Kad Merad and Julia Vignali are one of the couples the most loved and discreet of the French audiovisual landscape. Since 2014, their love story, born unexpectedly on television, has continued to fascinate. It is on the set of C à vous that it all started in 2014. Julia Vignali, who exceptionally replaced Anne-Sophie Lapix as host, received Kad Merad as a guest. The actor, known for his comedic talent in cult films like Welcome to thes Ch’tis or The Choirsused his irresistible humor to capture the attention of the lively host. And it worked! “The first time I approached her physically,
it's there. I won't say afterwards how it went.”joked Kad Merad in 2022 at the microphone of RTL. However, there is no question of revealing more.
Kad Merad and Julia Vignali: a love born in the spotlight
Yet their destiny could have crossed paths much earlier: Julia, then a young actress, had passed a casting in 2000 to become an announcer on the Comédie channel, where Kad Merad worked with his accomplice Olivier Baroux. “Total failure”, she remembers. But fate did things well, since they found fourteen years later, at the right time. Their relationship, initially kept secret, was revealed to the general public in 2016, but the couple remains very discreet about their private life. However, the artist still indulged in some juicy confidences about his beauty.
They live a simple and fulfilled existence in their second home in Saône-et-Loire, where they were married during a private ceremony in small groups. This corner of Burgundy has a special place in their hearts. Julia Vignali explains enthusiastically: “The Burgundians are people who are as warm as they are respectful and that suits us well, because we cultivate discretion. It's not a coincidence if we chose Saône-et-Loire and not Saint-Tropez! “.
“It’s hell”: what the comedian hates during family celebrations
Kad Merad also shares this love for the region:
“It’s sublime, it's between Cluny and Mâcon”, he confided on the set of En aparté on Canal+. The actor even embarked on the renovation of an old abandoned farm to bring it back to life. “I want to do breeding so I’m preparing. I take my time because I find out a lot from real operators. “. Most recently, the couple welcomed a new four-legged companion, a dog who, according to the actor,
transformed their daily lives. “I can tell you, It’s quite life changing. “. While Kad Merad is currently starring in Christmas ballsa festive comedy directed by Alexandra Leclère, the actor talks about this time of year.
“When I was a young father, I loved celebrating Christmas. I dressed up as Santa Claus very often, and seeing the wonder in the children's eyes was priceless.”he says. However, the years have changed his aspirations. “Now that I no longer have my parents, It no longer has the same flavor. “. Today, he favors simpler moments, far from the commercial frenzy: “What pisses me off is the period leading up to Christmas: this excessive consumption, the rush for gifts… it's hell! “.
Kad Merad: this return to simplicity which does him good
He now imagines a more intimate New Year’s Eve: “Maybe a simple dinner out with Julia, or some time with close friends. ». However, it remains true to the spirit of Christmas and continues to decorate his house to welcome his loved ones: “There will always be a kid from a friend or from my family who will show up at my house and admire my tree. “. Beyond their private life, Kad Merad and Julia Vignali also form a committed couple. In 2024, they were chosen as godfathers and godmothers of Pasteurdon, a cause that is particularly close to their hearts. Julia spoke with emotion:
“What motivated us was commitment.
With a notoriety like that of my husband, much greater than mine, the real pleasure is to make oneself useful. “.
This year, Pasteurdon focused on women's health, a topic which particularly resonates for Julia Vignali. You can find Kad Merad on the poster of
Eventually Claude Lelouch et al Christmas baubles. Between his Christmas decoration to do, his interviews and his filming, the actor still make time
for his family and his sweetheart.
