Marc-André is the star of the film Richelieu, from director Pierre-Philipe Chevigny, in which he plays the role of Stéphane, a seemingly heartless boss. The artist talks to us about this project, but also about the series Reasonable doubt and at the end of the year his third child was born – his second with his partner, actress Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse.
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Marc-André, this role in Richelieu really takes you where we’ve rarely seen you, doesn’t it?
Yes, it is a beautiful compositional role and a beautiful character. I like having to change the way I look and the way I speak and building up something of myself for a role. I achieved that with this film, in a world that we don’t often see, neither in the cinema nor on television. Director Pierre-Philippe Chevigny is also incredibly talented and it’s hard to believe that this is his first feature film, be it in his writing or his on-set preparation, where he was very impressive. It’s really a great meeting.
What attracted you to this project?
The scenario so well implemented and worked well. There’s also all the social and political relevance without it being too strong. It is a feature film that is not demanding, but is nevertheless demanding. It is a criticism of a system that is necessary and gives a voice to people who often have none. In short, I could hardly miss it!
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Tell me something about your character.
Stéphane is an executive in a vegetable processing factory and a normal guy who has risen through the ranks. He did some manual labor and eventually found a boss. An international mega-corporation has bought this factory and it has to respond to the pressure. On paper, my character is the villain of the story, but when you see the movie, you pretty much understand that there is no bad person in this story. That’s the system. Everyone tries to survive as best they can. The multinational corporation runs the factory, and the boss of that factory exploits the immigrant workers, who in turn exploit each other. There needs to be a general soul-searching of the entire system.
What do you remember from this shoot?
We shot in Laval. It was a great shoot, with a great atmosphere on set. There were many Spaniards who spoke their language. I tried to understand it and asked Ariane Castellanos, one of the main actresses in the film, to translate everything for me. Most of the scenes were shot one after the other, which makes for a very interesting rhythm. It’s cinema in pure tradition, like when I was little and we shot on film. During the first scene, I was completely paralyzed by the sequence that was being shot. For me, it was the closest thing to my fear of the theater.
Why are you afraid of doing theater?
I don’t do theater and it’s voluntary for me. It is not the art form that most affects me as an audience. When I was younger, I wasn’t that interested in theater. I’m a child of cinema and television, that’s what I like best. I tried to do theater in high school and was so stressed out it made me sick. I am very shy when I have to perform in front of an audience, and this also applies to interviews in front of the camera. When I moved to Tout le monde enttalk people thought I was dark, but in reality I was completely paralyzed. Over time I’ve mellowed out a bit, but it’s still difficult. A few years ago I did a public reading for 4,000 people as part of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). I thought my stage fright would go away after reading a few pages, but no, it was like that throughout the entire reading. It was terrible!
Photo: Julien Faugere / TVA Publications
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If one day we offer you a small role in a play on TNM, would you say no?
I will definitely say no. Well, you should never say “never” because I know I have said “never” many times in my life and finally I did. But there is little chance that I will ever appear as a theater actress. I can’t imagine doing that. There is a block and I think that my joy in this profession lies in cinematography. I’m not afraid at all when I have to play a role in front of the camera. As much as I’m very shy in front of the TV during an interview, I’m completely different when it comes to acting. I really feel better. Even when I was making music, I refused to play drum solos because I didn’t want to stand out.
And how does it work in everyday life?
I am not one to attend crowds and social events. I watched so many shows when I was young! But the older I get, the less interested I am in it. I’m not reserved in life with the people I know, but I’m socially shy. Besides, I don’t do this job to get attention. I do it for the joy of it because it’s what I grew up with and I love being on set.
How did you come to want to pursue this profession?
Because of my big brother Mathieu, who was an actor. He started before me and my mother accompanied him, including me. At one point he auditioned for a commercial and I was asked to do it too, even though I was too young for the role. I continued on and my brother and I both starred in the series A Sign of Fire. After that I never stopped.
