Sami Outalbali, a rising star in French cinema, has quickly captured attention with his diverse roles, including his breakout character Rahim in Netflix’s “Sex Education.” Starting his career at a young age, he gained recognition for films like “Une histoire d’amour et de désir” and “Novembre.” Currently, he stars in the Amazon Prime series “Culte” and has a strong social media presence. Born in 1999 to Moroccan and Guadeloupean parents, he found his passion for acting early, leading to a promising career ahead.
The Rise of Sami Outalbali in French Cinema
Often hailed as “the emerging star of French cinema” or “the actor destined to take the world by storm,” Sami Outalbali has captured the attention of audiences and critics alike. At just 25 years old, this talented actor has already established an impressive career. He made his cinematic debut in the first installment of Tuche back in 2011 and has since appeared in various significant productions. His performances in series like Mortel and films such as Lola vers la mer and Un vrai bonhomme have showcased his versatility. However, it was his role as Rahim in the popular Netflix series, Sex Education, starting in 2020, that truly put him on the map as a standout talent, especially as the only French character in the series. Sharing the screen with Gillian Anderson marks a remarkable beginning for his career!
Sami Outalbali: From Child Actor to Rising Star
You may also recognize him from the film Une histoire d’amour et de désir, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021 and garnered him a César nomination for Best Male Hope the following year. He further showcased his talent in the acclaimed 2022 film Novembre, where he starred alongside notable actors Jean Dujardin, Sandrine Kiberlain, and Raphaël Quenard, portraying the police investigation in the aftermath of the tragic November 13, 2015 attacks. Looking ahead to 2024, Sami will share the screen with renowned French actors Audrey Lamy, Fabrice Éboué, and Anouk Grinberg in the film Heureux Gagnants.
Currently, Sami Outalbali is making waves with his role in the highly talked-about series Culte, available on Amazon Prime Video, which explores the behind-the-scenes of the reality show Loft Story from the early 2000s. He portrays Karim, the casting director who discovered Loana, one of the series’ fictional characters. With a growing social media presence of over 562,000 followers on Instagram, Sami is also gracing the covers of major magazines such as GQ, Attitude, and Icon. It’s clear that Sami Outalbali is an actor who is destined for greatness and a beacon of talent for his generation.
As for his personal life, there remains much to uncover about Sami Outalbali. Born on March 19, 1999, in Poissy, Yvelines, to Moroccan and Guadeloupean parents, his journey into acting began quite unexpectedly at a young age. “I was posing for advertising photos when I was 3 years old. One day, during a shoot, I started acting silly. A photographer suggested, ‘Hey, he should do comedy.’ My mother agreed, thinking it could be a fun extracurricular activity, just like football or judo. If I didn’t enjoy it, I could stop. That’s how it all began,” he shared with Mixte Magazine in 2022. It’s evident that he embraced the experience. Although he described himself as “a bit of a slacker at school,” Sami found structure in acting, as his parents insisted he maintain good grades to continue pursuing his passion for films. This gamble paid off, leading him to fully commit to acting after completing high school.