An
encounter with the most impetuous of our leading men soon on the poster of Le Libertin
directed by Gabriel Aghion. Before
you played your role in Le Libertin, what did Diderot make you think of? The
heroes in the film combine philosophical essays with carnal desires. What a contradiction! Yes,
but it all ties into their feelings. The story is set with an adventurer (Fanny Ardant), a
young woman (Vahina Giocante), a nymphomaniac (Arielle Dombasle), a wife, a baroness. It should run through all these impulses at the same
time that it surrenders itself to some deep reflections. These
paradoxes between the body and the spirit create the philosophy of man, and that's what I
like about it!
You
appeared nude in a long sequence. Did you
enjoy it? No,
I am not an exhibitionist. What I liked are
the replicas of this scene, the reflections on nature. Are
you a narcissist? Actors
are always a little, but I don't particularly like to be looked at. I hide behind my characters. You
have been elected “the most attractive man in French Cinema”… Beauty
doesn't give you anything to look at but a physique. To
be in sync with yourself, to question yourself, to accept your mistakes, to appear to be
fair, that is real beauty. Are
you gifted with being a libertine? No. First, because I am very affected by my Catholic
education, and also because I have respect for other people. To do something bad, where you would voluntarily
introduce a grain of sand into something, which is running perfectly smooth in your life,
you would have to be a real idiot! I live in
harmony, which was difficult for me to attain previously. Being
a libertine in my thoughts is attractive to me, but a sexual libertine, no. Nevertheless,
people recall the talk about you being a formidable seducer… Oh
yeah! I lived through some intense love
affairs, which happens to everybody at a certain time in their life. I had the chance to meet my wife several years ago
and to be able to marry one day and live happily (editor's note: He is married to Karine Silla, daughter of an African diplomat, actress, and she
is also the mother of Roxane, whose father is Gerard Depardieu.) This job isn't easy, and to come home and have your
wife and nine-month-old daughter take you in their arms is precious! What
are some of your greatest encounters in cinema? In the latest film, Fanny Ardant. She is so full of grace and so noble and crazy too! Michael Serrault intimidated me at first, because of his work and comic force. Balasko and Serrault together, an historic moment. I would love to act again with Josie. Has
being an actor always been a dream of yours? Yes. Very much so. I
was able to succeed in my trade and that makes me happy. Directing
also tempts me. I have recently directed some
short films, L'Echange (The Exchange), Rien Dire (Nothing
to Say), Hier, Tu M'as Dit Demain (Yesterday, You Told Me Tomorrow),
with scenarios my wife has done. I am moving towards a full-length feature, and we are
thinking of doing one this year. What
really affects you? Injustice,
racism, lack of respect for human rights… Because in the year 2000, portability and
advanced technology still don't keep children from dying of starvation and cold all over
the world. At this moment, one can easily
communicate in two seconds all the way across the world, but one cannot give a child what
he needs to make him strong tomorrow?
Birth: June 10, 1964 in Lausanne, Switzerland to a Spanish father and a German mother Travels: Loves to travel regularly to the United
States, Morocco, Senegal, Spain… but also in France - Brittany and the South Passions: Painting, drawing and photography. Film: "Paths of Glory" by Kubrick Book: "Le Petit Prince de Saint-Exupery" Music: Bob Marley and Barbra Color: White Food: Patés View
on life: “It belongs to you, do
something with it.”
[With special thanks to Janette Sylvian for her French translation]
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