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Raphaël Quenard
Quenard in 2024
Born	(1991-05-16) 16 May 1991 (age 33) Échirolles, France
Education	École nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris, PSL University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2014–present

Raphaël Quenard (French: [ʁafaɛl kənaʁ]; born 16 May 1991) is a French actor. After starring in small-scale short films and television productions as well as a variety of supporting film roles, Quenard earned acclaim for his breakthrough performances in Junkyard Dog (2023) and Yannick (2023). He received 3 nominations at the 49th César Awards, including Best Actor for Yannick, and won Best Male Revelation for Junkyard Dog.

Early life and education

Raphaël Quenard was born on 16 May 1991 in Échirolles, a banlieue located south of Grenoble. His father was a researcher who studied thermal conductivity and his mother was a worker for the insurance company MACIF. Quenard spent his childhood in the commune of Gières, located to the east of Grenoble.

Quenard was a good student and earned a baccalauréat S (scientifique). Wishing to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather who had a distinguished career in the military, Quenard entered the École des Pupilles de l'Air, a military training academy in Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, where he prepared for enrollment in a grande école. However, he quickly left to study chemistry. Between 2012 and 2013, Quenard was a visiting researcher at Imperial College London. In 2014, he graduated with a grande école diploma from the Paris Technical Institute of Chemistry, PSL University. For six months, he worked as a parliamentary assistant to Bernadette Laclais [fr], then a member of the Socialist Party, who served as deputy for Savoie's 4th constituency in the National Assembly.

Career

2019–2022: Early roles

Raphaël Quenard began his acting career in Paris as a student of Jean-Laurent Cochet, who, interested in the potential of the young actor, welcomed him into his classes for free. Quenard then appeared in several amateur short films and joined Houda Benyamina's 1000 Visages association, which promotes the integration of disadvantaged young people into the world of cinema. He first met Emma Benestan [fr] while in a workshop hosted by the director. She directed him in her 2019 short film L'Amour du risque, then in her 2021 feature-length debut Fragile. On the set, he met cinematographer Émilie Noblet who advised him to audition for the series HP. Quenard landed the role of the manic-depressive intern Jimmy in the series, which was broadcast for two seasons on OCS from 2018 to 2020.

Quenard made his feature film debut as a physics teacher in Bertrand Bonello's Zombi Child. In 2020, he starred in a lead role in Élie Girard's short film Les Mauvais Garçons, which won Best Fiction Short Film at the 47th César Awards. He followed it with small roles in several features, including Quentin Dupieux's Mandibles (2020) and Smoking Causes Coughing (2022), Michel Hazanavicius's Final Cut (2022) Jacques Audiard's Paris, 13th District (2021), and Cédric Jimenez's November (2022). In 2021, he was featured in the third season of the Netflix series Family Business.

2023–present: Breakthrough and acclaim

In 2023, Quenard established himself as a leading screen actor, first with his interpretation of Mirales, one of the main characters in Jean-Baptiste Durand's feature-length debut film Junkyard Dog. Alongside Anthony Bajon and Galatea Bellugi, he portrayed a young man who confronts boredom, crime, friendship and jealousy in the countryside in Hérault. Quenard fought to obtain the role by attending screenings of Durand's short films and writing him several messages on Facebook, in order to be able to meet him. Although it sold a modest 83,000 admissions in France, Junkyard Dog received unanimous critical acclaim. That same year, Quenard played the title role in Quentin Dupieux's black comedy Yannick, about a disappointed audience member who heckles a mediocre stage production in Paris and proceeds to take the entire theatre hostage and rewrite the play under his own direction. Yannick was a commercial and critical success, selling over 200,000 admissions in its first two weeks at the box office. Quenard also appeared in Jeanne Herry's ensemble drama All Your Faces.

In 2024, he received the Lumière Award for Best Male Revelation for his performance in Junkyard Dog (2023). He also received three nominations at the 49th César Awards, including Best Actor (for Yannick) and Best Documentary Short Film as director and producer of L'Acteur, ou la surprenante vertu de l'incompréhension, and won Best Male Revelation (for Junkyard Dog).

