--- name: "Zinedine Soualem" canonical: "https://film.one/person/zinedine-soualem" fi1m_id: "zinedine-soualem" imdb_id: "nm0815668" tmdb_id: 5445 wikidata_id: "Q204394" roles: ["Actor"] born: "17 April 1957" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 84 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-30T22:25:08.117136+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Zinedine Soualem ## Identity Zinedine Soualem - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zinedine-soualem - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** zinedine-soualem - **IMDb ID:** nm0815668 - **TMDB ID:** 5445 - **Wikidata ID:** Q204394 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinedine_Soualem, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204394, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815668/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5445 Actor. Born 17 April 1957 in Thiers, Puy-de-Dôme, France. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 17 April 1957, Thiers, Puy-de-Dôme, France - **Active:** 1995–present - **Also known as:** Zinédine Soualem, Zinedine Soulem - **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 acting, 1 other - **Average Fi1m score:** 84, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 90 (1), 2000s 87 (1), 2010s 82 (1), 2020s 74 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 84 to 77 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, History 2, Thriller 1 - **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $36m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinedine_Soualem, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204394, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815668/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5445 ## Streaming the US now - **Paramount+:** [*September 5*](https://film.one/film/september-5.md) (74) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Zinedine Soualem is a French actor of Algerian origin. He was born on 17 April 1957 in Thiers, Puy-de-Dôme. He began as a street mime in 1976 and worked in that capacity for seven years before moving into theatre in 1983, appearing in Jean Genet’s *The Screens* directed by Patrice Chéreau and later performing with Ariane Mnouchkine’s company. Soualem has appeared in numerous films, often in supporting roles. He has worked repeatedly with director Cédric Klapisch, including in *When the Cat’s Away* (1996), *The Spanish Apartment* (2002), *Russian Dolls* (2005) and *Chinese Puzzle* (2013). Other notable credits include *La Haine* (1995), *Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra* (2002), *The Diving Bell and the Butterfly* (2007), *Welcome to the Sticks* (2008) and *September 5* (2024), in which he played Jacques Lesgards. He was married to actress Hiam Abbass; they have two daughters, actresses Lina and Mouna Soualem. He has been in a relationship with artist Caroline Faindt since 2014. *Sources: imdb.com, fr.wikipedia.org, lequipe.fr, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (4) ### Performed in (3) — the average rests on these - *September 5* (2024), Fi1m 74, as Jacques Lesgards — [page](https://film.one/film/september-5.md) - *The Diving Bell and the Butterfly* (2007), Fi1m 87, as Joubert — [page](https://film.one/film/the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly.md) - *La Haine* (1995), Fi1m 90, as Paris Plainclothes Police Officer #1 — [page](https://film.one/film/la-haine.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Call My Agent!* (2015), Fi1m 82, as Self — [page](https://film.one/tv/call-my-agent.md) ## Complete filmography (132) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Into the Blue* (2026), Actor - *Colours of Time* (2025), as Abdelkrim - *Intérim'air : Pas sérieuse s'abstenir !