Her brother Mathieu is now doing something else and has given up acting. Have you thought about it at some point?
Yes, and I’m still thinking about it. I don’t take anything for granted in this job and maybe one morning I’ll wake up wanting to do something different. I love this job and have a great attachment to sets. But when one day everything stops, everything will be okay. I also work in production and have a few projects in development.
Photo: Julien Faugere / TVA Publications
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What kind of summer did you have?
A great summer with Julie Perreault on the set of the next season of Reasonable Doubt. I really have a great bond with this girl and it’s a pleasure to work with her. I can tell that there is something moving and a lot going on in this new part. The third season will be really great.
You worked all summer and so did Sarah-Jeanne. Was the work-life balance difficult?
It was much more relaxed and easier than last summer. Our little Lawrence is over a year old now so it’s easier. Last summer Sarah-Jeanne did Révolution and Les Révoltés and our son was barely a few weeks old. But now that we have another child on the way, it becomes even easier as we take a little time out to experience it as a family. Our child is due at the end of the year; then our filming is finished.
Here you are in a relationship and the father of three children, two of them with Sarah-Jeanne. Who would have believed it?
Let’s say the arrival of Sarah-Jeanne changed many things in my life and I did not expect to be a father of three children. I hadn’t closed the door on having another child yet, but I had to meet the right girl and I found her with Sarah-Jeanne, who is fantastic. I already had a daughter who is now eight and a half years old, and if I hadn’t had other children I would still have been super happy. But Sarah-Jeanne and the children are a great gift in my life. It’s often quite a scheduling headache for both of us, but it’s nothing compared to all the happiness this new family life brings us. We have really fun kids. My oldest is great with her little brother and she helps her a lot. My son Lawrence is a great boy and I’m sure the next one will be too.
Are you the type of father you thought you would be? Are you different than you were with your daughter eight years ago?
Oh yes, I have a lot more control and, most importantly, I have more experience! I’ll feel even more comfortable with the third one since I have experience with the second one. Over time we are less stressed and anticipate everything a little more. We gain self-confidence. The vision I had before of being a parent and the father I am are two different things. Let’s just say I’m a lot less cool than I thought, and I’m a lot more protective. I realize that Sarah-Jeanne and I had good role models and we try to be as good as them.
Do you know what gender the third baby is?
No, we don’t know. We wanted it to be a surprise for Lawrence, and we’re doing the same with the upcoming baby. We will have a surprise when he is born and above all we hope that he will be a healthy baby.
Photo: Julien Faugere / TVA Publications
Will you be the type of dad who takes his kids to the rink for hockey practice on Sunday morning?
I haven’t had this before and I don’t even really know what it is. I’m more of the type of dad who watches a Blondie show with my daughter on my shoulders. Sarah was active in sports throughout her childhood and had parents who accompanied her to tennis tournaments. My parents followed me on the sets. But one thing is for sure: I will follow my children’s passions.
Sarah-Jeanne is a fan of renovations. Do you have any new projects in this direction?
At the moment we are making a room for the new baby. I love renovations like she does and I would say that she has found exactly the right partner for me. We always have ideas and there is always something we want to do. But you have to choose the moments and everything in its own time. Right now, with the kids and baby on the way, it’s not the time to tackle big projects. But Sarah-Jeanne can wake up one morning wanting to repaint a wall, and I’ll agree with that too. So we are never safe from this kind of madness!
Finally, what are you working on this fall?
I have a few things here and there, I’m finishing filming Reasonable Doubt. The IXE-13 series is coming soon and there is also a co-production with France. And then I donate my time to the Evenko Foundation; The idea is to raise money to donate musical instruments to disadvantaged schools. It’s something that’s really close to my heart. Otherwise, I will go on paternity leave with my small family of three children.
Richelieu hits theaters on September 1st.
The third season of Reasonable doubt will be presented on Radio-Canada beginning January 2024.
IXE-13 will be presented at Club illico in 2024.
Learn more through the Evenko Foundation.