10 Great French Actors America Loves

Every July 14, people the world over celebrate the French Revolution with Bastille Day, a holiday that commemorates the storming of a prison in France. For some reason, Americans seem pretty interested in it as well, what with it being printed in all of our calendars.


So, in honor of French National Day – as it is called in France – here are some of Hollywood's most beloved French actors working today…

Born In: Paris, France


Best Known For: Playing Leonardo DiCaprio's disturbed wife in Inception, for playing the woman who randomly sleeps with Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises, and for her Oscar-winning turn as singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose.

Born In: Rueil-Malmaison, a small town on the outskirts of Paris, France


Best Known For: Winning an Oscar without speaking for his performance in The Artist.

Born In: Paris, France (She moved to England when she was 5. Technically, she's British. But did you know she was born in France?)


Best Known For: Being a wizard.

Born In: Paris, France


Best Known For: Being a bond girl in Casino Royale. She will soon be appearing in a lead role in the upcoming Sin City sequel Sin City: A Dame To Kill For.

Born In: Casablanca, Morrocco (Moved to France at 17)


Best Known For: Training a 12-year-old Natalie Portman how to be a contract killer in the 1994 action classic Leon: The Professional.

Born In: Beaumont, Puy-de-Dome, France


Best Known For: Being a French version of the stereotypical quirky girl in the beloved French rom com Amelie. She also starred in the intensely creepy British thriller Dirty Pretty Things.

Born In: Paris, France.


Best Known For: Her Oscar-winning role in The English Patient, her Oscar-nominated role in Chocolat, and for having just appeared in Godzilla.

Born In: Paris, France


Best Known For: Playing a thief in Ocean's 12 and Ocean's 13, as well as for his performance in Black Swan.

Born In: Paris, France


Best Known For: Co-creating the Before trilogy – Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight - in which she stars alongside Ethan Hawke. The trilogy has earned her two Oscar noms for screenwriting.

Born In: Paris, France (like almost everyone ever born in France, apparently).


Best Known For: His super-hot performance as Diane Lane's adulterous boy toy in Unfaithful, as well as being married to Halle Berry.