List of French people of immigrant origin

Below are lists of famous French people of immigrant origin (at least one great-grandparent).

Algeria

(including Maghrebi Jews and Berbers)

Actors and filmmakers

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Isabelle Adjani

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Dany Boon

Isabelle Adjani, actress, she holds the record for most César Awards for Best Actress with five awards.
Jean-Pierre Bacri, actor
Leïla Bekhti (1984–), actress, César Award for Most Promising Actress in 2011
Catherine Belkhodja (1955–), artist, and her daughters Isild Le Besco and Maïwenn Le Besco, actress
Yasmine Belmadi, actor
Yamina Benguigui, film director, Junior Minister for French Nationals Abroad and Relations with La Francophonie (French-speaking countries worldwide) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jean Benguigui, actor
Richard Berry, actor
Dany Boon (1966–), actor, comedian
Rachid Bouchareb, film director
Rachida Brakni, actress
Alain Chabat, comedian, film director, scriptwriter and producer
Élie Chouraqui, film director, producer and scriptwriter
Farid Chopel (1952–2008), actor
Abdel Raouf Dafri, scriptwriter
Gérard Darmon, actor
Samir Guesmi, actor
Roger Hanin, actor filmmaker
Hafsia Herzi, actress
Salim Kechiouche, actor
Claude Lelouch, film director, producer, scriptwriter and actor
Jalil Lespert, actor
Maïwenn, actress, film director
Kad Merad, actor
Samy Naceri (1961–), actor
Marie-José Nat, actress, Best Actress at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in Les Violons du bal
Mehdi Nebbou, French actor, Algerian father and German mother
Safy Nebbou, French actor, Algerian father and German mother
Daniel Prévost (1939–), actor and comedian and his son Sören Prévost, comedian.
Tahar Rahim (1981–), actor, César Award for Best Actor in 2010, European Film Award for Best Actor in 2009
Nora Hamdi (1968–), film director
Sabrina Ouazani, actress
Samy Seghir, actor
Zinedine Soualem, actor
Jacques Villeret (1951–2005), actor
Michaël Youn, actor
Malik Zidi (1975–), actor
Claude Zidi, filmmaker

Singers and musicians

Franck Amsallem, pianist

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Amel Bent

Chimène Badi, singer
Amel Bent (1985– ), singer
Louis Bertignac (born to an Algerian Jewish father and a Spanish mother), musician
Cheb Mami, singer
Chico Bouchikhi, singer, co-founder of the Gipsy Kings
Patrick Bruel, born Maurice Benguigui, singer
Étienne Daho, singer
Demon One, rapper
DJ Mam's, DJ, music producer
Quentin Elias, singer, part of Alliage
Kenza Farah, singer
Faudel, singer
Imhotep, DJ, music producer
Jenifer, singer
Juliette, singer
Khaled, singer
Lacrim, rapper
Sheryfa Luna, singer
Melissa M, singer
Enrico Macias, singer
Médine, rapper
Marcel Mouloudji (1922–1994), poet and singer
Najim, singer
Juliette Noureddine (1962–), singer, author and composer
Ridan, singer
Merwan Rim, singer
Rim'K, rapper
Sinik, rapper
Skalp, DJ, music producer
Sofiane (singer), singer
Martial Solal, jazz pianist

Sportsmen

Robert Abdesselam, tennis player
Karim Benzema (1987–), football player
Alphonse Halimi, boxer
Maxime Mermoz, French professional rugby union footballer
Alfred Nakache, swimmer, water polo
Samir Nasri (1987–), soccer player
Alain Mimoun (1921–), Olympic marathon champion
Zinedine Zidane, soccer player

Others

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Rachida Dati

Zinedine Zidane

Alain Afflelou, Alain Afflelou SA is one of the leading optical retailers in France
Fadela Amara, Secretary of State
Kader Arif, Junior Minister for Veterans at the French Ministry of Defence
Jacques Attali, economist, writer
Amin Maalouf, author
Alain Bashung (1947–), author, composer, performer and comedian
Azouz Begag (1957), writer, politician.
Paul Bénichou, historian
Nina Bouraoui (1967–), writer
Jean Daniel BenSaïd (1920–), director of Le Nouvel Observateur
Hélène Cixous, writer
Annie Cohen-Solal, writer
Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, physicist, Nobel Prize (1997)
Jean-François Copé (his mother's name is Monique Ghanassia), politician
Rachida Dati, Minister of Justice
Jacques Derrida, philosopher
Julien Dray, politician
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach, journalist
Pierre Fédida, psychanalyst
Denis Guedj, writer and mathematician
Bernard-Henri Lévy, writer and philosopher
Arnaud Montebourg (his mother's name is Leïla Ould Cadi), France's Minister of Industrial Renewal since May 2012^[1]
Salah, dancer
Benjamin Stora, historian

