Saïd Taghmaoui Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated for a César Award for Most Promising Actor for "La Haine" in 1996
• Won a Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival Award for Best Feature for "Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets" in 2000
• He is the French-born child of Moroccan immigrants of Berber ancestry
• Made his screen acting debut in the TV series "Tous les garçons et les filles de leur âge․․․" in 1994
• Dropped out of school in order to become a boxer and eventually reached second in his weight class in France
• He became a break-dancer and joined a French gangsta-rap group called Assassin
• Quote: "(On his role in "GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra"): "This one will be a spectacular change [from dramatic roles] as I am surrounded by cool vehicles, flying ships, lasers and high tech gadgets․""
• Quote: "(On leaving France to make movies elsewhere): "As a minority actor in France, you often wind up playing the buffoon․ So I went international․""
• Has made films in Italy, Germany, Morocco, and the United States
• Best known for his role as Saïd in "La Haine" and as Captain Said in "Three Kings․"
• His ability to speak multiple languages helped him land the role of Breaker, the team's communications expert, in "GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra․"