* (2025), series, Actor - *September 5* (2024), as Jacques Lesgards — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/september-5.md) - *Sur un fil* (2024), as Zinedine - *Bye Bye Tiberias* (2024), Archival Footage Coordinator - *Children of Paradise* (2023), as Sami - *You Promised Me the Sea* (2023), as Mahmoud - *Irresistible* (2023), series, as Amine Mansouri - *La Grande Ourse* (2023), as Charles - *Over The Cracks* (2023), as Docteur Jiveau - *Mukbanger* (2023), as Le docteur - *Umami* (2023), as Mohamad - *Divertimento* (2023), as Abdel Ziouali - *Thank God We Have Each Other* (2022), as Colinet - *You Resemble Me* (2022), as Army Officer - *Citoyen d'honneur* (2022), as Hamid Mezouar - *Off the Hook* (2022), series, as Philippe - *Vise le cœur* (2022), series, as Benard - *Je t'aime, filme-moi !* (2022), as Mime - *Rise* (2022), as L'administrateur - *Such a long night* (2022), series, as Radouane Kacem - *Exterminate All the Brutes* (2021), series, Actor - *C'était quand la dernière fois ?* (2019), Actor - *Someone, Somewhere* (2019), as Pharmacien - *Marry Me, Dude* (2017), as Père Yacine - *Everyone's Life* (2017), as Zinedine - *J'ai tué ma femme* (2017), as Le garagiste - *Heaven Will Wait* (2016), as Samir Bouzaria - *Two Birds, One Stone* (2016), as Lyess - *I'm All Yours* (2015), as Omar - le patron du Cash'Halal - *Chefs* (2015), series, as Karim - *Confessions d'Histoire* (2015), series, as Salâh ad-Dîn - *The Lies of the Victors* (2014), as Dan - *Murder in Pacot* (2014), as Leonetti - *Patchwork Family* (2014), as Patrick Fellous - *Chinese Puzzle* (2013), as M. Boubaker - *Max* (2013), as Mario - *Mood Indigo* (2013), as Le vieil homme de l'usine d'armement - *Pirate TV* (2012), as Jimmy - *State Conspiracy* (2012), as Commissaire Brindier - *Operation Casablanca* (2011), as Hassan - *The Prey* (2011), as Lucciani - *My Piece of the Pie* (2011), as Ahmed - *Nothing to Declare* (2010), as Lucas Pozzi - *The Names of Love* (2010), as Mohamed Benmahmoud, le père de Bahia - *What War May Bring* (2010), as L'accordéonniste - *Pas si simple* (2010), as Mostepha - *Divorces* (2009), as Marc - *Moloch Tropical* (2009), as Jean de Dieu Théogène, the President - *So Woman!* (2009), as Farid - *J'ai pensé à vous tous les jours* (2008), as Joseph Souhad - *JCVD* (2008), as Man wearing Beret - *Minor Revelations* (2008), Actor - *Welcome to the Sticks* (2008), as Momo - *Paris* (2008), as Mourad - *To Each His Own Cinema* (2007), as Claude Lelouch's father (segment "Cinéma de boulevard") - *Crossed Tracks* (2007), as le commissaire - *The Diving Bell and the Butterfly* (2007), as Joubert — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly.md) - *That Day* (2007), as Inspecteur Haddid - *The Nativity Story* (2006), as Girl's Father - *L'État de Grace* (2006), series, as Jean-Jacques Chrétien - *A House of Your Dreams* (2006), as Mouloud Mami - *Olé !* (2005), as Le chauffeur CL500 - *Vive la vie* (2005), as Rachid - *Venus & Apollo* (2005), series, as Daniel Varela - dit Dan - *Emmenez-moi* (2005), as Boris - *The Demon Stirs* (2005), as Samir - *Russian Dolls* (2005), as M. Boubaker - *La vie de chantier* (2004), as Pedro Pinto - *L'incruste* (2004), as Mickey - *Tar Angel* (2003), as Ahmed Kasmi - *Not For, or Against (Quite the Contrary)* (2003), as Mouss - *The Legend of Princess Parva* (2003), as Gangster (voice) - *Concours de circonstance* (2003), as Le grand frère - *If I Were a Rich Man* (2002), as Monsieur Benhassine - *Ma caméra et moi* (2002), as Max - *The Spanish Apartment* (2002), as Barman - *Satin Rouge* (2002), as Cabaret Patron (uncredited) - *Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra* (2002), as Tiler - *Teacher in a Bikini* (2002), as Alain, l'employé municipal - *La vie en gros* (2002), as Le professeur de français - *Inch'Allah dimanche* (2001), as Ahmed - *Imago* (2001), as Homme appartement jeunesse - *Fortune Tellers and Misfortune* (2001), as Roland - *J'ai tué Clémence Acéra* (2001), as Jimmy, grocer - *Bread* (2001), Actor - *Mademoiselle* (2001), as Karim Coutard - *Ligne 208* (2001), Actor - *Deuxième quinzaine de juillet* (2000), as Félix - *Banqueroute* (2000), Actor - *The Apple, the Fig and the Almond* (2000), as The man - *Génération cutter* (2000), Actor - *Peut-être* (1999), as Kader - *Sitcom, A Movie* (1999), as Areski - *Influence Peddling* (1999), as Gilles - *Ivre-Mort pour la Patrie* (1999), as Le coiffeur - *Lila Lili* (1999), as Alain - *Let There Be Light!