Argentina

Keny Arkana, singer and rap artist
Bérénice Bejo, actress
David Trezeguet, football player

Armenia

Charles Aznavour

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Hélène Ségara

Simon Abkarian, actor
Rosy Armen, singer
Serge Avédikian, producer
Charles Aznavour, singer
Édouard Balladur, former Prime Minister
Alain Boghossian, soccer player
Jean Carzou, painter
Patrick Devedjian, ministre
Youri Djorkaeff, soccer player
Patrick Fiori, singer
Georges Garvarentz, composer
Robert Guédiguian, film director
François Kevorkian, music producer, record label owner
Philippe Vartan Khazarian, film director, producer, screenwriter
Francis Kurkdjian, perfumer
Marie Laforêt, actress
Michel Legrand, musical composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist and prolific film and television scores composer
Missak Manouchian, poet, communist militant during World War II
André Manoukian, composer, musician
Mathieu Madénian, humorist, actor
Alain Prost, racing driver
Cyriaque Rivieyran, football player
Hélène Ségara, singer
Jean Ter-Merguerian, violinist
Henri Troyat, writer
Michael Vartan, actor
Sylvie Vartan, singer
Henri Verneuil, filmmaker
Francis Veber, filmmaker
Francis Veber, film director, screenwriter and producer and theater playwright of Armenian Jewish descent

Belgium

Raymond Devos, humorist
Johnny Hallyday, singer
Yann Tiersen, musician

Bosnia

Josiane Balasko, actress

Bulgaria

Tzvetan Todorov, essayist and historian
Sylvie Vartan, singer

Cameroon

Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, humorist
Yannick Noah, former tennis player and singer

Chile

Sergio Coronado, politician
Marisol Touraine, politician

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Steve Mandanda, footballer

Congo, Republic of the

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, tennis player

Cyprus

Diam's, singer

Egypt

Richard Anthony
Guy Béart, author, composer and performer
Emmanuelle Béart, actress
Nagui, animateur de radio and de télévision
Andrée Chedid, poet and novelist
Louis Chedid, singer
Matthieu Chedid, author-composer- rock performer

England

Germany

Isabelle Adjani, actress
Daniel Cohn-Bendit, politician
Laurent Fabius (maternal grandmother from Frankfurt), politician
Jean-Jacques Goldman, singer
Stéphane Hessel, diplomat, writer
Robert Guédiguian, film director
Gérard Lenorman, singer
Eugène Schueller, pharmacist

Greece

Vassilis Alexakis, writer
Nikos Aliagas, Talk Show host, singer
Kostas Axelos, philosopher
Georges Moustaki, singer
Iannis Xenakis, composer

Hungary

Lorànt Deutsch, actor and writer
Michel Jonasz, singer
Mathieu Kassovitz, film director
Joseph Kosma, composer
Nicolas Sarkozy, French president
Béatrice Schönberg, journalist
Sylvie Vartan, singer

Iran

Robert Hossein, actor, filmmaker
Yasmina Reza, filmmaker
Aravane Rezaï, tennis player
Marjane Satrapi, cartoonist and film director

Italy

Dalida, singer
Roberto Alagna, French tenor
Jean Alesi, racing driver
Claude Bartolone, President of the National Assembly
Jean-Paul Belmondo, actor
Georges Brassens, singer
Calogero, singer
Laetitia Casta, actress and model
François Cavanna, writer
Francis Cabrel, singer
Philippe Candeloro, patineur
Eric Cantona, actor and footballer
Benjamin Castaldi, television personality
Coluche, humorist
Laurence Ferrari, journalist
Léo Ferré, singer
Aurélie Filippetti, Minister of Culture and Communication
Geneviève Fioraso, Minister of Higher Education and Research
Marina Foïs, actress
Florence Foresti, comedian and actress
Raymond Forni, politician
Claude François, singer
Joseph Gallieni, marshal of France
Max Gallo, writer and historian
Léon Gambetta, statesman
Jean Giono, writer
Fabrice Luchini, actor
Jean-Baptiste Lully, composer
Elsa Lunghini, singer
Léon Gambetta, politician
Gilles Marini, actor
Chiara Mastroianni, actress
Yves Montand (Ivo Livi), actor
Roger Piantoni, soccer player
Michel Platini, soccer player
Serge Reggiani, actor
Hélène Ségara, actress
Sylvie Testud, actress
Albert Uderzo, writer, humorist and cartoonist, father of Asterix
Émile Zola, writer

