 The death of a close cousin convinced him to take up acting at the age of 19.He attended Cours Florent for three years before studying under Daniel Mesguich, Stéphane Braunschweig and Dominique Valadié at the French National Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1998.Gallienne made his film debut in 1992 in "Tableau d'honneur" and he has starred in Sofia Coppola's 2006 film "Marie Antoinette".