Versatile and determined to not be typecast in "Beur" roles, Roschdy Zem developed his range, playing a General of Napoléon in Monsieur N. (2003), a Jewish father in Va, vis et deviens (Live and Become, 2005), and a transvestite in Change moi ma vie (Change My Life, 2001) alongside Fanny Ardant. He also appeared in roles highlighting issues in mainstream French society as well as in films promoting aspects of French and North African history such as Indigènes (Days of Glory, 2006) and Camping à la ferme (2005), based on a script from Azouz Begag.
In 2011, he directed the film Omar Killed Me, which was selected as the Moroccan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards.
