A friction clutch for a drive train of a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine. The clutch includes a rotatable shaft, a housing, at least one first clutch plate, at least one second clutch plate that is movable axially to a limited extent relative to the at least one first clutch plate to actuate the clutch. An actuating device that has at least one lever that is pivotally-mounted on one of the clutch plates, and at least one bar one end of which is connected to the lever and an opposite end of which is connected by an articulated connection to a different clutch plate to improve the function of the clutch.