Assa Aïcha Sylla (born 3 June 1996) is a French actress and writer. She debuted in the film Girlhood (2014), which earned her César and Black Reel Award nominations. She has since starred in the French version of Skam (2018–2020), the Netflix series Mortel (2019), and the film The Last Mercenary (2021).
Assa Sylla | |
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![]() Sylla in 2015 | |
Born | Assa Aïcha Sylla (1996-06-03) 3 June 1996 (age 26) 15th arrondissement, Paris, France |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2014–present |
Sylla was born in the 15th arrondissement of Paris south of the river to Soninke parents from Mauritania, her father a cleaner and her mother a stay-at-home mother, and grew up in the Barbès area of the 18th arrondissement north of the river.[1][2] She has three sisters and two brothers. She is Muslim.[3]
Sylla attended Lycée Edgar Quinet Filières Professionnelles. She was scouted at 17 by the Girlhood casting directors when she accompanied her friends to the auditions.[4] Then, she played the role of the Franco-Malian boxer Aya Cissoko in Danbé, la tête haute - portraying the boxer's teenage years. For this role, she took intensive boxing lessons whilst continuing to study for her baccalauréat professionnel.[5]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Girlhood (French: Bande de filles) | Lady Sophie | |
2016 | Verdon Secret | Clara | |
2016 | Na tout pour elle | Aminata | Short film |
2017 | Accidental Family | Young Woman | |
2017 | Lola Pater | Caroline | |
2017 | Chateau | Starting Woman | |
2018 | Blue Queen | Nina | Short film |
2019 | Plus jamais je ne t'aimerai | Assa | Short film |
2019 | Numéro 10 | Awa | Short film |
2021 | The Last Mercenary | Dalila | |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Danbé, Head Held High (French: Danbé, la tête haute) | 16-year-old Aya Cissoko | Television film[7] |
2014 | Spiral | Vanessa | 1 episode |
2014 | Falco | Jennifer | Episode: "À l'état brut"[8] |
2018–2020 | Skam France | Imane Bakhellal | Main role (seasons 1–5) Recurring role (season 6) |
2019 | Mortel | Nora Cissoko | Main role |
2021 | Regard noir | Herself | Documentary[9] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Golden Moustache | Episode: "Le Nouveau Don Juan" | |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | César Awards | Most Promising Actress | Girlhood | Nominated | |
2016 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Breakthrough Performance – Female | Nominated | ||
General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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