YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST CRUSH / NASSIM LYES

“We don’t say I love you enough to the people who matter.”

Photographed in Paris by Nicolas Wagner
Styling by Farouk Chekoufi
Makeup by Océane Sitbon Ghoula
Hair by Rejane Selmane Photo Assistant Achille Groene

above: jacket and pants ETRO

CRUSHfanzine: Who was your first crush?

Nassim Lyes: My very first love was maternal. It was my mother, an extraordinary woman who looked at me with unconditional love. I believe that’s the purest form of love we ever feel. But my first real romantic crush was Jessica. I was fifteen, and we were on a school trip from Nîmes to Italy, visiting Rome and Mount Vesuvius. Long bus rides, stolen glances, shared snacks, I felt butterflies for the first time. Sadly, it ended in heartbreak. She put me in the friend zone, but that feeling was unforgettable.

CF: Do you dream in French or in English?

NL: When I’m in the land of dreams, it’s always in French. I’m fluent in English, truly bilingual, but I’d be lying if I said I dream in it, except when it turns into a nightmare. Then, generally, it’s in some strange language I don’t even understand, but it still sends chills down my spine. That said, if I’m dreaming, I’m sharing a movie set with Denzel Washington in Hollywood, trust me, I’m dropping my best English lines without hesitation.

CF: What’s the best thing about Los Angeles?

NL: It’s the sun, the quality of life, and the rhythm of the city. I love how people wake up early. The clubs close at 2 a.m., so you get used to going out earlier, wrapping up the night by midnight, in bed by one, and up again by seven. That rhythm lets you balance work, social life, and fun. In my field, it’s also the heart of the film industry. It’s the city where dreams feel possible, even if for some, they stay just dreams. But I’ve always made mine come true, and maybe that’s why I feel such a deep connection to this city.

CF: If your life were a soundtrack, what three songs must be on it?

NL: “Mystère et Suspense” by Fonky Family, that one’s for my roots, for the struggle, the doubt, the hustle. “California Dreamin’” by Bobby Womack, that’s the sound of my childhood dreams. “What’s a Woman” by Vaya Con Dios, because without my partner, Christelle Van De Kamp, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And I’ll add a fourth, “Les Yeux de la Mama” by Kendji Girac, because without my mother, I wouldn’t be the man I am.

shirt and pants LANVIN, gold and diamond necklace MESSIKA

jacket, pants, and shoes LOEWE, gold and diamond necklace MESSIKA

CF: Is it important to switch from drama to comedy in your acting work?

NL: My first real love was comedy, through the series En Passant Pécho with my longtime friend Julien Royal. It was his idea, and he offered me my first real comedic role, Cokeman. That’s when I realized acting wasn’t just a passion, it was my purpose. As a writer and actor, comedy gives you something rare. You laugh when you write, you laugh on set, and you laugh again when you watch the final cut. You end up living your life in laughter. And when you’re laughing at work, it doesn’t feel like work anymore. But comedy is serious business. Behind every laugh, there’s real craftsmanship. The line between laughter and tears is razor-thin, and often, they come from the same place. The more I grow, the more I push myself out of my comfort zone. Drama allows me to dig deeper, to confront fear, doubt, and hidden memories. That’s where truth lives. For me, switching between comedy and drama is how I explore who I really am. It’s what makes me feel whole as an actor. This is a job that forces you to evolve, and the exploration only ends when life gives its final cut.

CF: Which of the characters you played was the most challenging for you?

NL: The most difficult role I’ve ever played was in Made in France, directed by Nicolas Boukhrief. I portrayed a jihadist alongside François Civil. Coming from comedy, it was my first dramatic role, and it hit me hard. I had to completely transform. The character was the opposite of who I am. I’m naturally bright, expressive, and outgoing. But this guy was silent, dark, unreadable. So the director and I made a decision. From the moment I arrived on set in the morning until wrap, even through lunch, I wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone. Total silence. That’s how I managed to tap into something real, to make the performance believable. And after thirty-five days of complete muteness, I finally understood. Acting is a real job. (laughs)

CF: What does the word “obsession” mean to you?

NL: I actually studied Latin back in school, and I still remember the origin of this word. Obsession comes from obsessio, meaning to lay siege, to sit in front of something and never leave. It’s a word rooted in force, in pressure, in something that won’t let go. To me, that’s a bit dark. I don’t believe anything good comes from obsession. It implies compulsion, control, even self-destruction. I much prefer the word inspiration. To be inspired by something or someone is lighter, freer, and more generous. Obsession, for me, carries the same weight as words like obsessed or obsequious. The energy behind them is too heavy. I don’t want to be trapped by anything. I want to be moved, not haunted.

