Charles Berling was born on April 30th, 1958, in Saint-Mandé, Val de Marne, France, to a father who was a doctor in Toulon and a mother who was an English teacher. At the age of 15, he began his journey in theater at school with his brother, kindling a passion for acting that would only grow stronger with time.
His love for literature, particularly the works of Baudelaire and Céline, further fueled his desire to pursue a career in acting. He subsequently enrolled in Insas in Brussels, Belgium, to study acting and hone his craft.
It was during this period that he began to make a name for himself in the theater world, taking on roles in plays such as "L'école des femmes" by Molière and "Le Parc" by Botho Strauss. His talent did not go unnoticed, and he was soon hired by Jean-Louis Martinelli, the director of the national theater of Strasbourg.
Berling spent several years working under Martinelli's guidance, playing numerous roles, including the title character in "Roberto Zucco" by Bernard-Marie Koltès. However, it was not until the 1990s that he began to make a mark in the film industry, starting with small roles in movies such as "Desire" (1992) and "Just Friends" (1993).
The year 1996 marked a turning point in his career, as he starred in the film "Ridicule," playing a nobleman trying to survive in the royal court of Louis XVI. His success continued to grow, and he was nominated for a César for Best Actor for his performance in "Boredom" (1998).
In 2000, his film "Stardom" was presented at the Festival of Cannes, further solidifying his reputation as a talented actor.