Saïd Taghmaoui

Born in France to Moroccan parents, Saïd Taghmaoui was first noticed by film enthusiasts for his role as the Arab punk in “La Haine,” which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1995. The film went on to win many awards around the world at various film festivals, as well as earning Taghmaoui a César nomination ( France's equivalent to the Academy Award®) as Most Promising Newcomer.

Saïd was seen as „Breaker‟ in the hit Paramount feature “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” With many French films to his credit, his first English-language role was as Kate Winslet's lover in “Hideous Kinkey,” which led him to being cast as the brutal Iraqi officer in David O. Russell's “Three Kings.” Taghmaoui has since starred in Neil Jordan's “The Good Thief,” David Mamet's “Spartan,” and “ Hidalgo” opposite Viggo Mortensen. He reunited with David O. Russell in “I Heart Huckabees.” Additional titles include Marc Forester's “The Kite Runner” and a lead role opposite Don Cheadle and Guy Pierce in “Traitor.”

On the small screen he has appeared in “The West Wing,” “Sleeper Cell” and in “Between Two Rivers” for HBO.

A former boxer who was ranked second in his division at the height of his athletic career, Taghmaoui chose acting as a different option thanks to his friendship with writer/director/actor Mathieu Kassovitz. Together they wrote the French film “La Haine.”

©2011 Lionsgate