Matthieu Charneau

Matthieu Charneau (born November 23, 1988, in Châteauroux, France) is a French actor.

He debuted as a model at age 21 after being spotted by a photographer during a visit to Paris.

In 2011 Nicola Formichetti chose him to play in his short film Brothers of Arcadia for Mugler. The film is directed by Branislav Jankic in New York and was broadcast at the opening of the Mugler show during Fashion Week in Paris. This collaboration launched Matthieu’s success in the fashion industry and in late 2011 he made his move to Paris.

In 2012 he began training at the prestigious European Acting School Cours Florent. That same year he became a muse for the famous French artists Pierre & Gilles. He posed in three of their photographs entitled Johnny Guitar, Narcissus and Ohé Matelot. After various publications, including the cover of the British magazine Yearbook by Laurent Humbert and an exclusive portrait for Butt Magazine by Luis Venegas, he was chosen as part of the jury for the French Film Festival Chéries-Chéris together with Spanish actress Rossy de Palma and French writer and screen writer Philippe Besson.

In 2013 the young actor appeared on the cover of the French cultural and political magazine Les Inrockuptibles for their special issue, “Homophobie, c’est pas Bientôt Fini?!” He also posed for fashion photographer Damon Baker. While training at Cours Florent he landed the role of Samson in the short film Coup de Grace directed by Justin Wu – a contemporary adaptation of Delilah Myth from the Bible. The film has been selected for the San Jose International Film Festival 2013 in California as well as for the Fashion Film Festival ASVOFF 2013 at the Georges Pompidou Center Art Museum in Paris.

In late 2013 Matthieu was cast for a leading role in the feature film Les Français du Jours J - a war film directed by Cédric Condon about the allied landing on June 6th, 1944 with Commando Kieffer. He plays the role of Marcel Labas, a young Marine rifleman.

In 2014, after a couple of music video collaborations with the bands Gentle Republic and Hollydays, Matthieu portrayed Freddie Mercury for Schön Magazine.

Matthieu will be featured in Un Nouveau Souffle - second film of the French director Arnaud Viard after Clara et Moi in 2003. The film will be launched in theaters in 2015.

Currently Matthieu travels back ad forth between Paris and the United States. He was cast for the leading role in Day By Night - the new Dan Castle film after Newcastle in 2008 wich won several awards in film festivals. The film will be shot in 2015 in Los Angeles.