Lambert Wilson – mine host at Cannes

Actor returns for a repeat performance.

by Richard Mowe

Lambert Wilson - returning to the Croisette as master of ceremonies
Lambert Wilson - returning to the Croisette as master of ceremonies

That most elegant and refined of French actors, Lambert Wilson, will be back at the Cannes Film Festival in May to host both the opening and closing ceremonies in the presence of jury presidents Joel and Ethan Coen.

The organisers of the Festival made no apologies for inviting him back for duty on the 13 May and for the closing awards on 24 May.

“Lambert Wilson left a distinct mark on the 67th Festival de Cannes ceremonies with his elegance, poise and lyrical eloquence while evoking his love of cinema,” organisers said.

Outside of France the versatile Wilson is best known for his roles in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Currently he is to be seen in Suite Française with Kristin Scott Thomas and Michelle Williams.

He first came to the Croisette in 1985 when he appeared alongside Juliette Binoche in André Techine’s Rendez-vous and he served as jury president of the Un Certain Regard sidebar in 1999.

Cannes put him further in the limelight when he starred in Of Gods And Men, Grand Jury Prize winner in 2010, for which he later won a Best Actor César award.

The Festival which runs from 13 to 24 May, looks set to reveal the complete programme in Paris on 16 April.

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