Robert Pires has changed his life. The extraordinary former Arsenal and France international has become an actor and in this role has officially debuted on the big screen. Pires is part of the cast of the French film Melpomène, directed by Charlotte Dauphin, who is also the protagonist of the film. A role, or rather a new profession, that was born almost by chance during a conversation with the director, who lives in the same building as the talented former number 7.
The meeting with the director was crucial.
Charlotte Dauphin is a young director, but she already has an impressive career. In the film Melpomène, she is also the protagonist. In an interview with L'Équipe, Pires explained that one day they met, which was quite natural since they live in the same building. The director told him that she was looking for new faces for her next film and asked him if he would like to take on a small role. Pires thought about the proposal and, when they met again, he said: "Why not?".
The former French footballer joined the project and took on an important role, as he plays the cousin of the protagonist, who returns to her childhood home many years after the loss of her mother. Pires did not take this experience as a game or something random. He committed himself seriously and attended acting courses to learn to control his breathing, the use of space and, above all, his voice, since intonation is essential.
Robert Pires Was One of the Most Elegant and Technically Gifted Players the Premier League Has Ever Seen... 🎩🇫🇷 Blessed with exceptional close control, silky footwork, intelligent movement and extraordinary composure, Pires made football look almost effortless. The Frenchman possessed a wonderful ability to glide past defenders, drift into dangerous positions and combine beautifully with his teammates. His understanding with Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp was particularly special, helping create some of the most breathtaking attacking football English football has ever witnessed. Joining Arsenal from Marseille in 2000, Pires became an integral part of Arsène Wenger's legendary side, winning two Premier League titles. Named FWA Footballer of the Year in 2001/02, he was also instrumental in Arsenal's historic unbeaten 2003/04 league campaign, contributing 14 Premier League goals as the Gunners became The Invincibles. A master of technique, creativity and effortless elegance. Robert Pires wasn't just a brilliant footballer — he was an artist with the ball at his feet ✨❤️
— FootballingGods • Football • Fútbol • Soccer (@footballinggod5) October 14, 2026
An important role for Pires, who had to change character
Now that the film has been released, Pires has revealed that he felt a lot of pressure from the director and the other actors. "A lot of people think it's easy because I've played in front of millions of people, but acting is a real profession. In football, if you make a mistake, a teammate can correct it. On set, if you make a mistake, everyone has to start over."
Pires, a brilliant player and generally a cheerful and positive person, had to appear as stern and as gloomy as possible in order to fit the script. As he himself humorously revealed, for this reason he also became the object of jokes by the film crew, who remembered him as a person with a completely different character.
Pires' career at Arsenal and triumphs with France at the World Cup
A classic number 7, a player of extraordinary talent and a physique that today would probably have a harder time imposing himself, Robert Pires, born in 1973, has mainly linked his name to Arsenal. However, he also played for Marseille, Metz, Villarreal and Aston Villa. With France he was part of that golden generation that won the World Cup in France in 1998 and triumphed at Euro 2000.
He is not the first player from France, the 1998 World Cup champions, to become an actor. Before him, Franck Leboeuf had appeared on the big screen. Meanwhile, Eric Cantona, who did not win the World Cup but represents French football at the highest levels, is also an actor, and a very good one at that.
