Born in 1933 in the well-to-do Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, son of “pied-noir” sculptor Paul Belmondo, Belmondo attended a string of elite private schools but did poorly.
(The voice was supplied by Godard himself, after Belmondo was conscripted into the army to serve in Algeria.)
Belmondo was married twice, to fellow actor Élodie Constantin between 1952 and 1968, and dancer Natty Tardivel from 2002-8.
Based on a treatment by François Truffaut and Chabrol, Breathless was inspired by the real-life activities of killer Michel Portail.