Thierry Lhermitte revealed in Telematin on France 2, why Gérard Jugnot had never played the role of Katia, ultimately played by Christian Clavier, in Santa Claus is trash.
A mustache story… Among the French comedies that have become cult, Santa Claus is trash obviously figures prominently. The film directed by Jean-Marie Poiré and based on the play by the Splendid troupe is indeed a classic, rebroadcast every year by television channels as the end-of-year holidays approach. Guest in Telematinon November 22, 2024, Thierry Lhermitte indulged in some confidences about the good times when he teamed up with his comrades Christian Clavier, Marie-Anne Chazel, Josiane Balasko, Gérard Jugnot, Bruno Moynot and Michel Blanc, who disappeared at the beginning of the month from October 2024.
Santa Claus is trash : Why this cult role was not interpreted by Gérard Jugnot
Questioned on the set of France 2, Thierry Lhermitte explained that the roles in the plays written by the Splendid had to be able to be interpreted by all the members of the troupe… with one exception. “Our biggest regret is that Gérard Jugnot never played Katia, the person in transition, in Santa Claus is trash“, recounted the actor, slipping a few minutes later into the reason why his long-time friend had not been able to slip into the colorful character, who had become totally cult: “That is to say, Gérard didn't want to cut his mustache so it was more difficult, obviously“, to please his wife, he confided.
Christian Clavier was not the first to play Katia in Santa Claus is trash!
An admittedly absurd but valid reason which explains why this is Christian Clavier who ultimately inherited the character of Katia, instead of Gérard Jugnot, who therefore plays the role of Santa Claus in the film version! But Thierry Lhermitte also revealed that another famous actor had dressed up as Katia when the troupe was still performing the play. “Christian Clavier was filming when we did the premiere, so it was Rolland Giraud who played Katia first“, he said about the actor who we also saw in Tanned people go skiing or Grandpa resists.
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