“I like to be said of me that I was respectful of a certain idea of ​​cinema”

In the series In the shadows, Melvil Poupaud plays Paul Francoeur, a respected right-wing elected official who embarks on a presidential campaign under high tension because of his rivalry with an internal opponent, played by Karin Viard.

Madame Figaro. – What attracted me to this series ?
Melvil Poupaud. – The role, because it allowed me to explore new facets of acting: a natural authority, something imposing, charismatic. I had to find in myself this kind of strength of character, this confidence and this authority, while being a little hindered since my character is in a wheelchair.

Would I have made a good politician ?
No, because I don't have the desire to be elected, to lead. Even at my humble level, when I am asked to be president of a festival, I refuse because it is not my nature to give indications or orders. I am a rather discreet person, I like my position as an actor, being at the service of a director, of a film. I have never been on the other side of the camera because I don't have a managerial nature.

My current state of mind ?
I haven't filmed for a while and it allowed me to travel, to think about something other than cinema. So I'm now waiting for new big roles with good directors. I feel very privileged because I started acting a long time ago and it could have ended many times. But I always had the chance to bounce back. And TV shows almost gave me a new job, because it's quite different from being a movie actor: the projects are longer and the roles sometimes take up most of our schedule.

Talking about me on promotion, a chore ?
No, my mother was a press officer, and I always saw her make this important link between authors and journalists, so I am aware of the importance of this contact for a work to reach the public.

It's not my nature to give orders

Melvil Poupaud

A subject that makes me angry ?
Cinema, sometimes. When I see that certain films have difficulty being financed while others – which I find uninteresting – obtain far too much money, I can get annoyed. And when certain actors suddenly start to flare up and turn around a lot, it annoys me to see them fall into signs that I consider dangerous, or at least a little annoying.

What I like people to say about me ?
That I chose interesting films, that I was careful with my choices, that I was respectful of a certain idea of ​​cinema. That I was honest, in short.

The last time I was proud of myself ?
Last June, at the Olympia, with my Super 8 group made up of my brother Yarol and our friend Victor Mechanick. We were accompanied by a symphony orchestra of 60 musicians, and as I was on the drums, it was up to me to set the rhythm for everyone.

When I see that certain films have difficulty being financed while others – which I find uninteresting – obtain far too much money, I can get annoyed

Melvil Poupaud

My next challenge ?
Play in Vassili Schneider's short film. It's been a long time since I've worked with a director who's just starting out and tried to understand what he wants by putting myself at his service. I did it with Xavier Dolan a few years ago, and it's always overwhelming to see that, so young, certain directors have already integrated all the techniques of cinema, the language, the way of directing… I find it important to witness this blossoming.

Do I still have the sacred fire ?
Yes, I see it there, in my expectation of a good project. I want to invest myself fully in a new role, it's part of my life, it's essential for me to have a character to work on, to discover. It’s a transformative job, and when I’m by myself for too long, I go around in circles.

In the shadows, directed by Pierre Schoeller and Guillaume Senez, with Karin Viard, Swann Arlaud… On france.tv