Leïla Bekhti

Acting

Leïla Bekhti

Born 1984-03-06 · Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Leïla Bekhti (ليلى بختي) is a French-Algerian actress, born on March 6, 1984, in Issy-les-Moulineaux. She notably received the César Award for Most Promising Actress in 2011 for her role in Tout Ce Qui Brille. In 2010, Leïla Bekhti married actor Tahar Rahim, whom she met in 2007 on the set of the film A Prophet. Leïla Bekhti was born into an Algerian family from Sidi Bel Abbès in western Algeria, who settled in the Paris region. Born in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Leïla Bekhti grew up in Bagneux. She is the youngest of three children. While a high school student, she regularly bought Casting magazine, with the sole intention of having fun looking for ads that might be of interest to her, without taking any action each time they did. After obtaining a literary baccalaureate (with a theater option) from the Maurice-Genevoix high school in Montrouge, she reluctantly enrolled in a university and took an art therapy course there.[4] She also attended a theater school in Paris for six months, without much regular attendance. While working various odd jobs—including as a saleswoman in a clothing store owned by her brother in Orléans—to pay for her classes, she then enrolled at the Stéphane-Gildas school in Paris, then Bérengère Basty's class at the Art'aire Studio. In 2005, encouraged by friends, she went to the casting of Sheitan, a film by Kim Chapiron with Vincent Cassel (also the film's producer), and obtained one of the main roles, that of Yasmine, a young woman with no fears. Leïla Bekhti then played in the TV film Harkis with Smaïn and rediscovered the history of Algeria, the country where her family comes from. We find Leïla Bekhti in Paris, Je T’Aime then in Roschdy Zem's first film Mauvaise Foi. Then, her friend Géraldine Nakache offered her the main role alongside her in Tout Ce Qui Brille, a real box-office success, which earned her a César for Most Promising Actress. In 2011, she played in Toi, Moi, Les autres and Itinéraire Bis. After La Source Des Femmes, Leïla Bekhti returned to the screen in A Better Life with Guillaume Canet in January 2012. This was followed by more than fifty films and as many notable roles, in both drama and comedy, for film and television (see filmography). In her private life, Leila Bekhti met actor Tahar Rahim on the set of Jacques Audiard's film A Prophet, released in 2009. They married discreetly in 2010 and went on to have five children.

Acting credits

Paris Je T'aime poster
6.8

Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes, a husband trying to choose between his wife and his lover, and a married man who turns to a prostitute for advice.

Paris Je T'aime

2006

A Prophet poster
7.6

Sentenced to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena is alone in the world and can neither read nor write. On his arrival at the prison, he seems younger and more brittle than the others detained there. At once he falls under the sway of a group of Corsicans who enforce their rule in the prison. As the 'missions' go by, he toughens himself and wins the confidence of the Corsican group.

A Prophet

2009

Beirut poster
6.3

In 1980s Beirut, Mason Skiles is a former U.S. diplomat who is called back into service to save a colleague from the group that is possibly responsible for his own family's death. Meanwhile, a CIA field agent who is working under cover at the American embassy is tasked with keeping Mason alive and ensuring that the mission is a success.

Beirut

2018

Mesrine: Killer Instinct poster
7.3

Jacques Mesrine, a loyal son and dedicated soldier, is back home and living with his parents after serving in the Algerian War. Soon he is seduced by the neon glamour of sixties Paris and the easy money it presents. Mentored by Guido, Mesrine turns his back on middle class law-abiding and soon moves swiftly up the criminal ladder.

Mesrine: Killer Instinct

2008

Perfect Nanny poster
6.1

When Myriam, the mother of two young children, decides, despite the reluctance of her husband to resume her activity in a law firm, the couple is looking for a nanny. After a severe casting, they hire Louise, who quickly conquers the affection of children and gradually occupies a central place in the home. Gradually the trap of mutual dependence will close, until the tragedy.

Perfect Nanny

2019

Maria Montessori poster
7.0

Set in 1900, Lili d’Alengy, a Parisian cocotte at the height of her fame, flees Paris to hide her “idiot” daughter. There she meets Maria Montessori, who is pioneering a teaching method that may help the child.

Maria Montessori

2023

Once Upon My Mother poster
7.0

In 1963, Esther gives birth to Roland, the youngest of a large family. Roland is born with a club foot that prevents him from standing. Against everyone's advice, she promises her son that he will walk like the others and that he will have a fabulous life. From then on, Esther will do everything in her power to keep this promise. Through decades of trials and miracles of life, this film is the story of a true, funny and moving story, that of an incredible destiny and the greatest love there is: that of a mother for her child.

Once Upon My Mother

2025

Sink or Swim poster
6.9

40-year-old Bertrand has been suffering from depression for the last two years and is barely able to keep his head above water. Despite the medication he gulps down all day, every day, and his wife's encouragement, he is unable to find any meaning in his life. Curiously, he will end up finding this sense of purpose at the swimming pool, by joining an all-male synchronised swimming team.

