“A little whirlwind”. That’s how Steve Laplante likes to describe the bubbly time he’s going through as he strings together major roles on the small and big screens.
“It’s true that it’s been reeling for two years,” says the 50-year-old actor, who met at the theatrical release of Viking.
“It’s funny to say, but during the pandemic I’ve lived the best years of my life [en tant qu’acteur]. And then everything comes out at the same time. I would say it’s a bit of a coincidence because these are projects that come from everywhere and from different places at the same time.
Before Steve Laplante starred in Viking, a new comedy from filmmaker Stéphane Lafleur (Tu dors Nicole), Steve Laplante had key roles in the films Babysitter and Les cheaters, which were released last June and August, respectively. On the small screen, he can currently be seen in the new series Chouchou (airing on Noovo), Léo (Club illico) and the second season of C’est comme ça que je t’aime (Radio-Canada).
A role written for him
When he’s not hesitant to savor the moment, Steve Laplante still keeps his feet on the ground, to use a cliche that fits his character well in Viking. The actor plays a gym teacher who volunteers to take part in a mission to Mars. With four other volunteers, he must form an alter ego Team B of the quintet of American astronauts who are sent into space. Your very humble mandate will be to live the adventure in parallel in a United States desert.
Stéphane Lafleur has made no secret of the fact that he wrote this role specifically for Steve Laplante.
With kind approval
A scene from the movie Viking.
“Stéphane really came from left field with this suggestion,” says Steve Laplante. I received his script and couldn’t believe he offered me the part without even having to audition! When he approached me, I hadn’t done much cinema, apart from small roles here and there.
Not only was the actor flattered to be offered such a beautiful role on a silver platter, but he also fell in love with the screenplay, which Lafleur co-wrote with Éric K. Boulianne.
“I really admire what the guys have done, he’s slipping. It’s a totally original scenario. During the shooting I often told Stéphane that I had never seen such scenes in any other film, scenes like ours. What I like about Stéphane is that he does his own thing and doesn’t care about current trends. That makes you happy if you are lucky enough to be part of one of his projects.
25 year career
Incidentally, Steve Laplante celebrated his 25th career anniversary last year. “I was told that twice this morning, so I’m starting to get it!” he says, laughing.
After graduating from the National Theater School in 1996, the actor spent the early years of his career on stage. He first had the opportunity to act in a production of Wajdi Mouawad’s play Littoral before playing roles in several plays staged at La Licorne Theatre.
“It was a long time before I started getting roles in films and on TV,” he recalls. I even thought for a long time that I would spend my entire career in theater. And I was happy with that.”
Then the actor gradually began to land roles on the small screen. Among others in Les Invincibles, Aveux and Le Gentleman.
“It’s always been like this, my career,” he notes. It’s like crossing the river with stones falling one by one to set foot on it. Things have accelerated there in the last two years. But I am very suspicious of what will happen when this little hurricane is over. Getting comfy and putting my feet on the pouf is not what turns me on in life. I don’t think people will be asking me in two years if it’s still swirling.”
The film viking hit theaters yesterday.