Biography
Who is Tahar Rahim?
Early life in France
Tahar Rahim was born in Belfort, France, to parents who originated from Oran, Algeria. After completing his schooling at the Lycée Condorcet of Belfort, he initially explored different fields of study. He enrolled in sports programs and computer science courses, but he found these subjects unengaging after two years of study in Strasbourg and Marseille.
He decided to shift his focus toward his true interest and enrolled at the Paul Valéry University of Montpellier to study film. His time as a student was documented in a 2006 docufiction titled Tahar, student, which aired on the French television network France 5. In 2005, he relocated to Paris to pursue professional acting training at the Laboratoire de l'Acteur under the guidance of Hélène Zidi-Chéruy. To support himself during these studies, he balanced classes with jobs in a factory and a nightclub.
Breakthrough and film career
His professional acting career began in 2006 when he signed with an agent and secured a role in the television series La Commune. Following a brief appearance in the 2007 horror film Inside, he dedicated three months to a rigorous audition process that eventually led to his breakout role in A Prophet. This performance earned him significant recognition, including the César Award for Best Actor and the César Award for Best Male Revelation.
Over the following years, he worked on a variety of international projects. He starred in the film Love and Bruises, directed by Lou Ye, and appeared in the biopic Free Men, which portrayed the life of French-Algerian diplomat Si Kaddour Benghabrit. In 2015, he served as a jury member for the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. He later starred in the European crime drama television series The Last Panthers and appeared as Judas in the 2018 film Mary Magdalene.
International work and recent projects
He expanded his work in Hollywood by playing FBI agent Ali Soufan in the 2018 miniseries The Looming Tower. In 2021, he portrayed Mohamedou Ould Slahi in The Mauritanian, a role that brought him nominations for both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. That same year, he earned a second Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Charles Sobhraj in the miniseries The Serpent. He also participated as a jury member at the 74th Cannes Film Festival.
In 2023, he joined the cast of the film Napoleon to portray Paul Barras and starred as Ezekiel Sims in the Sony Spider-Man Universe film Madame Web. More recently, he played the title role in the musical biographical drama Monsieur Aznavour, which premiered in 2024 and earned him another nomination for a César Award. In 2025, he played the character Amin in the film Alpha, a role for which he physically transformed by losing 20 kilograms.
Personal life and marriage
Tahar Rahim is married to French actress Leïla Bekhti. The couple first met on the set of the film A Prophet in 2007 and have four children together. Outside of his professional career, he has engaged in public advocacy. In June 2024, he was among 230 French artists who signed a petition addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron, which called for the official recognition of the State of Palestine.
Birthday and age
Tahar Rahim was born on July 4, 1981, which makes Tahar 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Tahar shares the date with 21 other famous people.
Explore more
