Discover how Paris-born Guillaume Marbeck went from DIY YouTube videos to starring as Jean-Luc Godard in Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, marking a remarkable new chapter in modern cinema.
Growing up in Paris, Guillaume Marbeck didn’t have a roadmap into cinema. There were no artists in his family, no mentors guiding him toward film sets or casting calls. What he did have, however, was curiosity. When he watched movies as a child, he wasn’t satisfied with simply following the plot. He wanted to know why the story unfolded the way it did, how scenes were built, and what choices lived behind the camera. That hunger for understanding storytelling would quietly shape his future.
Long before professional auditions and red carpets, Marbeck was experimenting in the most accessible way he knew: making DIY music videos and uploading them to YouTube. He directed them, starred in them, edited them, and learned by doing. At the time, he didn’t see filmmaking as a realistic career path. It was simply something he had to do.
Two decades later, that childhood instinct has led him to one of the most unexpected roles of his life. In Nouvelle Vague, directed by Richard Linklater, Marbeck plays Jean-Luc Godard—the revolutionary director whose work reshaped world cinema. For a first feature role, it’s not just ambitious. It’s historic.
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Marbeck was born and raised in Paris, and once he accepted that cinema wasn’t just a hobby, he enrolled at ESRA, a well-known film school in the city. But film school quickly delivered a humbling realization: he knew what a director wanted, yet he didn’t understand how the rest of a set functioned.
Instead of narrowing his focus, Marbeck widened it. He worked in production, distribution, and any role that would let him understand the ecosystem of filmmaking. This self-imposed crash course helped him develop a holistic view of cinema—not just as art, but as a collaborative process.
Eventually, another truth surfaced. To truly understand directors and actors, he needed to step in front of the camera himself. He joined an acting school and began posting performance reels online, not with grand expectations, but as a way to stay visible and creative.
The Audition That Felt Unreal
That decision changed everything. One of Marbeck’s reels caught the attention of the casting director for Nouvelle Vague. He was invited to audition for the role of Jean-Luc Godard—a name that carries enormous weight in film history.
At first, he didn’t believe it. Being asked to portray Godard, under the direction of Richard Linklater, sounded more like a prank than a professional opportunity. Even Marbeck laughs about it now, admitting that it felt too good to be true.
The audition process was long and demanding. When he finally understood that he had landed the lead role, excitement collided with fear. He describes the feeling as standing on the edge of a cliff, knowing you have to jump.
Becoming Godard
Godard isn’t just a character; he’s an idea. His 1960 masterpiece Breathless ignited the French New Wave and redefined how stories could be told on screen. To portray him required more than imitation—it demanded empathy, restraint, and deep respect for the man’s contradictions.
Marbeck approached the role not as an impersonation, but as an interpretation. His background as an aspiring director helped him understand Godard’s mindset: the obsession with form, the impatience with rules, and the relentless drive to see the world differently.
A Career Opening Up
With Nouvelle Vague, Marbeck is no longer standing on the edge. His career is moving forward with momentum. He appears in Couture, starring Angelina Jolie, where he plays a makeup artist—a far cry from the intense intellectual presence of Godard, and proof of his range.
Now, he’s carefully reading scripts, searching for characters where he can genuinely contribute something new. While directing remains close to his heart, acting has become an equal passion. What once felt like a detour now feels like another destination.
Why His Story Matters
Guillaume Marbeck’s journey resonates because it’s deeply human. There was no overnight success, no industry shortcuts. Just years of uncertainty, self-education, rejection, and persistence. His rise is a reminder that creative careers rarely follow straight lines.
“I think people go to the cinema,” Marbeck reflects, “so they can watch the world from a different point of view.” It’s a simple idea, yet it perfectly captures why his story—and his work—matters. From homemade YouTube videos to embodying one of cinema’s greatest icons, Marbeck didn’t just learn how films are made. He learned how stories change the way we see.