CF: What qualities do you treasure the most in your friendships?

NL: To me, true friendship and true love are basically the same feeling, just without the physical or romantic part. But emotionally, they run on the same fuel. A real friend is someone you can call at 5 a.m. when your world is falling apart, and they’ll be there. Someone who shows up, not just in presence, but in spirit. It’s someone you can trust blindly. You’d leave them your kids, your partner, your life, and sleep peacefully knowing everything’s safe. Most importantly, a real friend doesn’t envy your success. They’re genuinely happy for you when good things happen, and you are for them. Real friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re there.

CF: What’s a scent, texture, or sound that instantly brings you back to childhood?

NL: My madeleine de Proust is the smell of warm baguette early in the morning, the kind my mother used to bring home from the bakery. I remember her making me butter and jam toasts, which I’d dip in hot milk while she sipped her coffee, getting ready to head out to work like a lioness. She was raising me and my three brothers on her own. I know I often talk about my mother, but I also have the best dad, whom I love unconditionally. He just wasn’t around as much, since he and my mom separated when I was about twelve.

CF: What’s one thing you’ve never told anyone until now?

NL: It ties back to the question about my first crush. What I never said is that her friend-zoning me was only the beginning. For over three years, I faced a long series of disappointments. I was always the great friend, never the boyfriend. Until Marion Cros. I was about seventeen and a half when she finally said yes. She became my first real girlfriend and we stayed together for almost two years. But before that, I had built up a solid collection of rejections. I was basically a black belt in getting turned down. (laughs)

CF: What have you been creating lately that feels the most you?

NL: A giant Lego statue of myself. Just kidding. The most meaningful thing I’ve made lately is a birthday message I wrote for my mom, something deep, honest, almost like a poem. We don’t say I love you enough to the people who matter. I started with her, then wrote to my brothers, to those I hold close. Life slips by too fast. That message was my way of slowing it down, even just for a moment.

CF: Who do you imagine is watching or listening when you work?

NL: Every time I’m on set, especially when it gets hard, I picture the premiere night. The audience, people from the industry, my friends, and my loved ones were watching the film for the first time. That vision gives me pressure, the good kind. It reminds me that what I’m going through in the moment will all be worth it. As actors, we carry a responsibility. People pay for a ticket hoping to forget their lives, even for a moment, to feel, to escape. That’s sacred to me. But when I need to dig deeper, when I’m searching for something real, something raw, I close my eyes and think of my core. My family. My wife. The people who know me behind the masks. I think of them so hard that sometimes I get chills all over my body. And when that happens, I know I’m tuned in to the right frequency.

CF: When did you last feel truly seen in your work?

NL: Over the past three years, as I started leading projects that were very different from each other, especially the year I released Farang by Xavier Gens and Nouveau Riche by Julien Royal, I felt something shift. Both were lead roles, but completely opposite, one was dramatic action, the other action-comedy. That contrast made people in the industry look at me differently. For the first time, I felt a kind of professional respect from actors I’ve admired for years, people like Gilles Lellouche, Jonathan Cohen, Marion Cotillard, or Guillaume Canet. That kind of recognition hits deep. It makes the hard work feel seen.

cardigan and pants ERIC BOMPARD

CF: How does your audience shape what you choose to reveal or protect?

NL: Over time, when people from my generation come up to me and say it’s been so long since we’ve had a voice that really gets our humor, something shifts. You stop choosing just for yourself, you start choosing for them too. That’s why I’m more careful now, especially with comedy. Most of the roles I take in that space are with Julien Royal, not just because we share the same DNA, but because he knows me so well that he brings out the absolute best in me. I’m funnier, sharper, more myself when I work with him. It doesn’t speak to everyone, but when it does, it hits them at 200%. And I don’t want to let them down. They’re the reason I’m here. As a Muslim actor, I also protect my integrity. There are roles I won’t take. If you hand me a script where I’m playing a bank robber, I’m out. (laughs)

CF: Is there something in your recent work that you’d only want your closest friend to understand?

