User:Mikejohnduffy/Djebril Zonga

Djebril Didier Zonga is a French model and actor born October 7, 1981 in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.

Childhood
Born in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, he spent most of his childhood in Clichy-sous-Bois. Raised by a Central African father, a taxi driver and a Central African, German and Brazilian mother, he grew up with his two little sisters and his little brother.

Career
Playing tennis from a very young age, it was football that he chose to pursue, joining the Bondy club at the age of 13 before going to England for trials. Djebril Zonga showed promise in Bry-sur-Marne then in CFA 2. At 21, he signed as a professional player in Pedras Rubras, a Portuguese club not far from Porto, but is quckly injured. He then returned to France and continued to play, notably for the Bonneuil-sur-Marne jersey.

Several years later, on the advice of those close to him, he poses for photos in order to introduce himself to a modeling agency. Becoming aware that the French market does not offer enough opportunities for black models, he leaves for the United States. He signs with Ford then quickly with New Madison and lands his first contracts. His career takes off and for ten years, he has projects lined up. From Paris to New York via London, he contributes to the campaigns of GAP, Diesel, Ralph Lauren or even Hennessy.

Dedicating himself up to this point to photo shoots and boxing training, Nawell Madani, convinced of his potential for cinema, advises him to take acting lessons. He then attends Susan Batson's acting studio in New York City, which coached, among others, Juliette Binoche and Nicole Kidman.

In 2015, Nawell Madani tests him for her film "C'est tout pour moi" (released in 2017). He lands the role of Doum, a seductive and mysterious young man who provides the young Belgian woman with an apartment in Paris before stealing her identity… It was during this shoot that he heard about Ladj Ly's project: " Les Misérables ". The director hopes to make a short film inspired by a violent arrest he has witnessed and first thinks of Omar Sy to play a police officer. Djebril Zonga still insisted on participating in the casting and finally landed this role of Gwada. The short film was nominated for the Césars in 2018 and the shocking story was developed into a feature film. In May 2019, “Les Misérables” won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Various nominations and several awards for this film follow in 2020, between Golden Globes, Oscars and César. Actor Djebril Zonga was nominated in the category of Most Promising Male for this latest awards ceremony. As for the film "Les Misérables", it wins the César for Best Film during the 2020 Ceremony.


 * 2017 : C’est tout pour moi by Nawell Madani and Ludovic Colbeau-Justin : Doum
 * 2019 : Les Misérables by Ladj Ly : Gwada


 * 2017 : Juste un regard by Ludovic Colbeau-Justin : Lieutenant Azzoug


 * 2020 : César 2020 : nomination in the category of « Most Promising Male ».