Soufiane Guerrab on Bombonera, Lupin and the Work Ahead
Soufiane Guerrab on Acting, Returning Roles and Creative Independence
Actor and director Soufiane Guerrab distinguishes between the experiences that inform his work and the characters he plays. His family background is part of his identity, but he does not seek to reproduce himself in every role. Instead, he describes an approach grounded in emotion and a commitment to telling each story truthfully.
In this interview for Cultured Focus Magazine, Guerrab discusses the personal connection that drew him to Bombonera, his collaboration with Syrine Boulanouar and Vimala Pons, and his affection for Inspector Youssef Guedira in Lupin. He also reflects on returning to La Vie Scolaire and developing projects of his own.
Across his responses, he gives particular attention to the people he works with. Just as importantly, he makes room for a subject often left out of conversations about professional ambition: feeling well, both physically and mentally.
1. Identity, Roots and Belonging
Question: You move between French and Moroccan cultural worlds. How has that dual identity shaped your understanding of belonging, and the characters you’re drawn to playing as an actor?
Answer: I’m French, with Moroccan roots on my father’s side and Italian roots on my mother’s. My origins are part of who I am, but I don’t necessarily try to put my own DNA into my characters. I try to convey emotions and draw on experiences deep within myself so I can tell the story as truthfully as possible.
2. Bombonera and a Personal Connection to Football
Question: In Bombonera, you take the lead in a story built around football. What first connected you to the character, and what did you discover about him beyond his relationship with the game?
Answer: My sister was a professional footballer. She played for PSG, so I saw firsthand what it was like for a little girl to dream of becoming a footballer. That’s what first drew me to the script. I felt as though I was finding a little piece of my own life in it.
3. Collaborating with Syrine Boulanouar
Question: Football has its own physical language: instinct, rhythm, rivalry, and solidarity. How did you and director Syrine Boulanouar work to translate that energy into your performance?
Answer: From the beginning, Syrine had a very clear idea of what he wanted to show on screen. The football scenes were built almost like choreography, like a dance performance. He also knew exactly what he wanted from the rest of the story: to show a character starting from nothing and moving towards a very specific goal, shaped by the people he meets along the way. Life is full of chance encounters that can sometimes matter more than planned meetings. That’s part of what this film is about.
4. Sharing Scenes with Vimala Pons
Question: What did working alongside Vimala Pons bring out in you as an actor? Was there a scene where her approach surprised you or changed the way you played a moment?
Answer: Vimala is an extraordinary actress. I loved working with her. What surprised me most was how unpredictable she is. She’s incredibly sensitive and takes a scene somewhere you don’t expect. It was a real pleasure to work with an actress of her calibre. I have very, very fond memories of our shoot.
5. Football Beyond Winning and Losing
Question: With Bombonera reaching audiences after the World Cup, viewers may arrive carrying the emotions of the tournament. What conversation do you hope the film opens about football beyond winning and losing?
Answer: Football is a team sport, a bit like making a film. Everyone has a role to play and has to give their best in that role. A football match is almost like a scene you shoot together as a team. More broadly, sport makes me think about pushing yourself, reaching your limits and trying to go beyond them.
6. Returning to Guedira
Question: As you return to Inspector Youssef Guedira in Lupin Season 4, what feels different about stepping back into a character you’ve lived with over several seasons?
Answer: Guedira is like a friend I get to see again every year. I’m fond of him. With Lupin, I sometimes feel like a spectator of my own work, and I rediscover my profession. Everything is done on such a grand scale. It’s a bit like the way I imagined cinema as a child: huge resources, incredible locations. It’s a real privilege to be part of this series, especially alongside such wonderful actors.
7. Guedira and Lupin
Question: Guedira’s fascination with Arsène Lupin gives him an unusual connection to the man he’s pursuing. When you play him, how do you balance professional duty with curiosity, and perhaps admiration?
Answer: Guedira represents sincerity. He’s genuine, almost childlike in a way, and that’s what I love about him. Of course, he’s a police officer pursuing people who break the law, but he also loves justice and is a fan of Lupin. He doesn’t hide it. The two aren’t contradictory. In fact, that fascination often helps him stay one step ahead. I also love his determination. He follows his ideas through, regardless of what people think of him. I believe that’s one reason audiences connect with him.
8. The New Season 4
Question: Without revealing any spoilers, what aspect of Guedira were you most eager to explore this season, and what would you like viewers to notice about him when the new episodes arrive on October 23?
Answer: I’m going to rediscover Guedira myself this season. I know he’ll surprise me, and I think he’ll move me too. But I can’t tell you any more than that. I’ve forgotten everything! Laughs. Trust me, though: there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.
9. La Vie Scolaire
Question: You’ll soon begin shooting La Vie Scolaire for Netflix. What drew you to this project, and what questions are you taking into your preparation for the role?
Answer: La Vie Scolaire is a special project for me. We made a film with Grand Corps Malade and Mehdi Idir that was a huge success, and I’m proud to return to this role. This team means a lot to me; it feels like a family. I think the people who loved the film will love the series. I’m extremely happy to be part of it again. It’s going to be something special.
10. What Comes Next
Question: Between a leading film role, a return to Lupin, and a new series, this feels like a moment of transition. What are you looking for in your next chapter, not simply in terms of visibility, but in the stories you want to tell and the risks you want to take?
Answer: I write a lot and I’m trying to develop projects of my own. I’m currently writing a series and a feature film. That’s how I fill the little stretches of time when I’m not shooting. Since Lupin, I’ve also been lucky enough to receive offers for international films, including American projects. I’d love to work on other continents someday. I hope that happens.
Above all, I want to keep acting and step into characters who may be nothing like me. And then there’s health: physical and mental health. Beyond work, the most important thing is to feel well. So that’s what I wish for: peace. And long live cinema, long live love.
More Roles, New Possibilities
From his role in La Vie Scolaire to Inspector Youssef Guedira in Lupin and the lead in Bombonera, Soufiane Guerrab has built a career that gives audiences different ways to appreciate his work. Now, he is considering international opportunities while writing a series and a feature film of his own. His desire to play people unlike himself gives fans a compelling reason to follow what comes next: the chance to see him make unfamiliar choices, take on different kinds of characters and, through his writing, share his storytelling talents with a global audience.