Olivier Gourmet, the talented grandson of a carpenter, was born and raised in the charming Belgian village of Mirwart, where his father worked as a cattle dealer and his mother managed a family hotel-restaurant. At the tender age of 13, he was sent to boarding school, which proved to be an unhappy experience that led him to withdraw into himself. However, it was during this time that he discovered his passion for acting, replacing a classmate at short notice in the school play and uncovering a natural talent for mimicry and comedy.
As he grew older, Gourmet was torn between pursuing a career in sports journalism or comedy, but ultimately decided to focus on acting and comedy. He attended the Conservatoire de Liège, where he won first prize after just two years of study. His breakthrough role came in 1996, when he starred in the Dardenne brothers' film, The Promise, and he has since become a staple of their films, featuring in every movie they have made.
Gourmet's impressive performance in The Son earned him a Cannes Jury prize for interpretation in 2002, and he has since become one of the most sought-after actors in the industry, appearing in an average of five films per year. He has received widespread critical acclaim for his performances, which are marked by his charismatic qualities and insightful portrayals of complex characters. His impressive filmography has earned him numerous awards and nominations, including the Critics Award at the Cannes festival in 2011 and a nomination in eleven categories at the Césars in 2012.
In his personal life, Gourmet has been married to his wife, Catherine, since the age of 19 and they have two children, Louis and Juliette. After his mother suffered a stroke, the family returned to Mirwart to manage the hotel-restaurant, with Gourmet's wife leaving her advertising career to join him.
