
Malik Zidi
Malik Zidi was born in Châtenay-Malabry to a Kabyle Algerian father and a Breton mother. He spent his formative years in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, a suburb of Paris. Zidi abandoned his conventional studies early to concentrate on a career in comedy. Following courses at the Théâtre Véronique Nordey, and the Théâtre de Proposition in Paris, he briefly studied acrobatics and mime at the Théâtre de la Piscine and cinema at the Studio Pygmalion. Zidi made his first film appearance in the 1998 Sébastien Lifshitz-directed Les Corps ouverts. In 2000, Zidi was chosen by director François Ozon to appear as the troubled, lovelorn, bisexual youth Franz in the Teddy Award-winning film Water Drops on Burning Rocks (French:Gouttes d'eau sur pierres brûlantes). The film was based on the play Tropfen auf heisse Steine by German film director and screenwriter Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The film is a four-part comedy-drama shot entirely on one set and featuring only four actors: Zidi, Bernard Giraudeau, Ludivine Sagnier and American actress Anna Levine. Zidi's role in Water Drops on Burning Rocks garnered him his first of four César Award nominations. Malik Zidi followed up with roles in the 2002 Antoine Santana-directed Un moment de bonheur (English: One Moment of Happiness) opposite Isild Le Besco, earning his second César Award nomination for Most Promising Actor. In 2004, he appeared in the André Téchiné-directed romantic drama Les Temps qui changent (English release title: Changing Times) as Sami, the bisexual son of Cécile (portrayed by Catherine Deneuve), who visits his parents in Tangiers so that he may visit his Moroccan boyfriend. The film also starred actor Gérard Depardieu and was nominated for a Satellite Award. Zidi received his third César Award nomination. In 2006, Zidi appeared in the Emmanuel Bourdieu-drama Les Amitiés maléfiques (English release title: Poison Friends). The film was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival and Bourdieu received the Critics Week Grand Prize and the Grand Golden Rail. The film also won the SACD Screenwriting Award and Zidi was once again nominated for a César Award, winning the Award for Most Promising Actor 2007. In addition to film, Zidi has appeared in numerous television roles. In 2020, Zidi penned his first novel L'ombre du soir, which was published by Éditions Anne Carrière.
63 acting credits
Acting · 63

Oxygen
2021

Mysteries of Lisbon
2011

Nox
2018

Disturbing Disappearances
2019

The Soul Eater
2024

Water Drops on Burning Rocks
2000

The Accursed Kings
2005

When Fall Is Coming
2024

Gloria
2021

Enquête parallèle
2023

Ex
2009

Pardon My French
2009

Made in France
2015

Marie Curie
2016

Place Vendôme
1998

Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti
2017

Les Thibault
2003
Le Rouge et le Noir
2026

Jacquou the Rebel
2007

Rebellion
2011

Daguerrotype
2016

Lines of Wellington
2012

The Marchers
2013

The Assistant
2015

The Sky of the Centaur
2017

Old Goriot
2004

Sons of Ramses
2023

The Great Meaulnes
2006

What's Wrong with My Family?
2022

Play
2019

Mysteries of Lisbon
2010

Almost Peaceful
2002

Berthe Morisot
2012

Sissi, the Rebellious Empress
2004

The Gordji Affair
2012

Looking for Cheyenne
2005

Wolfy: The Incredible Secret
2013

Clara
2008

Changing Times
2004

You, Me and Us
2012

My Children Are Different
2003

Les Zygs, le Secret des Disparus
2007

Towards the Battle
2019
Passe-muraille
—

Poison Friends
2006

Whatever Happened to My Revolution
2019

The Queen of Clubs
2010
Incarnation
—

Flavors of Iraq
2024

Open Bodies
1998

Her Mother, the Whore
2001

Beyond the Ocean
2006

Miroir, mon beau miroir
2008
Le Refuge
—

Après moi
2010

La mort n'oublie personne
2009

A Moment of Happiness
2002

Amaro amore
2013

Le baiser
2008

The Color of Kings
2020
L'Onzième Commandement
1998
Que demande le peuple
—

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
2014