Amidou, a Moroccan-born actor, has had a career spanning nearly five decades, with a significant presence in French films, as well as in Moroccan, Tunisian, and American productions. Despite being relatively unknown to the general public, he has appeared in a wide range of roles, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Good-looking and charming, Amidou can effortlessly transition from being friendly and approachable to frightening and intimidating. He has convincingly portrayed a variety of characters, from a likable blue-collar worker in 'Smic Smac Smoc' to a dim-witted henchman in 'Fleur d'Oseille'.
However, it's worth noting that Amidou has primarily been typecast in roles that portray him as a dropout or a thug, rather than a positive figure. This is largely due to the fact that he began his career in the 1960s, when French cinema was not yet ready to feature North African characters as equals.
Born in 1942 in Rabat, Morocco, Amidou Ben Messaoud was the son of a justice of the peace and the nephew of a movie theater owner. This gave him the opportunity to watch numerous films from a young age. Despite being a poor student, he discovered his ability to captivate audiences during French lessons at school, where he would tell and mimic fables by La Fontaine.
Amidou went on to study drama at the Conservatoire de Paris and was immediately hired by Jean-Louis Barrault in 1961. He was later noticed by Jean Genet and given the role of Said. Amidou also appeared in nine films directed by Claude Lelouch, including his only starring role in the French movie 'La Vie, l'Amour, la Mort', a film that served as a critique of the death penalty.
Throughout his career, Amidou has been kept busy by the big screen, appearing in numerous films and occasionally working in television. He has also made appearances on stage, including a one-man show in the late 1990s ('Le Piston') and the lead role in Mehdi Charef's '1962' in 2005.
Amidou has been honored twice for his outstanding performances, receiving best actor prizes at the Cairo International Festival for Leila Triquie's 'Poursuite' (2005) and the Tangiers Film Festival for 'Ici et Là' by Rachid Boutounès.
