Francis Renaud

Had circumstances been different, French film and television actor Francis Renaud might have turned out to be a steel worker like his father and grandfather before him. But after his father perished in a tragic work-related accident, the young Renaud wasn't likely to pursue any sort of industrial vocation. Instead, a different craft had captured his attention: acting. His mother worked as a movie theater usherette, which enabled his exposure to a variety of films and sparked his desire to act. Once Renaud finished his schooling, his ambition -- along with a few hundred francs in his pocket -- carried him to Paris. Like many aspiring actors before him, he suffered through a period of professional inertia. Hope arrived at last when he scored a role in "L'invité surprise" (1989), but unfortunately his performance was cut from the film during the editing stage. It would not be until director Karim Dridi's 1992 crime film, "Pigalle," that Renaud would land a lead role as the thief and hustler Fifi. Renaud spent the rest of the 1990s showing his range in a variety of comedies and dramas for both film and television. His performance in the 2002 action film "The Code" exposed him to a wider international audience, while his role in the horror movie "Mutants" (2009) and his appearance alongside Kevin Kline in the romantic comedy "Queen to Play" (2009) allowed him further opportunities to showcase his versatility.