Hafsia Herzi (born 25 January 1987) is a French actress, screenwriter, and director. She is best known for her debut role in the award-winning Franco-Tunisian feature The Secret of the Grain for which she won the award for most promising actress at the César Awards 2008, and the Marcello Mastroianni award, for best emerging actor/actress at the 64th Venice International Film Festival.[1]

Hafsia Herzi
Hafsia Herzi at the 2018 Cabourg Film Festival
Born (1987-01-25) 25 January 1987 (age 37)
Occupation(s)Actress, film director
Years active2007–present

Early life

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Herzi is of Tunisian descent from her father and Algerian from her mother, and is the youngest of a family of four children (two brothers and a sister, Dalila). After her parents' divorce, her father remarried in Algeria. Her mother lives in Marseille, where Herzi grew up.

Career

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Acting

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Herzi's film debut is 2007's The Secret of the Grain.[2] She has also appeared in 2011's House of Tolerance.[3]

In 2016, Herzi starred in Sex Doll.[4] Aside from her French film work, she has also appeared in American independent films War Story and This Teacher.[5][6]

Filmmaking

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In 2019, Herzi directed her first feature film, You Deserve a Lover.[7] In June 2021, her second feature, Good Mother (Bonne Mère), was selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.[8] At Cannes, it won the Ensemble Prize in the Un Certain Regard section.[9]

Personal life

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Herzi has a son with her partner, cyclist Nacer Bouhanni.[10][11]

In 2017, Herzi had an altercation with a chauffeur after the latter declined her request for a detour.[12] According to Herzi, the chauffeur had previously made sexual innuendos alluding to nude scenes in her films and accusing her of violating religious morals.[13] She was cleared of charges of insult by the court of first instance,[14] but the Court of Appeal of Paris found her guilty of non-public racial insult.[15]

Selected filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Secret of the Grain Rym César Award for Most Promising Actress
Lumières Award for Most Promising Actress
Marcello Mastroianni Award
Shooting Stars Award
2008 Dawn of the World Zahra
A Man and His Dog Leïla
2009 The King of Escape Curly Durandot
Buried Secrets Aïcha
2010 The Rabbi's Cat Zlebia Voice
2011 Jimmy Rivière Sonia
House of Tolerance Samira
The Source Loubna Esmeralda
2012 The Inheritance Hajar
2013 Exit Marrakech Karima
The Marchers Monia
On My Way Jeanne
2014 Le Sac de farineh Sarah
Certifiée Halal
War Story Hafsia
2015 Par accident Amra
2016 Sex Doll Virginie
2017 Des plans sur la comète Inès
Of Skin and Men Amel
Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno Camélia
2018 Féminin plurielles Hafsia Chouchane
Black Tide
Le Banc
This Teacher
2019 You Deserve a Lover Lila Also as director
Mektoub My Love: Intermezzo Camélia
Persona non grata Iris
2021 Madame Claude Nadège
Good Mother Director
À l'ombre des filles Jess
2022 Three Nights a Week Samia
La Gravité Sabrina
La Cour Director
2023 The Rapture Lydia
Borgo Melissa
2024 My New Friends World premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival[16]

References

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  1. ^ Dupont, Joan (2008-02-21). "Hafsia Herzi portrays another France in 'La graine et le mulet'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  2. ^ Mandelbaum, Jacques (14 July 2009). ""Ne pas être cantonnée à l'Arabe de service"". Le Monde. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. ^ Feinstein, Howard (16 May 2011). "House Of Tolerance". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. ^ Goldstein, Gary (9 February 2017). "European drama 'Sex Doll' is a meandering take on a high-end call girl". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  5. ^ Michael, Chris (28 January 2014). "War Story – first look review". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  6. ^ Sarachan, Risa (28 September 2020). "'This Teacher,' Mark Jackson's Provocative Film About Fear And Racism In America". Forbes. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  7. ^ Young, Deborah (20 May 2019). "'You Deserve a Lover' ('Tu merites un amour'): Film Review | Cannes 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  8. ^ Sharf, Zack (10 June 2021). "Cannes Film Festival 2021 Lineup: Sean Baker, Wes Anderson, and More Compete for Palme d'Or". IndieWire. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  9. ^ Soriano, Jianne (18 July 2021). "Cannes Film Festival 2021: Full Winners List". Asia Tatler. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  10. ^ Goldszal, Clémentine (10 October 2023). "Le cinéma fait femmes d'Hafsia Herzi". Le Monde. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  11. ^ Kachour, Walid (3 October 2023). "Nacer Bouhanni en couple : qui est sa compagne Hafsia Herzi ?". Télé-Loisirs. Prisma Media. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  12. ^ Dubois, Camille (5 December 2019). "Hafsia Herzi condamnée pour injure raciale contre un chauffeur VTC". Purepeople. Webedia. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Un Arabe peut-il traiter un Arabe de « sale Arabe » ? Deuxième acte". Le Point. 7 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Hafsia Herzi condamnée pour avoir traité un chauffeur VTC de « sale Arabe »". Le Point. 4 December 2019.
  15. ^ "L'actrice française Hafsia Herzi condamnée pour avoir traité un chauffeur de "sale Arabe"". RTL info. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  16. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (17 January 2024). "Berlinale Unveils Full Panorama, Forum & Generation Line-Ups With New Films By Nathan Silver, Levan Akin, André Téchiné & Bruce LaBruce". Deadline. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
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