Quenard stars in Gilles Lellouche's romantic comedy musical film Beating Hearts, which was released in 2024 and in which he plays alongside François Civil, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Alain Chabat and Benoît Poelvoorde. Quenard also starred in a new film by Quentin Dupieux, The Second Act, which includes Léa Seydoux, Vincent Lindon and Louis Garrel. In June 2024, it was announced that Quenard would star in the role of singer Johnny Hallyday in a biographical film directed by Cédric Jimenez. He was chosen by Hallyday's widow Laeticia.

Personal life

Raphaël Quenard has been distinguished for his pronounced working-class provincial accent, which critics have noted as being difficult to place geographically. When questioned about his "accent" by Yann Barthès on Quotidien, Quenard explained: "It's my voice. What you hear is not an accent, it's a slightly displaced nasal septum which gives a sort of timbre of having the cold". Numéro called it a "a disconcerting accent, one which rejects all forms of academicism".

Filmography

Feature films

Short films

Television

Accolades

References

1. Régent, Mathilde (28 November 2023). "Qui est l'acteur Raphaël Quenard nommé aux César et nouvel ambassadeur de la maison Dior ?". Harper's Bazaar France (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
2. ^ Duranton, Clémence (2 August 2023). "Raphaël Quenard : l'irrésistible ascension". Paris Match (in French). Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
3. ^ Blanc, Marina (15 September 2023). ""Votre façon de parler, elle vient d'où ? De Gières ?" Quand Raphaël Quenard parle de sa ville natale sur le plateau de Quotidien". Le Dauphiné libéré (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
4. ^ Cauhapé, Véronique (22 April 2023). "Raphaël Quenard, un comédien porté par ses envies". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
5. "Kucernak Group – Group Members". Imperial College London. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
6. ^ Souron, Lucille (7 August 2023). "Son accent, sa réputation de forceur et ses collaborations avec Quentin Dupieux... 5 choses à savoir sur Raphaël Quenard". L'Obs (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
7. "Raphaël QUENARD (Chimie Paris - ParisTech 2014)". ParisTech Alumni (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
8. Baron, Pablo (1 October 2023). "Sentinelle : Raphaël Quenard, la nouvelle "étoile montante" du cinéma français". Le Point (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
9. "Raphaël Quenard Interprète, Acteur". Premiere.fr (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
10. Sarraméa, Chloé (17 December 2020). "Un excellent moyen-métrage pose un nouveau regard sur l'amitié masculine". Numéro (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
11. Ferry, Emeline (25 February 2022). "Césars 2022 : le Berrichon Élie Girard remporte le prix du meilleur court-métrage". France Bleu Berry (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
12. Le Gohébel, Marine; Pauquet, Pauline (2 August 2023). "Quentin Dupieux et Raphaël Quenard : "On a frôlé le film merdique plusieurs fois !"". Télérama. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
13. Hammond, Pete (17 May 2022). "'Final Cut' Cannes Opening-Night Film Review: Michel Hazanavicius' Very Good Comedy About Making A Very Bad Zombie Flick". Deadline. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
14. ^ Quenard, Raphaël (19 July 2023). "Rencontre avec Raphaël Quenard, l'acteur que tout le monde s'arrache". Numéro (in French). Interviewed by Thibault, Alexis. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
15. Batista, Lelo Jimmy (4 October 2022). "Novembre, de Cédric Jimenez: assaut périlleux". Libération. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
16. Choquet, Mégane (9 October 2021). "Family Business sur Netflix : qui est Raphaël Quenard, le méchant loufoque de la saison 3 ?". AlloCine (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
17. Baronian, Renaud (19 April 2023). "Chien de la casse : Raphaël Quenard crève l'écran dans cette chronique de la jeunesse de province". Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024. Raphaël Quenard crève l'écran dans cette chronique de la jeunesse de province ... un jeune acteur phénoménal, tout en gouaille, spleen et fanfaronnades ... Raphaël Quenard, sidérant dans la peau de ce Mirales sans cesse sur le fil, voire au bord du précipice, entre cafard, vantardise et agressivité. Une performance de haut vol.
18. Lemercier, Fabien (22 November 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Jean-Baptiste Durand is shooting Chien de la casse". Cineuropa. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