NL: Always. I like giving my close friends the behind- the-scenes, the wild stories, the off-camera drama, the stuff no one else gets to hear. That’s the bonus track you unlock when you’re close to someone who makes films. Because watching the final cut is one thing, but knowing what really happened between Action and Cut, that’s a whole different movie. And I love sharing that hidden version with the people I trust the most.

CF: What conversation are you hoping to start with your latest project?

NL: My next film is something I’m really proud of. It’s called Bagarre, an action-comedy I co-wrote with Julien Royal, who’s also directing. On the surface, it’s loud, fun, provocative. But underneath, there’s a real conversation about violence, especially how it affects young people today. We shot it in Marseille, on purpose. The city carries weight, history, urgency. The film also addresses violence against women, and we believe comedy is one of the most powerful tools to explore difficult truths without preaching. I don’t like the word “message,” we’re not here to lecture anyone. But if we can spark awareness, shake a few minds, or challenge how casually violence is treated, then we’ve done our job. That’s why Julien and I are so proud of this one.

CF: What emotion do you want to leave lingering in someone after they meet you?

NL: I want people to walk away feeling respected. That I never see myself above anyone, just because I’m in a creative field. Whether I’m speaking with someone living on the street or someone sitting in a corner office with a view, I want to be the same man. No performance, no switch-up. More than anything, I want people to feel happier, or just a little better, after we’ve met. That’s the legacy I care about most, leaving people better than I found them.

CF: What is your favorite fragrance, on you?

NL: J by Jacomo. And I’m not saying that just because I’m the face of it, I actually became the face of it because I love it. I wear it every day. It’s a scent that’s both strong and sensitive. You’ve got leather, black pepper, and praline for power and intensity. But then there’s cinnamon and lavender, bringing warmth, softness, and emotion. To me, it reflects the kind of man I try to be. Someone who can be strong, but isn’t afraid to cry when something moves him.

CF: Who is your personal hero?

NL: My mum. She dedicated the first part of her life, including her youth, to raising me and my three brothers. She gave us everything. At one point, she was juggling three jobs just to make sure we never lacked anything. And then, years later, when we were older, she went back to school. She earned her high school diploma with honors, then got a Master’s in Literature and Psychoanalysis. She had never been to school before that, and today, she has her own psychoanalysis practice, and she’s written her first novel. She’s the definition of strength, of perseverance, of brilliance. She’s not just a hero, she’s a superhero. Watching her fall and rise again taught me one thing. In life, everything is possible.

CF: What is your favorite Madonna song?

NL: “Frozen.” Because the way she talks about love in that song feels so true. The line, “You’re frozen when your heart’s not open” says it all. You can’t truly connect, feel, or grow if your heart is closed. That’s not just about love, it’s about life. When she says, “Love is a bird, she needs to fly.” It’s such a beautiful metaphor. Love can’t be locked down. It needs freedom, air, and trust. Otherwise, it suffocates. And when she sings “You’re so consumed with how much you get, you waste your time with hate and regret,” it’s a brutal truth. If you’re only focused on what love gives you, instead of what you share, you kill it. That whole song feels like a mirror. Cold, honest, and poetic. Just like love, when it’s real.

CF: Is discipline important to you?

NL: As a former boxer, I fought professionally and was the French kickboxing champion in 2010. I learned one thing above all. Without discipline, you don’t make it. Boxing taught me that discipline beats raw talent every time. If you’re consistent, focused, and willing to suffer for it, nothing can stop you. Denzel Washington once said, “Without commitment, you’ll never start, but more importantly, without discipline, you’ll never finish.” And that’s the truth. Discipline is what turns dreams into direction. And one step at a time, even the impossible gets tired of waiting.

CF: What does it mean to be vulnerable? Is it a strength in your field?

NL: Absolutely. If an actor isn’t vulnerable, if he doesn’t open up, show his cracks, or let his heart be seen, he’ll never truly reach his audience. For me, vulnerability flows best when I feel safe, when there’s trust with the director, and the set feels like a safe space. But yes, I believe it’s a strength. This is a profession built on emotion. And the more you act with an open heart, the more deeply you’ll move people.

CF: How important is family to you?

NL: As you’ve probably noticed throughout this interview, I speak a lot about my family, my mother, and my partner, because they are my foundation. They’re the ones I turn to when doubt creeps in, when I need a shoulder, when I need to remember why I started. They’re not just part of my life, they are the engine. They’re my fuel. Without them, my heart would stall. Because family, it’s not just who stands beside you in the spotlight. It’s who held the light for you in the dark, long before anyone else saw you.