What does it mean to you to participate in the Hospices de Beaune wine sale?
I've always been a little afraid of Burgundy wine because it is, on the one hand, very expensive and, on the other, so specific and rare. But I'm really delighted to be in Beaune. I cycled through the vineyards, saw the villages of Meursault, Puligny, Nuits-Saint-Georges. It's an extraordinary trip for me, to discover these places and to participate in this great wine festival which is the best in the world.
Why is it important to represent the Médecins Sans Frontières association?
This is the primary reason why I am here. The Hospices de Beaune only choose very large institutions to support. We have all heard of Médecins Sans Frontières since its creation in 1971. My daughter actually worked for them a few years ago. What they are achieving in Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere around the world is incredible. As well as what they are doing in the One Health project where they are treating diseases caused by climate change. We live in very uncertain times and MSF is one of the great institutions helping us through this time. Médecins Sans Frontières employs tens of thousands of people and supports millions more. Politically neutral, MSF bears witness to war crimes and crimes against humanity, which I find very important at the moment.
Is this your first time in Beaune? Did you have time to visit the Hospices?
In Beaune yes, but not in Burgundy. I came to the region 10 or 20 years ago with Irish friends, we walked from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. We then crossed France on foot and passed through Burgundy without stopping in Beaune. I didn't realize then that there was this city that is the heart and soul of Burgundy wines. So it’s a real surprise and an incredible discovery for me. Regarding the Hospices, we had a fantastic guided tour which ended in true Burgundian tradition with the tasting of six different wines from their cellar. It’s an extraordinary building, an incredible place.
What is your link with France?
When I was in my twenties, I studied for a year in Paris, as part of an Erasmus exchange. I attended the Sorbonne Nouvelle. I always wanted to be French but I never succeeded (laughs). My wife keeps saying to me, “Tell me you’re Irish.” My family is indeed Irish. My wife explained to me that the Irish had very strong links with France. And Burgundy with Patrice de Mac Mahon and the Wild Geese (name of Irish mercenaries who came to France at the end of the 17th centurye century, editor’s note). My wife owns a castle in Ireland and her family history goes back a long way. Some of his ancestors were Wild Geese. They fled their country to escape the British and settled in your country. She says that, unfortunately, her people stayed there but that the most intelligent came here, to France.
What do you like most about our country?
I find France incredibly romantic. I have always loved French films, actors, literature, music, art. Even the buildings give me chills. I guess it's because they're so pretty. There is an atmosphere here, a quality in France that is not found anywhere else. It has always captivated me.
Do you have any favorite places in France?
There are obviously many places that I like in Paris. I lived in the Marais and I loved it. Last year, we toured the Normandy and Breton coasts with my children and it was absolutely magnificent. We also went to La Rochelle, a very beautiful city, and to Bordeaux. Having always loved the Alps where I go skiing, I also appreciate Annecy. But I must admit that Burgundy is my new favorite region because there is always a glass of wine (laughs).
Which Burgundy wines do you like? And what about gastronomy?
I have always liked white people, whom I know well. Unlike reds, because they are generally too expensive. However, since I have been here, I have tasted Corton, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Echézeaux which is simply incredible. I had never tasted Romanée-Conti but I went to their vineyards. A sort of holy mountain, a place of pilgrimage. Two horses were plowing the land there. There is something magical there. Regarding cooking, I love gougères. It's the best thing I've ever eaten. We should make our Yorkshire pudding more like gougères.
The French know you in particular for your interpretation of roi Charles IIIthen Prince of Wales, in the Netflix series The Crown. What did you like about this role?
I love the man he is. I worked on this role for two-three years. You have to enjoy the character you play. He's someone I admire. He is an honest man who does good work. I am interested in the same things as King Charles such as the environment, architecture and plants in a way, my wife being a landscaper. I enjoyed learning more about him and playing him at a very sensitive time in his life when his ex-wife, Lady Diana Spencer, died. As an actor, it was an incredibly challenging role. This is what we really look for when we do this job.
Was it intimidating to play your future king?
Charles III is not a fan of The Crown so if you're taking part in the series, you're not going to be heading to Buckingham Palace any time soon. It wasn't intimidating per se but we felt particularly concerned with the era I was representing, that of Lady Diana's death. You have a duty to do things right and take them very seriously.
How was your preparation?
When I'm preparing for a role, I like to get away from my family and immerse myself in the subject. So I went to Cornwall where he was the Duke. I have listened to his book several times. Harmony which he reads himself. In the end, we end up talking like him. I then studied his gestures. King Charles points the finger at things and people a lot. It's his way of communicating with the public. Every day, he meets hundreds of people. He has met more people than anyone else in the world, except of course his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. I also watched a lot of documentaries about him, read many books. It was a total immersion because I don't look like him or speak the same way as him. I had the opportunity to greet King Charles when he was still Prince of Wales. I am involved in his charity, the King's Trust. So I happened to participate in events organized by this wonderful institution in which he was also present.
Was it difficult to get out of character once filming was over?
No way. It's something I do easily. However, when I wear a double-breasted suit jacket, I unconsciously adjust my sleeves like him. I transform again, but only when I put on this item of clothing.
Besides The Crownyou have starred in many films and series. Your filmography is also linked to France, since you played Willy in Colette and Jean Valjean in Les Miserables for the BBC…
The great thing about playing Jean Valjean is that I read the book. I wouldn't have done it without and Les Miserables has become my favorite work. An extraordinary, wonderful work, that I love so much! I particularly enjoyed playing this character because he is a wonderful hero. French heroes are greater than the others. They embody more romanticism.