Lebanon

Amin Maalouf

Louis Chedid, singer, songwriter
Matthieu Chedid, aka -M-, rock guitarist
Omar Harfouch, businessman
Eid Hourany, nuclear physicist
Antoine Karam, politician, President of the Regional Council of French Guiana
Vénus Khoury-Ghata, writer, poet
Thomas Langmann, film producer, actor of Lebanese Jewish descent
Amin Maalouf, author, novelist
Ibrahim Maalouf, musician, trumpet player, composer
Robert Mazlo, art jeweller and goldsmith
Pierre-Antoine Melki, aka Nius, music producer
RAmez, rapper
Jean-Pierre Rassam, film producer
Julien Rassam, film actor
Jacques Saadé, businessman
Princess Sarah, singer
Gabriel Yacoub, guitarist, singer
Gabriel Yared, music composer
Ycare, singer, songwriter

Lithuania

Joseph Kessel, writer
Emmanuel Levinas, philosopher

Mexico

Carlos de Beistegui, art collector and decorator
Dominique Fernandez, writer
Adan Jodorowsky, actor and musician
Alan Vanzo, tenor and composer

Moldova

Cécilia Attias, the second wife of Nicolas Sarkozy

Morocco

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Jamel Debbouze

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Gad Elmaleh

Fu'ad Aït Aattou, actor
Richard Anconina, actor
Pierre Assouline, journalist
Aure Atika (1970– ), actress
Robert Benayoun, movie critic
José Bénazéraf, film director, scriptwriter and producer
Rachida Dati, politician
Jamel Debbouze, humorist
Nadia Farès, actress
Saïda Jawad (1970– ), actress
Roger Karoutchi (his mother's name is Solange Fedida), politician
Yasmine Lafitte (née Hafida El Khabchi), pornstar
Gad Elmaleh, humorist
David Guetta, house music DJ
Salah, dancer
Élie Semoun, humorist
Elisa Tovati, actress
Saïd Taghmaoui, actor
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, French minister of Women's Rights and spokesperson for the government since May 2012
Roschdy Zem (1965– ), actor

Singers and musicians

Amel Bent, singer
Frida Boccara, singer
Booba, rapper
Canardo, rapper
Cut Killer, DJ
DJ Abdel, DJ
Kamelanc', rapper
Larusso, singer
Édith Piaf (1915–1963), singer.^[2]
La Fouine, rapper, singer
Mister You, rapper
Nessbeal, rapper
Sapho, singer
Zifou, rapper

Norway

Eva Joly, politician and former judge
Alexis Pinturault, alpine ski racer
Yann Tiersen, musician

Poland

Marie Curie

Guillaume Apollinaire, writer
Robert Badinter, lawyer, academic, essayist and politician
Claude Berri, film director
Juliette Binoche, actress
Marie-George Buffet, politician
Marie Curie, physicist
Alain Finkielkraut, philosopher, writer and essayist
Jean-Pierre Foucault, television personality
Romain Gary, romancier
Jean-Jacques Goldman, singer
René Goscinny, writer, humorist, known around the world for the Asterix books
Michel Jazy, middle distance runner
Raymond Kopa, football player
Laurent Koscielny, football player
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, politician
Henri Krasucki, politician
Jean-Marie Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris
Jean Malaquais, writer
Frédéric Michalak, rugby player
Jean-Pierre Mocky, film director
Ludovic Obraniak, football player
Georges Pérec, writer
Damien Perquis, football player
M. Pokora, singer
Roman Polanski, film director
Michel Poniatowski, politician
Régine, artist
Catherine Ringer, singer
Simone Signoret, actress
Michel Wieviorka, sociologue
Georges Wolinski, cartoonist and comics writer

Portugal

Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, musician (Daft Punk member)
Linda de Suza, singer
Kévin Gameiro, footballer
Corentin Martins, footballer
Marie Myriam, singer
Morgan Parra, rugby player
Robert Pirès, footballer

