 After graduation, he enrolled in drama classes with Tania Balachova and then met Daniel, a director under whose auspices he worked from 1974 to 1981, participating in a dozen productions, mainly of contemporary classics.Berléand began his film career in 1978 with supporting roles in successful comedies throughout the 1980s.After a series of highly acclaimed supporting roles, including "My Small Business" for which he won the César for best actor in a supporting role in 2000, he won his first major role in the film "My Idol" by Guillaume Canet which brought his name and face to the wider public.