Paul Hamy

So, Paul Hamy basically stumbles into the world of modeling as a teenager, thanks to Paolo Roversi spotting him—just one of those lucky breaks. He’s still super young when he ends up in front of a camera for a Coca Cola ad directed by Sébastien Chantrel in 2006. That’s his first taste of the film world, and honestly, it just snowballs from there. After getting into cinema studies, he and some friends set up this artsy collective called POK (PainOchoKolat), which is just a wild mix—photographers, musicians, dancers, you name it. It’s like the Avengers, but for creative types. He pops up again in a Lacoste ad on TV, but he’s pretty clear about wanting to make it in movies. And sure enough, after a small part in the TV series "Borgia," he lands his big screen break in 2013 with "Elle s’en va," playing a fleeting lover to Catherine Deneuve. That same year, he’s in "Suzanne" as Sara Forestier’s lover—a film that opens Semaine de la Critique at Cannes. Both roles drop in the same year and suddenly French cinema can’t ignore him. César nomination? Check. Hamy’s not your typical leading guy—he’s like a chameleon, just sliding into different roles, sometimes unsettling, sometimes gentle, always interesting. He’s got this athletic vibe, soft eyes, kind of a mystery to the wider public, but anyone paying attention notices his range. Lately, he’s been taking on bigger films and people are finally recognizing the name. Off-screen? He sculpts, coaches youth basketball in Pigalle, and produces music. The guy’s got layers.