Alaa Safi

Alaa Safi is a French actor and martial artist who grew up in France in a Moroccan family and began training in Taekwondo as a child, becoming a high level martial artist with international titles, among them the Taekwonmudo world championship in 2002. His acrobatic and fighting skills took him to Thailand for two years of training with a professional stunt team, and back in Paris he studied at the International Theater School of Blanche Salant & Paul Weaver while starting his acting career and attending physical theater workshops. From the age of 21 he was cast in action films such as Traitor (2008), dramas and romantic comedies, working alongside actors including Don Cheadle, Vincent Lindon and Elsa Zylberstein. In 2012 he played Jackie Chan's antagonist in Chinese Zodiac (2012), and he also appeared as the Moorish Prince in Outcast. He won a best male actor award for Taureau Taureau.