19. Mandelbaum, Jacques (19 April 2023). "Chien de la casse : entre Mirales et Dog, une amitié virile à toute épreuve". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
20. Baronian, Renaud (24 January 2024). "C'est une surprise absolue : Raphaël Quenard, roi des César avec trois nominations". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 26 January 2024. Chien de la casse, premier long-métrage de Jean-Baptiste Durand vu par 83 000 spectateurs mais qui a connu un succès critique presque unanime
21. ^ Mintzer, Jordan (18 August 2023). "'Yannick' Review: Quentin Dupieux's Twisted Take on French Boulevard Theater". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
22. Keslassy, Elsa (6 July 2023). "Kinology Boards Quentin Dupieux's Locarno-Bound 'Yannick' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
23. Lemercier, Fabien (1 August 2023). "Review: Yannick". Cineuropa. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
24. Mintzer, Jordan (18 August 2023). "'Yannick' Review: Quentin Dupieux's Twisted Take on French Boulevard Theater". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
25. Heyrendt, Hubert (4 April 2023). ""Je verrai toujours vos visages" : Avec un casting impressionnant, Jeanne Herry signe un film, beau et sobre, sur le pouvoir de la parole". La Libre (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
26. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (22 January 2024). "'Anatomy of a Fall' Wins Best Film, Actress, Screenplay at France's Lumiere Awards". Variety. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
27. Roxborough, Scott; Szalai, Georg (24 January 2024). "Cesar Nominations: 'Anatomy of a Fall,' 'The Animal Kingdom' Lead the Pack for French Film Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
28. Léger, François (24 January 2024). ""Ça part brûler tous les cierges de France" : Raphaël Quenard fait péter les compteurs aux César". Première (in French). Retrieved 26 January 2024.
29. Vely, Yannick (23 February 2024). "César 2024 : Raphaël Quenard, l'homme qui visait trois César... et n'en a eu qu'un". Paris Match (in French). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
30. "Exclu - Gilles Lellouche présente L'Amour ouf : première photo avec François Civil et Adèle Exarchopoulos". Première (in French). 29 November 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
31. Vaz, Robin (3 January 2024). "Quentin Dupieux a (déjà) tourné un nouveau film avec Léa Seydoux, Raphaël Quenard et Louis Garrel". Les Inrockuptibles (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
32. "Laeticia Hallyday choisit Raphaël Quenard pour incarner Johnny dans un futur biopic". Ouest-France (in French). 25 June 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
33. Mangez, Caroline (24 June 2024). "Raphaël Quenard : Læticia le choisit pour être Johnny Hallyday au cinéma". Paris Match (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2024.
34. Géliot, Clara (14 April 2023). "Raphaël Quenard, vers les sommets". Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
35. Sotinel, Thomas (14 July 2023). "Cash, sur Netflix : l'acteur Raphaël Quenard en boss de la Beauce". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
36. Chèze, Thierry (18 June 2023). "L'Innocent, Monia Chokri, Raphaël Quenard... Les lauréats du palmarès de Cabourg 2023". Première (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
37. Barat, Mathilde (23 February 2024). "César 2024: Anatomie d'une chute sacré meilleur film. Le palmarès complet de la 49 cérémonie". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
38. "Palmarès 2021". Côté Court (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
39. "Festival 2023". La Ciotat Berceau du cinéma (in French). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
40. Stevens, Beth (11 February 2024). "2024 ICS Award Winners". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
41. "Bodyguard, L'amie prodigieuse, Killing Eve... Découvrez la sélection officielle du 59e Festival télé de Monte-Carlo". Var-Matin (in French). 12 June 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
42. Mézière, Sandra (5 February 2024). "Palmarès des Paris Film Critics Awards 2024". In the Mood for Cinema (in French).
43. "Paris Film Critics Awards 2024: List of Nominees". Sortiraparis. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.

External links

• Raphaël Quenard at IMDb 
• Raphaël Quenard at AlloCiné (in French)
• Raphaël Quenard at Unifrance (in French)

• Biography
• France
• Film
• Television

• 1991 births
• Living people
• 21st-century French male actors
• Male actors from Grenoble
• Chimie ParisTech alumni
• French male film actors
• French male television actors
• Most Promising Actor César Award winners
• Most Promising Actor Lumières Award winners
• People from Échirolles
• People from Gières