Gaspard Ulliel was a well-known French actor, who was granted the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He made his debut in Summer Things in 2002, which earned him a Lumières Award, one of many he would receive in his lifetime. After a horrible skiing accident, Ulliel tragically died at the age of 37. It’s only fair that he be remembered for the performances he gave us.
Ulliel had been a big name in cinema since his appearance in A Very Long Engagement and had branched out into his most known role in North America in Hannibal Rising. Most recently, Ulliel was cast in the Disney+ original MCU series Moon Knight. While we anticipate the release, there are plenty of other Ulliel performances to enjoy. These are Gaspard Ulliel’s best performances, ranked.
Hannibal Rising
Probably one of Ulliel's most well-known performances, especially in North America, is his role as a young Hannibal in Hannibal Rising. It tells the origin story of Hannibal Lector, who sees his parents' deaths at the hands of the Nazis, his journey through medical school, and his obsession with gaining revenge, which develops into a taste for killing and disposing of his victims in a cannibalistic manner. While the film itself is not one of the most revered of Hannibal films, Ulliel’s performance was enough to save Hannibal Rising from total disaster.
One Nation, One King
Set during the French Revolution, One Nation, One King follows the lives of young men and women who sacrifice everything for change. Ulliel plays the role of Basile, a revolutionary dedicated to the cause of taking down the monarchy, determined to even the playing field. Ulliel brings out the very essence of the opinions of the French people during the Revolution and their opinions of King Louis XVI as they struggle to make their voices heard. The film includes a number of historic figures including Robespierre, a French lawyer who was an advocate for citizens without a voice.
The Dancer
The Dancer is a biographical film about Marie-Louise Fuller, also known as Loie Fuller who pioneered modern dance. Marie-Louise moves to New York to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. While on stage, she avoids an embarrassing fall by spinning the fabric of her dress, inventing the Serpentine Dance. The dance gains a great deal of popularity, but when Marie-Louise finds that she is being replaced by imitators, she leaves New York for France. Ulliel plays the role of Louis, a man who takes an interest in Marie-Louise when she arrives in Paris. While Ulliel’s role is not a lead, he still manages to bring charm to his character and the screen.
Sibyl
Psychotherapist Sibyl is determined to carry out her true passion of writing. New patient of Sibyl’s, actress Margot, is a source of inspiration. Fascination with Margot’s troubled and complex life soon becomes obsession as Sibyl slowly creeps into almost every aspect of Margot’s life. Ulliel plays the role of Igor in Sibyl, Margot’s lover and co-star who is also dating the director of the film they are working on. The film features an ensemble cast alongside Ulliel including Virginie Efira, Adéle Exarchopoulos, Sandra Hüller, and Paul Hamy. Sibyl was the last film Ulliel acted in that was released during his lifetime and was even selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Saint Laurent
Telling the story of Yves Saint Laurent during his career at its height, honing his creativity to forge a sturdy identity for himself and his brand in the fashion industry. Saint Laurent explores Yves Saint Laurent’s most active years in which he built a name and reputation for himself within the industry of design. Ulliel plays the title character in Saint Laurent and his phenomenal performance as the fashion tycoon earned him a Lumières Award for Best Actor. Saint Laurent was also a contender as the French entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, but was ultimately not chosen.
Jacquou le Croquant
A film based on a miniseries of the same name from 1969 and the 1899 novel, Jacquou le Croquant is a story of an uprising against an evil nobleman. Ulliel stars as the title character Jacquou who lives a happy life with his family until the Count of Nansac has his father executed, and his mother succumbs to starvation leaving Jaquou an orphan who is forced to beg on the streets. When Jacquou grows up, he leads the citizens in an uprising against the Count. Ulliel's performance gives off the determination of a man who has had everything taken from him.
It’s Only the End of the World
Based on the play of the same name, It’s Only the End of the World revolves around writer Louis who returns to his hometown to reveal the tragic news to his family that he is dying. The film follows the struggles of both Louis and his family as they struggle to find empathy for him and his circumstances. This Canadian film earned a number of awards, including a César award for Best Actor which went to Ulliel for his performance. The film even gained credit from the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, praising director Xaviar Dolan for his contribution to the Canadian creative arts.
The Princess of Montpensier
Marie is arranged to marry the Prince of Montpensier, but trouble brews when she falls in love with soldier Henri de Guise, her childhood friend. The period romanc The Princess of Montpensier was inspired by the novel written by Madame de Lafayette. It includes the religious strife that occured and St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre in which Catholics hunted down and murdered thousands of Protestants. Ulliel plays the role of Marie’s lover Henri as the two struggle to find their happiness and express their love despite the surrounding strife. Ulliel’s performance as Marie’s lover Henri is authentic and poignant as towards the end, he makes a decision that not everyone could make.
Summer Things
Summer Things follows married couple philandering real estate Bertrand and bored housewife Elizabeth and their neighbors Véro and Jérôme. In an attempt to get closer to her neighbors, Véro plans a trip at the same time as Bertrand and Elizabeth, ending up at the same resort. Ulliel plays the role of Loic, son of Véro and Jérôme. The French title Embrassez qui vous voudrez, which roughly translates to Kiss Whoever You Want which seems a more appropriate title considering the contents of the film. Summer Things was released to critical acclaim and earned Ulliel his first Lumières Award for Most Promising Actor.
A Very Long Engagement
During WWI, Mathilde searches for her fiancé Manech, said to be dead. Based on the novel of the same name, the film stars Audrey Tatou and Ulliel in the lead roles in A Very Long Engagement. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards and won five César Awards, one for Most Promising Actor for Ulliel. This tragic love story was subject to much praise for the performances and the direction by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, responsible for the masterpiece called Amelie.