Sink or Swim

2018

All Your Faces poster
7.9

Since 2014, France's restorative justice programmes have offered a safe space for supervised dialogue between offenders and victims. Grégoire, Nawelle, and Sabine, victims of heists and violent robberies, agree to join one of these discussion groups alongside offenders Nassim, Issa, and Thomas, all convicted of violent robberies. Meanwhile Chloé, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, prepares for dialogue with her own agressor after learning he has moved back into town.

All Your Faces

2023

Itinéraire bis poster
5.3

35-year-old Jean still lives with his mother in a small village in Corsica and works as a cook in the family's restaurant. His future, to his great despair, is all mapped out: he'll take over the restaurant. But one day Nora, a young and forceful woman, is thrown into the sea from a racing yacht. She washes up on the beach at Jean's feet - adventure has at last knocked at his door.

Itinéraire bis

2011

How I Became a Superhero poster
6.1

Paris 2020. While superheroes have assimilated into the Parisian society, they discover a new drug that gives themselves personal superpowers to mere mortals. Lieutenants Moreau and Schaltzmann are investigating the case with the support of two ex-superheroes, Monte Carlo and Callista. They'll do whatever it takes to dismantle the traffic. But Moreau's past resurfaces, and the investigation becomes more complicated.

How I Became a Superhero

2020

The Original+ poster
6.0

Canal+ Group hosted a live splashy American-style upfront presentation the Olympia in Paris, unveiling their prestige 2026 slate.

The Original+

2025

The Restless poster
6.8

Leila and Damien are deeply in love. Despite his bipolar disorder, he tries to pursue his life with her, knowing he may never be able to offer her what she desires.

The Restless

2021

Satan poster
5.8

A group of young people leave a disco and bump into a shepherd who is ready to spend his night worshipping Satan.

Satan

2006

Carnivores poster
5.5

At the dawn of her thirties, Mona tries relentlessly to take off as an actress. Time passes and proposals do not arrive. Short of resources, she is forced to move to Sam, her younger sister.

Carnivores

2018

Astragal poster
5.5

On a night of April 1957, Albertine, a brillant and rebel 19-year-old girl, jumps from the wall of the prison where she’s serving a sentence for a holdup. In her fall, a bone from her ankle breaks: the astragal. She is rescued by Julien, a justice fugitive, and so is born a burning passion between them. He takes her to Paris and hides her. But while he leads his gangster life here and there, the young woman struggles for her freedom and against the wounds inflicted by Julien’s absence, and writes poetry.

Astragal

2015

No artwork available
5.5

No synopsis available yet.

Le Débarquement 2

2013

Before the Winter Chill poster
5.9

They are the perfect French haute bourgeois couple: Paul is a respected surgeon and Lucie cooks and gardens exquisitely. But now, in the autumn of his life, Paul can’t resist the lure of an ambiguous and dangerous relationship with a mysterious young woman. Might there be something sinister behind the roses delivered to his office and the “chance” meetings?

Before the Winter Chill

2013

A Man in a Hurry poster
6.5

The story revolves around Alain, a busy businessman who is always in a rush. In his life, there is no room for spare time or family. But one day, he suffers a stroke, which makes him lose his grasp of language and use one word in place of another.

A Man in a Hurry

2018

I'll Go Where You Go poster
5.6

Vali and Mina are two sisters who are polar opposites, pushed apart by life’s hardships and trials. One is a singer, a dreamer and emotional. The other is a therapist, distant and rational. Their loving father has finally found the perfect opportunity to bring them together, if only for a weekend, in order to hopefully patch things up between them: Vali has an audition in Paris and it’s mina who has to accompany her despite her contempt for her sister’s passion.

I'll Go Where You Go

2019

Harkis poster
7.1

1972, in the south of France, deep in the forest, a family with meager luggage discovers the new camp where they will live. Despite the camp leader's overt paternalism, the Harkis lead a difficult life without real freedom. A life of poverty and guardianship that Leila, the Benamars' eldest daughter, rejects. She is at the age of rebellion, and also of her first love. For her, her father, Saïd, scarred by war and exile, accustomed to giving in, owes nothing to the French who enlisted him in the French army, then failed to protect them in Algeria. Thanks to her, with the help of a peasant couple, he will raise his head and the Benamars will leave the camp for a nearby farm.

Harkis

2008

Speak Up poster
7.8

Raise the voice, speak eloquently, construct and argue a discourse. Tools so necessary in life as exciting to build. In Paris, the date of Eloquentia, an oratory contest where young people —not exactly privileged— will measure their strength, is approaching.

Speak Up

2017

Violette poster
NR

Violette Toussaint, a cemetery caretaker in a small town in Burgundy, is a unique observer and a compassionate listener. Her peaceful life is filled by conversations with quirky cemetery workers and the many visitors who share their stories of love, loss, and life. However, her routine is disrupted when a local police chief arrives at her door with an unusual request. As they grow closer, Violette comes to understand that the truth behind long-buried mysteries in her past must be uncovered if she wants to take another chance on life and, against all odds, love.

Violette

2026

The Source poster
6.5

A comedy/drama set in a village and centered on a battle of the sexes, where women threaten to withhold sexual favours as long as the men refuse to install a water pipe.

The Source

2011