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Matrix's Villain Background: French actor Lambert Wilson, son of celebrated actor Georges Wilson, has created a reputation for himself as a productive leading man in his native country with more than 60 movies under his belt, including his César-nominating performances in “Femme publique, La” (1984), “Rendez-vous” (1985), “Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre/ Winter of '54: Father Pierre” (1989), “On connaît la chanson/Same Old Song” (1997) and Jetset” (2000). However, the good looking actor did not enjoy huge popularity in America until he was cast in the evil turn of Merovingian in the last two sequels “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions” (both 2003). He also has appeared in “Timeline” (2003), “Catwoman” (2004, earned a Razzie nomination), “Sahara” (2005) and “Flawless” (2007). Other notable credits include “Five Days One Summer” (1982), “The Belly of an Architect” (1987), “The Possessed” (1988), “Dorado, El” (1988), “Jefferson in Paris” (1995), “Marquise” (1997), “The Last September” (1999), “Pas sur la Bouche” (2003) and “Coeurs” (2006). Wilson also has acted in many TV productions and on the stage. Outside of acting, he is an accomplished singer, having recorded two albums: “Musicals” (1989) and “Demon e & Merveilles” (1996), and a busy narrator. Recently starring in “Dante 01” (2008), Wilson will play roles in the upcoming films “The Heaven Project (2008, with Paul Walker), the comedy “Baby Love” (2008), “Grand alibi, Le” (2008), “Babylon A.D. (2008) and “Étrange monsieur Trip, L'” (2008).
Son of Actor
Childhood and Family: Lambert Wilson was born on August 3, 1958, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He is the son of renowned French actor Georges Wilson and Nicole, a former photo model. He graduated from London's Drama Centrer in 1977.
Five Days One Summer
Career: Lambert Wilson made his first film appearance in director Fred Zinnemann's “Julia” (1977), starring Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. He returned to France after graduating from London's prolific Drama Centre and appeared in several French television dramas and feature films, including the miniseries “Gaston Phébus” (1978) and the Jean-Pierre Lowf Legoff-directed “New Generation” (1979), which marked his film acting debut. It was not until 1982 that Wilson got his first leading role in the drama “Five Days One Summer,” directed by Zinnemann. In his English-language debut the burgeoning actor held his own against screen heavy Sean Connery. After the performance, Wilson's film career took off. From 1982 to 1989, he made no less than 18 films and had the opportunities of working with such noted filmmakers as Claude Chabrol, Carlos Saura and Andrzej Wajda. Some of his credits were “Sang des autres, Le/ The Blood of Others” (1984, with Jodie Foster), Vera Belmont's “Rouge baiser/ Red Kiss” (1985), Peter Greenaway’s “The Belly of an Architect” (1987), director Andre Techine's “Possédés, Les/The Possessed” (1988) and “Dorado, El” (1988). Wilson also netted a Best Supporting César nomination in “Femme publique, La” (1984) and Best Actor César in both “Rendez-vous” (1985), opposite Juliette Binoche, and “Hiver 54, l'abbé Pierre/ Winter of '54: Father Pierre” (1989). Throughout the 1990s, Wilson continued to build up strong reputation by appearing in both French and international productions. He supported Patrick Bergin, Randy Quaid and John Mills in British TV film “Frankenstein” (1992), playing Clerval, memorably portrayed Marquis de Lafayette on James Ivory’s acclaimed “Jefferson in Paris” (1995), costarred with Jon Bon Jovi and Anna Galiena in John Duigan’s “The Leading Man” (1996), reunited with filmmaker Vera Belmont for the Sophie Marceau vehicle “Marquise” (1997), in which he was cast as the celebrated lover Racine, and appeared with Michael Gambon in Deborah Warner’s “The Last September” (1999). The talented actor received his forth César nomination in the Alain Resnais-directed coemdy/musical “On connaît la chanson/Same Old Song” (1997), playing the supporting role of Marc Duveyrier. Meanwhile, Wilson gradually increased his stage persona through notable and high-profile performances in such plays as “La Machine Infernale,” with Maggie Smith, “A Little Night Music,” with Judi Dench, and “Eurydice,” along side his father. He also directed himself in a production of Musset's “Les Caprices de Marianne” (1994), which after a successful run in Paris went on to tour throughout France. Entering the new millennium, Wilson further proved he was one of France's most acclaimed actors with his César-nominated, scene-stealing role as Arthus de Poulignac in Fabian Onteniente’s comedy “Jetset” (2000), opposite Samuel Le Bihan. He followed it up with performances in such films as Raul Ruiz’ “Combat d’amour en Songe/Love Torn in Dream” (2000), “Far from China” (2001) and “Tombales, Les” (2002). Wilson went on to gain ground in Hollywood in well-liked fare like the munificent TV miniseries “Don Quixote” (2000), where he portrayed the Duke. Finally, the spectacular export gained his greatest exposure to mainstream viewers when he played villain Merovingian in the final two installments of the blockbuster Matrix franchise “The Matrix Revolutions” and “The Matrix Revolutions” (both 2003). His increasing international status was further confirmed with roles in Richard Donner's “Timeline” (2003), “Catwoman” (2004), in which he played Sharon Stone's cosmetics mogul husband George Hedare, and “Sahara” (2005). Wilson, however, has never forgotten his native country. He returned to his roots by appearing in Alain Resnais' “Pas sur la Bouche” (2003), along side Audrey Tatou, Nadine Trintignant's miniseries drama “Colette” (2003), Valérie Lemercier's coemdy “Palais royal! (2005) and “Gentille” (2005), and others. Wilson more recent credits include Alain Resnais' “Coeurs” (2006), Michael Radford's “Flawless” (2007) and “Dante 01” (2008). He has recently completed filming John Glenn's drama/thriller “The Heaven Project (2008), opposite Paul Walker. He also has three films in post-productions, namely the comedy “Baby Love,” “Grand alibi, Le” and “Babylon A.D. (all 2008), and one in pre-production, “Étrange monsieur Trip, L'” (2008). Apart from his flourishing acting career, Wilson is also known as a singer and narrator. In 1989, he recorded an album of songs the Great American musicals called “Musicals,” which was produced by John McGlinn and released by EMI. He also released “Demon et Merveilles” in 1996, a collection of classic songs from the golden age of French cinema. Wilson has toured throughout France and in such countries as Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan. As a narrator, he has collaborated with several of the world's renowned greatest conductors like Rostropovitch, Pretre Mazur, Dutoit and Ozawana. Some of his credits include “Debussy’s Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien,” “Berlioz’s Lelio,” “Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soledat” and “Schuman’s Manfred.”
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