William Lebgill. “I cried in this scene without forcing it, without playing it”

William Lebgil is in love this month. In the first beautiful role A gentle comedy by Victor Rodenbach, in which he plays an actor in a ten-year relationship with a director (Vimala Pons). he directs her, she plays.Until his desire for cinema casts doubt on their relationship. Then inside Pretty Prettya musical comedy produced by Diastem with songs by Alex Beaupin, a tribute to Jacques Demy, where as a writer he meets his female ideal, played by Clara Luciani.

William Lebgil is in love, and that suits him very well. Until now, we probably only remembered his clumsy silhouette, his confused look and slightly drawling voice, the silhouette of a perpetual teenager who would not grow up after his debut in the series. Soda. Then, starting The meaning of the party has First year and serious majorThe 34-year-old actor has gained some height and thickness. And this year, it turns out to be extremely exciting, delicately playing the delicate line of mixing humor and seriousness in films that dare to step aside, more cryptic than the blockbusters that unite its generational peers My mother’s life In March, where as a young man she had to slalom between the changing moods of her bipolar mother, she played Agnes Jaoui. Or more recently, Season 3Hippocrates where, an arrogant ophthalmologist, he saw his eyes opened by the deplorable state of the state hospital. Today, he works wonders in these two comedies that combine love in the present.

Madame Figaro: What attracted you? Beautiful role ?
William Lebgil: I have known Viktor, the director, for about ten years. We shot a short film together, we got along very well. We met again by chance during the detention that we both spent in the small village of Charente. He told me that he was writing a film, that he was thinking about me. When I read the script, I liked it. I like his subtlety, his dialogues, as well as playing the role of an actor, talking about my work. And I loved to talk about love. i’m quite romantic.

Does this actor look like you?
Yes, because I put a lot of myself into it, but not really. I have never worked with the same person for ten years. What I appreciated about acting was this porousness between acting and reality. Sometimes I can let myself be surprised by a scene, really feel it, without pretending. It was great.

Did this happen? Beautiful role ?
Yes, even if the scene is cut.When my character participates in the performance IvanovWith Chekov, he hears this line about “active love” “(…) every young girl is tempted by active love (…) For us, love is life itself.” I love you, it means that I strive to dispel your sadness, that I want to follow you to the ends of the earth…” Editor’s note). I cried. Without forcing, without playing. When you’re an actor, these little moments are landmarks, beacons in the night, where you tell yourself you’ve hit something right, to which we always try to return.

The film also shows the behind-the-scenes of the profession, its mastery, its difficulties…
Yes, and it was fun to act in this movie to show my parents that it’s a job too.

Have they not been convinced of it since then?
Yes, of course. But there is still a form of prejudice, according to which actors do not work so much, that their “gift” is innate. Now it’s a fascinating job, but it never really stops. Whenever I approach a role, he chases me. I’m going to make connections between what happens to me in a day and my personality, and I’m going to ask myself if it could be helpful to him. It captures my mind a lot.

Does your character, Henri, have setbacks and humiliations, especially during castings?
Yes, when I was 16, 17 years old, I did a casting for an advertisement. I was so stressed that I discovered new muscles in my face that moved on their own. Then I almost passed out on the subway. There was also this time when I was half-off by the casting director who thought I was acting really bad.

How do we overcome these episodes?
through denial. (laughs) In fact, that’s part of the job. Because we’re our own tool, we’re easier to be the target of criticism. But you have to laugh at it. I had great teachers who taught me to laugh at the shame and the fear are the number one enemies. Accepting it is the Holy Grail. This is how we experience the most freedom.

Being an actor is also a profession that involves a personal life as shown Beautiful role .
Yes! I have often been with people who have been in this environment and therefore understand the problems, but yes, it remains difficult. We sometimes make somewhat selfish choices.When I started making this film, I hadn’t shot in a long time. It was very important for me. I wanted to do my job, I wanted to be in shape. My personal life probably took a hit at that point. But I warned that I was going to be very selfish. But eventually, in a relationship, we have to The main thing is to talk about it, as we see in the film. Just when the characters are no longer talking to each other, they leave.

Beautiful role is a romantic comedy. Do you believe in romanticism yourself?
It’s funny because three friends and I were talking about this recently and were looking up the definition of romanticism. (he takes out his phone and consults the Internet, editor’s note) “A new sensibility opposed to classicism, enlightenment and rationality. It proclaims a cult of the self, an expression of emotions, including passions. It confronts man and the artist with an incredible, disturbing fate.” Supremacy of sensitivity, emotions and imagination over reason and morality. This is the definition of an actor’s job. But when it becomes toxic, it doesn’t make sense anymore. I used to like it a lot The sufferings of young Werther, by Goethe. Then I realized that I don’t want to be a fan of this guy, it’s very sad. In Chekov’s line about “active love” there is romanticism, but also hope and desire to understand the other person, to move forward with them, no matter what happens. This unconditional love is great, but I am also trying to get rid of my illusions. We tell ourselves we’re going to climb mountains, and in the end it’s in the everyday gestures, the little touches, that we find romance, a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on.

You also play the lead role Pretty Pretty a romantic musical comedy in which you sing. Is this the first time?
I rapped in Yvesbut it is not the same. I loved it. But I love to sing. I sing like crazy in my shower. Vivo Per Lei:Andrea Bocelli, Laurent Woolsey, Alain Souchon, lots of French and Italian variety… I even sing on set, between takes, it relaxes me.

What are your favorite romantic comedies?
Licorice Pizza By Paul Thomas Anderson. I love it too To him By Spike Jonze More “classic” romantic comedies Love Actually Or Bridget Jones don’t talk to me too much. I didn’t even see it 4 Wedding and funeral The cute side of the main character, who seems spoiled for choice between girls, doesn’t touch me, while male characters like Anderson or Jonze seem more “normal” to me. Actually, I’m jealous.