Patrick Hivon is a multi-talented actor! Passionate about sailing, he navigates with ease between drama and comedy as well as between television and cinema, just as he does on the waves of the Saint Lawrence, where he finds his balance between two shoots. We had the pleasure of meeting him during the press viewing of the series The return of Anna Brodeur. Himself returning home after several weeks of shooting for the film Peak Everything (Adam in French) by Anne Émond, the actor happily reunites with his children and friends, while slowly restoring his balance.
• Also read: Patrick Hivon in the shoes of a not relaxing ex
• Also read: Patrick Hivon alongside an American actress in the film Adam
Patrick, tell us about your character in the new series The return of Anna Brodeur.
Antoine Girard is a comedian who put his acting career on hold to become a talk show host. He ended his relationship of several years with Anna to start a relationship with Rachel (Alice Pascual), the producer of his show. At the start of the series, his talk show has been on the air for about ten years. When he meets Anna, who had disappeared for the last ten years, let’s just say he has a little shock.
Can you tell us about your latest project?
Of course! I have just finished filming a film with Anne Émond, entitled Peak Everythingor Adam in French. I play Adam, one of the main characters. It is a project which took place in English and French.
Did you feel comfortable performing in another language?
I had never worked in English. I’ve auditioned in English in the past, but I was too nervous and couldn’t deliver the text. This time, however, my audition went well. I had wanted to take on this challenge for a long time and get over my modesty, this fear of speaking a little badly.
Your playing partner is the American actress Piper Perabo, who we saw in Coyote Ugly, The Prestige et Yellowstone. How did it go with her?
Piper was amazing! She never judged me. She was always saying, “Wow! You are capable! You’re great!” It encouraged me so much. She supported me throughout the filming. She plays Tina, an Ontarian, in this story. His character is English-speaking, so our dialogues took place in English. Thanks to her, I had a great experience!
Tell us about this film.
It’s a dramatic comedy that asks an essential question: how can you continue living when you’re consumed by ecoanxiety? My character, a kennel owner experiencing depression, exemplifies this struggle. This film is also a magnificent love story.
Is it Adam, your character, who falls in love?
Yes, he falls in love despite himself. He is a lonely man who owns a kennel and spends his days walking dogs. He lives near his father, played by Gilles Renaud. He only has one friend. Adam is extremely depressed and uncomfortable in his skin. His life is turned upside down when he acquires a light therapy lamp, with a number to contact in the event of a problem. He decides to call thinking it’s a number to discuss his own worries, and the voice on the line will change his life. I would also tell you that playing this depressed man was very demanding, both emotionally and physically, especially since he runs a lot with his dogs. It was sport!
Did you prepare yourself physically before filming?
Yes, I had to train for two or three months. Adam is so anxious that he doesn’t work out for appearance, but to release his excess anxiety. He is in great shape. I also had to be very fit to play him.
Where does the plot of the film take place?
The story takes place in Quebec and Ontario. It takes place in Thetford Mines, in Harrington, in Sudbury… We traveled a lot for this shoot. It’s a road trip hallucinatory which takes place as the end of the world falls on humanity.
So it was a gripping and exciting shoot for you?
It was captivating! The filming was very intense. Here, I’m barely back, and it’s the launch period with the film derived from the series The eye of the stormwhere I play Jean-François. The film, titled The Christmas cyclonehits theaters on November 8. Furthermore, the series Detective Surprisingwhich was filmed on the Magdalen Islands, is soon arriving on TVA.
We can say that you move around a lot for your work…
It’s nice to move, but it’s also a challenge. We sometimes feel uprooted. It’s empowering for the nomad in me, but scary for the guy who wants to put down roots. It’s all about balance!
At the Gémeaux Awards Gala, you paid a vibrant tribute to Xavier Dolan by going on stage to receive your statuette for best supporting role in the series The night Laurier Gaudreault woke up.
I loved this human being! Working with him was a real pleasure. However, on stage, I forgot to thank Éric Bruneau, my great friend who is also in the series. He said to me: “To apologize, you are going to help me build my wooden wall!” He wasn’t angry, on the contrary. He took advantage of it and even said to me: “Next time, please forget about me again!” I loved giving him a hand. I have so much fun with him, he’s really funny!
When you say you’re coming back and you drop off, what do you do?
I have a good break for the next few months, with few short-term projects. I clean my house, I get back to my daily life and I learn to love it again. On a shoot, you’re in a bubble working 14 hours a day, which can be exhausting. We lose the notion of who we are and even the day of the week. At times I wanted to cry. Now I’m finding my friends, I’m going to visit them in the countryside. Otherwise, I’m interested in horticulture, welding, blacksmithing, sculpture, painting, smells, sailing… I have a small boat and I love sailing on the river ! I’m passionate about everything! I wish this to everyone. You don’t need to have a lot of talent to enjoy life, because talent develops with what you love. Life goes by quickly, you have to enjoy it!
You also find your children.
I’m really lucky they’re here! Victor and Clémence are now 17 and 15 years old, and they bring me back to the reality of everyday life. When they call me to pick them up from a party in the middle of the night, even if I’m tired, I don’t hesitate. It makes me happy and it keeps me grounded. They bring me so much, my children. I love them, I love them so much!
The return of Anna Brodeur is available on the Crave platform. The Christmas cyclone in theaters since November 8. Surprising Detective is available on the illico+ platform.
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