* (1998), as Dieu l'éboueur - *Le Clone* (1998), as Elias - *Serial Lover* (1998), as Prince Hakim - *Le Jour de Noël* (1998), Actor - *La voie est libre* (1998), as Karim - *The Lilac Sweep* (1998), as Le mari - *Je ne vois pas ce qu'on me trouve* (1997), as Farid - *Gentlemen Children* (1997), as Nourdine / Ismaël - *The Forbidden Woman* (1997), as L'homme à la contravention - *The Silence of Rak* (1997), as Customer - *Mauvais Genre* (1997), as Momo - *Proper Attire Required* (1997), as Le chauffeur de taxi - *Hikers* (1997), as L'animateur - *Didier* (1997), as Camel Mimouni - *Eau douce* (1997), Actor - *I Am Your Punishment* (1996), as Pursuer #2 - *Chameleon* (1996), as Gas station attendant - *Family Resemblances* (1996), as Un client - *The Rock of Acapulco* (1996), as Ahmed - *When the Cat's Away* (1996), as Djamel - *L'Échappée belle* (1996), as l'avocat - *The Voyage of Penelope* (1996), as le vendeur de voiture - *The Apprentices* (1995), as Serveur Café - *La Haine* (1995), as Paris Plainclothes Police Officer #1 — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/la-haine.md) - *Good Old Daze* (1995), as Un hippie - *Daisy and Mona* (1994), Actor - *Normal People Are Nothing Exceptional* (1993), as Man in Front of Vidal's Hospital - *A Soul Split in Two* (1993), as Abid - *Little Nothings* (1992), as Aziz - *La nuit miraculeuse* (1989), Actor - *Hanna K.* (1983), as Villiage Sergeant - *La Bête noire* (1983), as Santiago - *God's Silence*, Actor - *Hulm*, as Le père ## Gallery - ![Zinedine Soualem](https://film.one/media/person/347923/gallery-057eb33429e7.jpg) Zinedine Soualem — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Zinedine_Soualem-8806.jpg/1280px-Zinedine_Soualem-8806.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Zinedine Soualem au festival de Cannes (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/347923/gallery-e7019b197df7.jpg) Zinedine Soualem au festival de Cannes (2018) — Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Zinedine_Soualem_Cannes_2018.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![2013 World Table Tennis Championships, Paris. Ping star](https://film.one/media/person/347923/gallery-cd521fb6265c.jpg) 2013 World Table Tennis Championships, Paris. Ping star — Pierre-Yves Beaudouin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Mondial_Ping_-_Ping_star_-_Zinedine_Soualem_02.jpg/1280px-Mondial_Ping_-_Ping_star_-_Zinedine_Soualem_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![2013 World Table Tennis Championships, Paris. Ping star](https://film.one/media/person/347923/gallery-6ba1bb2ba2b5.jpg) 2013 World Table Tennis Championships, Paris. Ping star — Pierre-Yves Beaudouin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Mondial_Ping_-_Ping_star_-_Zinedine_Soualem_01.jpg/1280px-Mondial_Ping_-_Ping_star_-_Zinedine_Soualem_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Zinedine Soualem](https://film.one/media/person/347923/gallery-492f6d79a60f.jpg) Zinedine Soualem — Image via TMDB - ![2013 World Table Tennis Championships, Paris. Ping star](https://film.one/media/person/347923/gallery-e65ea2c9bde0.jpg) 2013 World Table Tennis Championships, Paris. Ping star — Pierre-Yves Beaudouin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Mondial_Ping_-_Ping_star_-_Zinedine_Soualem_03.jpg/1280px-Mondial_Ping_-_Ping_star_-_Zinedine_Soualem_03.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/zinedine-soualem