Among the most celebrated names in contemporary French cinema, Mathieu Amalric has steadily built a career marked by complexity, nuance, and remarkable versatility. Equally at home in experimental dramas and international blockbusters like James Bond.

Today, viewers can watch two of his most acclaimed films, My Golden Days and Rois et Reine, on TV5MONDEplus, the leading streaming platform for French content in the U.S. These films highlight the depth of Amalric’s talent and offer a gateway into the richness of modern French cinema.

From Neuilly-sur-Seine to the World Stage

Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a commune along the Seine just west of Paris, Mathieu Amalric came from an intellectual and artistic family. His mother was a literary critic, and his early exposure to art, literature, and film deeply shaped his creative path. His rise wasn’t immediate; Amalric began his career behind the scenes, working as an editor and assistant director before stepping in front of the camera.

His breakthrough came with Arnaud Desplechin’s Comment je me suis disputé... (ma vie sexuelle), a film that remains iconic in French cinema. With Desplechin, Amalric found both a collaborator and a muse, starring in several of the director’s most revered films—including the César Award-winning Rois et Reine.

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Rois et Reine: A Showcase of Duality

Released in 2004, Rois et Reine (Kings and Queen) is a fascinating portrait of two former lovers and their very different lives. Directed by Desplechin, the film shifts between melodrama and black comedy, showcasing Amalric’s extraordinary range. He plays Ismaël, a manic and troubled musician whose interactions with Nora (Emmanuelle Devos) blur the lines between absurdity and tragedy.

Amalric’s performance earned him a César Award for Best Actor, cementing his place as one of the most sought-after French actors of his generation. He delivers a portrayal that is raw, chaotic, and unforgettable—making Rois et Reine a must-watch on TV5MONDEplus.

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My Golden Days: Revisiting Youth and Identity

More than a decade later, Amalric returned to the world of Desplechin for another remarkable film: My Golden Days (Trois souvenirs de ma jeunesse). This 2015 feature serves as a prequel to Comment je me suis disputé, offering a poignant look at the formative years of the protagonist Paul Dédalus.

Though much of the film focuses on Paul’s youth, Amalric reprises the role in the present-day timeline, acting as both narrator and emotional anchor. His scenes bookend the story with reflective melancholy, reminding viewers of how memory shapes identity.

Directed with a literary and philosophical touch, My Golden Days received widespread acclaim at Cannes and other international festivals. It's currently available to stream on TV5MONDEplus—a must-see for fans of character-driven storytelling and French auteur cinema.

Hollywood Calling: Amalric as a Bond Villain

While many French actors remain largely within European cinema, Mathieu Amalric made the leap to Hollywood with surprising ease. His most globally recognized role came in Quantum of Solace (2008), the second James Bond film starring Daniel Craig.

In Quantum of Solace, Amalric plays Dominic Greene, a smooth-talking villain with a terrifyingly calm exterior. Though Greene isn’t a classic Bond adversary in the mold of Blofeld or Goldfinger, Amalric’s performance brings psychological depth to the character. He’s a corporate predator whose sinister goals are rooted in environmental exploitation and geopolitical manipulation.

The role introduced Amalric to a global audience and paved the way for more international projects, including roles in Steven Spielberg’s Munich, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch. Despite the big-budget settings, he brought the same subtlety and inner tension to his performances that define his work in French cinema.

The Depth of a French Filmmaker

Beyond acting, Mathieu Amalric is a respected filmmaker. He directed the experimental Blue Room, starring himself and Léa Drucker, and the biographical film Barbara, which featured his real-life partner Barbara Hannigan. His directorial style is intimate, unflinching, and often boundary-pushing.

An Enduring Force in Global Cinema

Whether he's portraying a Bond villain, an introspective narrator, or a tragic real-life figure like Jean Dominique Bauby in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly —where Amalric portrayed the real-life editor and journalist locked into his own body due to locked-in syndrome—, Mathieu Amalric remains one of the most compelling figures in modern French cinema. His collaborations with directors like Desplechin, Spielberg, and Wes Anderson show his ability to move between worlds while retaining his artistic integrity.

For viewers in the U.S., TV5MONDEplus offers a unique opportunity to dive into his most powerful roles—especially in French dramas like My Golden Days and Rois et Reine.

Discover the Best of French Drama on TV5MONDEplus

TV5MONDEplus is more than a streaming platform—it’s the go-to destination for French film lovers in America. With a vast catalog of award-winning dramas, iconic classics, and modern masterpieces, it features the finest talents of France, including Mathieu Amalric, Arnaud Desplechin, Emmanuelle Devos, and more.

Whether you're revisiting Rois et Reine, experiencing My Golden Days for the first time, or discovering another hidden gem, TV5MONDEplus brings you the richness and diversity of French cinema—anytime, anywhere.