Born François Barbeau in Montreal in the Côte-des-Neiges district, the actor had to change his name at the start of his career, because he could not have the same surname as another member of the UDA: the designer of suits died in 2016.
Published at 5:00 a.m.
He has a younger sister, who is a lawyer, like his mother, and his father was a real estate developer. The Barbeaus are quite well-off and cultured. “As a child, I often went to the cinema with my father. My mother took me to the theater. At the age of 10, I saw Guy Nadon in Cyrano de Bergeracat TNM. I was so impressed that my mother bought me the book. And I learned Cyrano’s nose tirade by heart, to play it in front of my family at Christmas. »
In high school, the passion for the game was confirmed. He does amateur theater at Notre-Dame College. Then in Brébeuf, the teenager was part of the Vaisseau d’or troupe, with actress Alice Pascual. “I became friends with François while playing in Littoralby Wajdi Mouawad, known as Pascual. I was in my first year at CEGEP and François was finishing. We lost sight of each other, then found each other at the Conservatory. François has a real actor’s brain. Instinct, listening, sensitivity. He has a very keen understanding of human nature. I was convinced he was going to go far. »
Arnaud began his training at the Conservatoire in 2004. He was part of the famous 2007 cohort. The one which was the subject of an (excellent) NFB documentary, I already saw myself. His young classmates are Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, Ève Landry, Cynthia Wu-Maheux, Jean-Simon Traversy, Vincent Fafard… “François was already in his element at the Conservatoire,” remembers Fafard. The diction, the presence, the elegance in the game… He already had all that, at 19 years old. He asked himself a lot of questions to understand the motivations of the characters. »
PHOTO CYNTHIA WU-MAHEUX, PROVIDED BY VINCENT FAFARD (PERSONAL COLLECTION)
The 2007 cohort of the Montreal Conservatory: Véronique Beaudet, Charles Smith-Métellus, Ève Landry, Vincent Fafard, Nicolas Chabot, Jean-Simon Traversy, Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, Stéphanie Labbé and François Arnaud
Both shy and daring, reserved and warm, young Arnaud already has within him this “poetry of the actor”, as Antoine Vitez said. One of his teachers, the actor Gilbert Sicotte, had a good influence on his acting career.
I really like Gilbert. He was sometimes hard on me. He could stop me at the first reply, because he didn’t think I was fair. But I think he knew that we are both from the same school: we prefer the truth to pretense.
-Francois Arnaud
A job of ego and… humility
From Jeremy Irons to Rebecca Hall via Lambert Wilson, François Arnaud has rubbed shoulders with his share of international stars. Has the Montrealer ever suffered from imposter syndrome?
“Of course,” he answers without hesitation. When I arrived on the set of Borgiasat 25, I ate my crusts. It made me grow up quickly. The director, Neil Jordan, told me: “The reason I cast you is because I trust you.” In a decade abroad, I have known veterans like Anthony Hopkins and Jennifer Ehle who, through success, have remained humble, generous, curious and interested in others. This is how I want to do this job. It’s a choice. It’s easier to be boring! »
To give an example, Arnaud illustrates that graduates in the game can become undrinkable, because they have been chosen to play with… The Roulotte! “Actors with inflated egos often have very low self-esteem,” it is sometimes said. For me, it’s important to remain a good human, a pleasant and attentive person. Once I felt myself becoming irritated on a set because someone had forgotten to bring me my fresh orange juice. I immediately said to myself: “François, you’re not going there!” »
Consult the part page A children’s party
A children’s party
By Michel Marc Bouchard
Director: Florent Siaud
At the New World TheaterFrom January 14 to February 8
