Roschdy Zem

About

French actor and filmmaker best known for his role as Messaoud Souni in the film Days of Glory, for which he won the Best Actor award at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. He directed the 2011 film Omar Killed Me, which was selected as the Moroccan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards. 

Before Fame

He is of Moroccan descent, and he was determined not to be typecast as a European citizen with parents who immigrated from elsewhere. He played a general of Napoleon Bonaparte in the 2003 British-French film Monsieur N. He went on to play a Jewish father and a cross-dresser. 

Trivia

Some of his roles highlight the issues in mainstream French society. Others celebrate and promote aspects of French and North African history, such as Days of Glory and Camping à la Ferme. 

Family Life

He was rumored to be in a relationship with TV host Claire Chazal, but both denied this was the case. 

Associated With

In 2001 he played a cross-dresser in the movie Change My Life, starring alongside Fanny Ardant.