Alexandre Emmanuel Trudeau, also known as Sacha, is a renowned Canadian filmmaker and journalist. He gained national recognition with his debut novel, ‘Barbarian Lost: Travels in the New China’, which quickly became a bestseller. Coming from a family of premiers, with his brother Justin Trudeau currently serving as Canada’s prime minister and his late father Pierre Trudeau as a former PM, Alexandre has always been surrounded by politics. While studying at McGill University, he joined the reserve regiment of the Royal Canadian Hussars as a Reserve Entry Scheme Officer. After graduating with a degree in philosophy, he ventured to West Africa to film his first documentary, ‘Liberia: The Secret War’. Despite personal tragedies, including the loss of his younger brother and father, Alexandre continued to excel in his career, creating impactful documentaries such as ‘Embedded in Baghdad’, which shed light on the US invasion of Iraq. He is known for his advocacy for justice and equality, as demonstrated by his opposition to the government’s policy of indefinite incarceration without fair trials for terrorist suspects.
Quick Facts
- Canadian Celebrities Born In December
- Also Known As: Alexandre Emmanuel Trudeau, Sacha Trudeau
- Age: 49 Years, 49 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Zoe Bedos
- Father: Pierre Trudeau
- Mother: Margaret Trudeau
- Siblings: Justin Trudeau, Michel Trudeau, Sophie Grégoire
- Children: Ariane Léa Trudeau, Gala Simone Trudeau, Pierre-Emmanuel Trudeau
- Directors
- Journalists
- Ancestry: Indonesian Canadian, French Canadian, Dutch Canadian
- City: Ottawa, Canada
- Education: McGill University
Early Life and Family
Alexandre Trudeau was born on 25th December 1973 in Ottawa to Margaret and Pierre Trudeau. His elder brother, Justin Trudeau, was born exactly on the same day, two years earlier, and both siblings were nicknamed “Christmas babies.” Alexandre’s mother struggled with postnatal depression after his birth. Alexandre was nicknamed ‘Sacha’ by his father, who was a Russophile and gave him the moniker to embody his affinity for Russia. Alexandre also had a younger brother, Michel, who tragically passed away at the age of 25.
Education and Career
Alexandre followed in the footsteps of his father and older brother by completing his secondary and college-level education in Montreal. He graduated from McGill University in 1997 with a degree in philosophy. During his time at university, he enlisted in the Canadian Forces. After completing his training, Alexandre started working as a Second Lieutenant but took a voluntary leave to shoot his first documentary, ‘Liberia: The Secret War’, in West Africa.
Following the death of his younger brother Michel and his father Pierre Trudeau, Alexandre’s journalistic endeavors received greater public attention. He continued to work as a journalist, recording documentaries for television channels in Canada. He covered the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and produced a documentary titled ‘Embedded in Baghdad’. In 2004, he filmed a documentary called ‘The Fence’ that profiled Palestinian families in Palestine territories. Alexandre also opposed the Canadian government’s misuse of security certificates for detaining alleged terrorists without trial and testified on behalf of a Syrian immigrant, Hassan Almrei.
Documentary Filmmaking and Writing
Alexandre Trudeau made several documentary films, including ‘Refuge’ in 2008, which shed light on the civil strife in eastern Chad and Darfur. He also produced a documentary titled ‘The New Great Game’ for CBC, focusing on maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean and the Middle East. In September 2016, he published his debut novel, ‘Barbarian Lost: Travels in the New China’, which became a bestseller in Canada. The book documents his repeated visits to China and draws parallels with his father’s travels to the country.
Personal Life
Alexandre Trudeau currently resides in Montreal with his wife Zoe Bedos, who works as a manager in a clothing store, and their three children. After the death of his younger brother Michel, he lived with his father and took care of him until his passing in 2008. Alexandre has chosen to distance himself from the limelight and prefers privacy, despite his successful career as a journalist and filmmaker. He has an infectious charm and a passion for engaging in conversations with others. He considers himself more of a traveler than a documentarian or chronicler.