Meet Emmanuel Macchia & Valentin Campagne: 2026 Cannes Best Actor Winners Who Initially Clashed!

When we met them on May 22, the day after the grand premiere of Lukas Dhont’s “Coward” at the Cannes Film Festival Competition, Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne were still overwhelmed by the reception they had received. Little did they know that, just a few hours later, they would together win the Best Actor Award at the 79th edition of the festival.

In the film, they portray two World War I soldiers who secretly share a romantic bond. Amidst the horrors of the battlefield, they find a space of freedom that allows them to truly be themselves. With “Coward,” Belgian director Lukas Dhont delivers his most ambitious work, challenging the traditional war film genre and introducing modern, sensitive male heroic figures.

During our interview with the actors, it becomes clear that they are not so different from their characters. Valentin Campagne, at 22, is the more explosive of the two, while Emmanuel Macchia, at 20, is reserved and observant.

Valentin Campagne, the Maverick

“At first, we didn’t really like each other,” recalls Valentin Campagne. “There was a bit of friction from the first audition. But when you’re playing a couple, it’s good to get to know each other, so we spent a lot of time together. Things just naturally progressed from there.”

This young French actor, previously seen in Cédric Klapisch’s “The Coming of the Future” and Dominik Moll’s “File 137,” portrays Francis, a soldier skilled in the art of transformation and tasked with boosting troop morale with his reviews and plays. “I underwent intense training. I had 42 days of preparation and a few days of military service, just like back then, to learn how a soldier functions. This included singing and dancing lessons as well.”

Emmanuel Macchia, the Quiet Strength

Emmanuel Macchia, on the other hand, plays Pierre, the soldier captivated by Francis’s freedom. A native of Belgium, he was discovered during a casting call at his agricultural high school. With “Coward,” he lands his very first film role.

“For me, it was even more stressful because I didn’t know how to act and I couldn’t tap into certain emotions,” he admits. “For example, I couldn’t cry. I didn’t feel legitimate, I couldn’t understand why someone like me was chosen for a leading role. But as the filming progressed, I became more comfortable in the role of Pierre and I changed. I opened up to others and to myself.”

The Soldiers’ Sensitivity

The inspiration for “Coward” came when Lukas Dhont found a photo of World War I soldiers who had gathered ammunition crates to make a podium and transformed sacks into skirts. He became interested in a less explored facet of wartime combatants.

“In school, they only show us the violence and toughness of these men,” notes Valentin Campagne. “But there was a lot of tenderness among the soldiers who dressed up as women to entertain others. It was the same during shooting. We all bonded.”

Emmanuel Macchia wants to continue his journey in cinema and aims to play roles that carry meaningful messages: “I want to act in films that convey messages, with strong characters.” As for Valentin Campagne, he is already working on other projects. In one of them, he will play a role quite different from “Coward,” “a guy who dreams of becoming a rapper.”

“Coward” by Lukas Dhont, coming soon to theaters