For “The Count of Monte Cristo”, Pierre Niney spent between 4 and 6 hours a day on makeup for the scenes where he plays the avatar of Edmond Dantès. A transformation so well done that even the actor’s parents didn’t recognize it!
Pierre Niney is currently starring in the film by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre De La Patellière, The Count of Monte Cristo.
Adapted from the literary work of Alexandre Dumas père, the feature film follows the young Edmond Dantès. The victim of a conspiracy, he is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit.
After fourteen years of imprisonment in the Château d’If, he manages to escape. Having become immensely rich, he returns under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo to take revenge on the three men who betrayed him.
A lot of preparation work was necessary to transform Edmond Dantès into the Count of Monte Cristo. Pierre Niney explains in the press kit that he made several attempts before finding the perfect avatar for his character:
“We did at least four tests for Monte Cristo and two tests for his main avatar. These moments allowed us to discuss the physical aspect of the characters: should they have more or less wrinkles, be more or less scary? In doing so, we already talked a lot about how we envisioned them.
My parents didn’t recognize me!
This is the first time that directors have adapted the novel by deciding to significantly change the face of Monte Cristo. This seemed essential to me for the credibility of the film today.
Among these avatars, one is an exuberant character, the opposite of Dantès, who underlines Monte-Cristo’s cynical pleasure in fooling his enemies. (…) What’s great is that it also works on many spectators. At least for a few moments.
That’s what we were looking for. This disorder. To tell you the truth… my parents didn’t recognize me when they saw the sequence in question.”
Jérôme Prébois
Pierre Niney
Between 4 and 6 hours of makeup per day
The actor clarified on the TF1 news set: “I spent between 4 and 6 hours on makeup on the days I played the avatar of Edmond Dantès.. Makeup artists (Editor’s note: Pierre-Olivier Persin et Stephen Robert) did an incredible job. They are French but have worked with Brad Pitt and on the series Game Of Thrones“.
Pierre Niney adds that these long make-up sessions allowed him to learn patience….The first training was patience! During my two and a half months of filming, I spent 150 hours sitting in a chair doing makeup, not counting makeup fittings on set. The slightest physical transformation session lasted four to six hours…”
Also starring Anaïs Demoustier, Laurent Lafitte, Anamaria Vartolomei, Patrick Mille, Bastien Bouillon, Pierfrancesco Favino, Julien De Saint-Jean, Vassili Schneider and Julie de Bona, The Count of Monte Cristo is a must-see movie.