Romania

Paul-Loup Sulitzer, writer
Jean-François Copé, politician
Michel Drucker, French journalist and TV host
Pierre Moscovici, politician
Claude Berri, film director
Cédric Pioline, former tennis player
Élisabeth Roudinesco, historian
Maria Schneider, actress
Michèle Laroque, actress
Pierre Vassiliu, singer
Marcel Dalio, actor
Cyprien Lov, Youtube celebrity

Russia

Serge Gainsbourg

Marc Chagall, painter
Carlos, singer
Joe Dassin, singer
Sacha Distel, singer
François Feldman, singer
Serge Gainsbourg, singer
Judith Godrèche, actress
Émile Meyerson, philosopher
Gérard Oury, film director
Léon Poliakov, historian
Michel Polnareff, singer
Maxime Rodinson, historian
Thierry Roland, TV commentator
Nathalie Sarraute, writer
Pierre-André Taguieff, philosopher
Jacques Tati, film director and actor
Marina Vlady, actress
Léon Zitrone, journalist

Scotland

Brice Lalonde, politician

Senegal

Booba, rapper
Pape Diouf, journalist, former President of Olympique de Marseille, politician
Patrice Evra, footballer
Bafétimbi Gomis, footballer
MC Solaar, rap and hip hop artist
Omar Sy, actor
Patrick Vieira, footballer
Rama Yade, politician

Spain

Albert Camus, Nobel Prize–winning author
Eric Cantona, actor and footballer
Manu Chao, singer and musician
Michel del Castillo, writer
Raymond Domenech, former Manager of the French national soccer team
Luis Fernández, football player
Louis de Funès, actor
José Garcia, actor
Anne Hidalgo, politician
Raphaël Ibañez, rugby player
Virginie Ledoyen, actress
Frédéric Lopez, television host
Olivier Martinez, actor
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, French politician
Paloma Picasso, fashion designer
Robert Pirès, footballer
David Pujadas, journalist
Jean Reno, actor
Olivia Ruiz, singer
Jaime Semprun, essayist and translator
André Téchiné, film director
Mathieu Valbuena, footballer
Manuel Valls, French Socialist Party (PS) politician, Minister of the Interior
Ray Ventura, jazz bandleader

Sweden

Eva Green, actress
Mathilda May, actress
Max von Sydow, actor

Switzerland

Jean-Luc Godard, film director
Romain Grosjean, racing driver
Le Corbusier, architect
Quentin Mosimann, musician
Manuel Valls, politician

Tunisia

Adel Bencherif, actor
Sami Bouajila, actor
Michel Boujenah, humorist
Paul Boujenah, director
Dany Brillant, singer
David Charvet, actor
Georges Cravenne, founder of the César Award
Marcel Dadi, guitar player
Pierre Darmon, tennis player
Mabrouk El Mechri, film director
Félix Gray, singer
Gisèle Halimi, lawyer
Serge Halimi, journalist
Cyril Hanouna, television presenter, producer and comedian
Agnès Jaoui, actress
David Jemmali, soccer player
Abdellatif Kechiche, film director
Lââm, singer
Pierre Lellouche, politician
Alain Mamou-Mani, producer
Didier Marouani, composer and musician
Albert Memmi, writer
Serge Moati, journalist and film director
Yael Naim, singer
Dominique Strauss-Kahn (his mother's name is Jacqueline Fellus), politician
Jacqueline Taïeb, singer
Maurice Taieb, geologist
Ariel Zeitoun, film director, scriptwriter and producer
Tunisiano, rapper

Turkey

Édouard Balladur, prime minister
Françoise Giroud, writer
Tchéky Karyo, actor
Mathilda May, actress

Ukraine

Pierre Bérégovoy, politician
Serge Lifar, dancer and choreographer

References

↑ « Berbéritude républicaine»
↑ Her grand mother, Emma Saïd Ben Mohamed (alias Aïcha) (1876–1930), of Kabyle origin, was probably born in Mogador, Morocco (Source : Généalogie Magazine, Rubrique Ascendance, N° 233, p. 30/36).

[1] « Berbéritude républicaine»

[2] Her grand mother, Emma Saïd Ben Mohamed (alias Aïcha) (1876–1930), of Kabyle origin, was probably born in Mogador, Morocco (Source : Généalogie Magazine, Rubrique Ascendance, N° 233, p. 30/36).

[1]

[2]