[on press interest in his marriage with Monica Bellucci] Oh, well you know, all European media is no...Show more »
[on press interest in his marriage with Monica Bellucci] Oh, well you know, all European media is not the same. I'm sure that like in England, they can be much more bothering than in France, for example. In Paris, it's okay. We have very separate lives when we're working, working wise. I think that it's fine. Show less «
[on Irréversible (2002)] Yeah, I think that there is something saying, I say the line, that r...Show more »
[on Irréversible (2002)] Yeah, I think that there is something saying, I say the line, that revenge is a human right. I don't think that it's a human right, but it's a normal reaction. Show less «
I'm a little angry in life.
I'm a little angry in life.
The minute your parents die, you stop fighting them. I realized the more I changed my face for films...Show more »
The minute your parents die, you stop fighting them. I realized the more I changed my face for films, the more I looked like him. I always liked to disguise myself because I was trying to run away from his image. But all that is not worth it. You can't escape from what you are. Show less «
The day after I had my licence to drive I made Paris/Nice at 230 km/hour.
The day after I had my licence to drive I made Paris/Nice at 230 km/hour.
[on Irréversible (2002)] I knew we were taking part in something that wasn't for everyone. It...Show more »
[on Irréversible (2002)] I knew we were taking part in something that wasn't for everyone. It was really strong and powerful. When we went to show it at Cannes, I was scared and excited like a terrorist who had put a bomb in a church. Show less «
[on playing villainous characters, notably Jacques Mesrine] People pretend to be nice, people preten...Show more »
[on playing villainous characters, notably Jacques Mesrine] People pretend to be nice, people pretend to be smooth, and polite and everything, but this is only an appearance because the way we're built as human beings is only in paradox and contradictions. So I guess, you know, when I read so-called baddies, I think they're more human than heroes most of the time. Show less «
My father is best known for his light comedies, and I'm best known for crazy bad guys with short tem...Show more »
My father is best known for his light comedies, and I'm best known for crazy bad guys with short tempers. Show less «
I feel like the so-called bad guys are never totally bad. I guess it's the closest thing I can do to...Show more »
I feel like the so-called bad guys are never totally bad. I guess it's the closest thing I can do to reality: people act nice but nobody really is nice. We all have to balance that with something dark. How we balance it is what makes something interesting... My character in "La Haine," he's not bad, he's unhappy and usually people are like that. Most of us are angry. [breaks off, then laughs] Maybe one day I'll play Buddha. Show less «
[on his wife, Monica Bellucci] Her best asset of actress - and woman too! - is not her beauty, but h...Show more »
[on his wife, Monica Bellucci] Her best asset of actress - and woman too! - is not her beauty, but her intelligence. Her intelligence of people and of things. She is very perspicacious, very attentive with the others and has a great faculty to put them at ease. To work with her, I would say, to put besides any concept of couple, that it is as when I find Mathieu [Mathieu Kassovitz]: together, one goes more directly to essence. Plus, she is an incredible hard worker. She has a curiosity of cinema which is rare. She is moved by the directors, she is very listening . . . In general, I recognize it, I am interested more in the actors than in the actresses - is already well to recognize it! But her, she has something that few actresses have. A manner of exceeding reality, of making dream. I like to look at her playing... Show less «
I think I'm actually more vulnerable than people imagine.
I think I'm actually more vulnerable than people imagine.
[asked what he would do if the world was to end in five minutes] Until today I would have said, "Get...Show more »
[asked what he would do if the world was to end in five minutes] Until today I would have said, "Get into a plane and jump out with a parachute". Now that I've done it, I would say, "make love for the last time hoping that it is my wife who is at my side." Show less «