Luc Besson

Born: 18th March 1959
Where: Paris, France

Luc is one of film's most provocative and acclaimed filmmakers, and has captured the imaginations of moviegoers with his unique, highly inventive visual style.

His interest in movies began at a young age, when at 17, Luc dropped out of school to pursue a career in film. He reached a stumbling block at his first step, when he was turned down by France's national film school - so he immediately moved to Hollywood.

Before he even began to direct professionally, Luc set up a production company called Les Film du Loup in 1982.

His directing debut came the following year with the company's first project Le Grand Carnaval, which he helmed at the tender age of 24.

A couple of years later he was starting to make a name for himself and was introduced to Christopher Lambert on the film Subway, and by 1986 Luc was already producing.

1988 saw Luc directing his first English language film - The Big Blue. The film was a huge commercial success in Luc's native France, but failed to reach its intended US audience.

In was with La Femme Nikita that Luc credits his big 'Hollywood break'. The movie broke all the conventional rules of filmmaking and brought Luc to the attention of critics and industry players alike.

Then 1994, he really broke into Hollywood with his first American film, The Professional. It was his first collaboration with Gary Oldman and his fifth with French actor Jean Reno.

Leon came next, starring 12 year old Natalie Portman, and the critics went wild. But Luc's biggest commercial hit was the sci-fi filmThe Fifth Element starring his future wife Milla Jovovich and Bruce Willis.