She has too many qualities: Eric Cantona as a couple, who is Rachida Brakni the actress who has been sharing his life for over 20 years?

Éric Cantona, 59, is not just a former French football legend, a well-known striker (to say the least). Since hanging up his boots in 1997, he has delved into cinema and music with the same passion. Art is his passion, and for over thirty years, this amateur painter and photographer has taken on roles in movies (he even met Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth” in 1998 and was the hero in Ken Loach’s film “Looking for Eric”!), on television, and on stage. His biggest support is his wife, Rachida Brakni, 49. But who is this actress who has been by his side 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 Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in “Chaos” by Coline Serreau. It was also the year she crossed paths with Éric Cantona. Two different worlds… Yet.

At that time, the former footballer was still married to Isabelle Ferrer (sister of Bernard, also a footballer), whom he met in the early 80s in Auxerre (his first club) and is the mother of his two children, Raphaël (1988) and Joséphine (1995). Éric and Rachida met on the set of the movie “L’Outremangeur” by Thierry Binisti. The actress was captivated. Literally.

“I walked into the makeup room and was caught by his gaze in the mirror,” the actress told L’Express in 2012. “I knew immediately! This filming period, which mixed the film and our passion, was thrilling. But, on the last day, I was very sad: I was afraid everything would end!” And she admitted, “It may sound cheesy, but I own up to it: my heart belongs to Eric.” And it still does. Rachida and Eric haven’t separated since. They got married in 2007 and the couple, who settled in Portugal, welcomed two children, Émir (2009) and Selma (2013).

A close-knit couple. Rachida continues her career as an actress (seen in series like “Baron Noir” and “Les espions de la terreur”), director, and singer. With Éric, they have collaborated several times. They acted together in the movie “Lisa et le pilote d’avion”… which was never released. They appeared in an episode of the series “Le Voyageur” broadcasted in 2020 on France 3 – where the former player was the hero.

Rachida directed Éric in his first steps on stage in 2010, in the play “Face au paradis” by Nathalie Saugeon. Éric wrote songs for Rachida for her first album released in 2012: “Éric did it for me. No one knows me better than him: he knows I like danger, that I want the luxury of making mistakes, because there is gold in error. Éric created songs that talk about me,” she explained to L’Express. Additionally, Éric Cantona and Rachida Brakni launched their own eco-friendly and responsible cosmetics brand, “Nostra” (“Our” in Italian) in 2019.

Also, in 2012, during the extension of tramway T3 to Porte de la Chapelle (18th), the city of Paris entrusted musician Rodolphe Burger with creating a sound piece. He “collected” numerous voices of anonymous people and celebrities including Éric and Rachida, whose voices could be heard at 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,” confessed the actress to Madame Figaro in 2020. “He observes a lot, is cautious, but as soon as he trusts, his face relaxes. His posture is always upright and confident. When he walks into a room, he exudes true charisma.” She also admires his integrity and the sense of humor of the former Manchester United legend. “He respects his word, and I love his playfulness and self-mockery.”

Her husband is no less admiring of the woman of his life. “What I love most is what can’t be seen and is expressed in her gaze. She is lively, radiant, and full of humor. With her, we never get bored.” And when asked about her flaws, he jokes, “she has too many qualities.”