Michaël Abiteboul

Known primarily for his performances in dramatic and action films, French actor Michaël Abiteboul looks like a character actor, but has leading man charm and presence that easily makes him stand out. Abiteboul landed a role in a mini-series in the early 1990s, but it wasn't until 2000 when he had a small part in "Murderous Maids"--based on a notorious murder case in the 1930s involving two sisters who murdered their employers--that his career kicked in. Many of his roles were minor during this period, but the actor had a gift for making the most of his parts, leaving viewers with a strong impression even if they didn't know his name. For instance, in Michael Haneke's harrowing apocalyptic drama "Time of the Wolf," Abiteboul is only on screen for a few minutes playing a Polish immigrant, but it's a significant and memorable role nevertheless. Haneke isn't the only European heavy hitter Abiteboul has worked with; in 2005, he co-starred in "Manderlay," Lars von Trier's sequel to his controversial "Dogville," playing a mute gangster, and the same year had a role in Bertrand Blier's "How Much Do You Love Me?," starring Monica Bellucci and Gérard Depardieu. The actor has also given memorable performances in the melancholic minimalist drama "Ultranova," the historical television drama "Gaspard le bandit," and the soap opera "Nicolas Le Floch."