Éric Cantona, 59 years old, is not only a former French football star, a striker with a strong character (that’s an understatement). Since hanging up his boots in 1997, he has immersed himself with the same passion in cinema and music (yes, really). Art is his passion, and for over thirty years, this amateur painter and photographer has taken on roles in film (he even appeared with Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth in 1998 and Ken Loach made him the hero of his film Looking for Eric!), on television, and on stage. His greatest support is his wife, Rachida Brakni, 49 years old. But who is this actress who has shared his life for over twenty years?
How did Éric Cantona and Rachida Brakni meet?
After studying at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art, Rachida Brakni joined the Comédie-Française in 2001. She became a member until 2004, when she decided to also focus on cinema. In 2002, she won the César for Most Promising Actress for her role in Chaos by Coline Serreau. It was also that year that her path crossed with Éric Cantona. Two different worlds… And yet.
At the time, the former footballer was (still?) married to Isabelle Ferrer (sister of Bernard, also a footballer), whom he met in the early 1980s at Auxerre (the club where he started) and mother of his two children, Raphaël (1988) and Joséphine (1995). Éric and Rachida met on the set of the film The Overeater by Thierry Binisti. The actress was captivated. Literally.
“I walked into the makeup room and I was captivated by his gaze in the mirror, the actress told L’Express in 2012. I knew immediately! This filming period, which unfolded the film and our passion, was exciting. But on the last day, I was very unhappy: I was afraid it would all end!” And then she confessed, “It may sound cheesy, but I accept it: my heart belongs to Éric.” And it still belongs to him. Rachida and Éric have not parted since. They got married in 2007 and the couple, who have settled in Portugal, have welcomed two children, Émir (2009) and Selma (2013).
A close couple
Rachida continues her career as an actress (she has been seen in the series Baron Noir and The Spies of Terror among others), a director, and also a singer. With Éric, they have had the opportunity to collaborate several times. They played together in the film Lisa and the Airplane Pilot… which was never released. They appeared in an episode of the series The Traveller broadcast in 2020 on France 3 – and in which the former player was the hero.
Rachida directed Éric when he made his first steps on the stage in 2010, in the play Facing Paradise by Nathalie Saugeon. Éric wrote the songs for Rachida’s first album (Rachida Brakni), released in 2012: “Éric did it for me. No one knows me better than him: he knows that I like danger, that I want the luxury of making mistakes, because there is gold in error. Éric has written songs that speak about me”, she explained to L’Express. More uniquely, Éric Cantona and Rachida Brakni launched their own brand of organic and eco-responsible cosmetics in 2019, Nostra (“Our” in Italian).
Oh, and it should be noted that in 2012, on the occasion of the extension of the T3 tramway to Porte de la Chapelle (18th arrondissement), the Paris City Hall entrusted musician Rodolphe Burger with the creation of a sound piece. He then “collected” many voices of anonymous and celebrities, including Éric and Rachida, who could be heard at the Montsouris station.
Rachida Brakni and Éric Cantona, the great love
What does Rachida love about Éric? “I love his smile and the depth of his
eyes. When he looks, he really looks, the actress confessed to Madame Figaro in 2020. He observes a lot, is cautious, but as soon as he is confident, his face relaxes. His posture is always upright and confident. When he enters a room, he exudes real charisma.” She also admires his integrity and the sense of humor of the former Manchester United star. He respects
his word, and I love his whimsy and sense of self-deprecation.”
Her husband is no less admiring of the woman of his life: “What I love the most is what cannot be seen and is expressed in her gaze. She is alive, luminous, and full of humor. With her, we never get bored.” And when asked about her faults, he jokes, “she has too many qualities”.
