While “Plus belle la vie, even plus belle” will make its comeback on television this Monday, January 8, AlloCiné met Stéphane Hénon, the interpreter of the character of Jean-Paul Boher, so that he could tell us about the the evolution of his character.
The big return of Plus belle la vie is fast approaching. This Monday, January 8 at 1:40 p.m., TF1 will broadcast the first episode of this sequel which will pick up 1 year after the events that occurred in the finale.
The opportunity for Stéphane Hénon to once again put on the Jean-Paul Boher costume, a cop with a big heart that he played for more than 15 years.
During the promotion of Plus belle la vie, encore plus belle, AlloCiné was able to speak with the actor so that he could tell us about the future of his character. And between sharing accommodation with his in-laws and the arrival of a new commissioner, Boher is not at the end of his troubles.
AlloCiné: Where is the character when Plus belle la vie, encore plus belle resumes?
Stéphane Hénon : When Plus belle la vie ended, Boher was in a relationship with Léa Nebout and had two children. In the sequel, he is still in a relationship with her and he is roommates with his father-in-law and his mother-in-law, Babeth and Patrick. We share a large apartment together. This will lead to some pretty funny situations. It’s very nice.
A new commissioner, played by Moon Daily, will arrive at the police station. How will relations with Boher go?
My character is very well known for his taste for authority (laughs) so obviously, it will be quite complicated for him because she is very authoritarian. But at the same time it’s quite nice.
For the moment, not much is happening but we feel that she wants to modernize the police station. Moreover, you will see that the new decor is very modern. Except that Boher is from the old generation so everything modern is much more complicated for him. He’s not very good at doing things on digital boards for example.
And he’s not really helped by Patrick Nebout either. These are situations that will allow for comedy. Of course, Boher is still going to do investigations but there’s going to be a lot more comedy and I love that.
Patrick Nebout and Jean-Paul Boher were very close in the final arches of Plus belle la vie. Will this relationship still be as strong?
Yes ! The proof: we live together now. A situation which will bring its share of complications since they spend their day together at work, and in the evening, they find themselves at the apartment. It’s going to be a complicated situation.
Did you accept immediately when you were asked to reprise your role in Plus belle la vie, or did you have a moment of hesitation?
I had no moment of hesitation. For the record, at the time I received the call, I was finishing filming an episode of Traveler. And when Vincent Meslet (the general director of Newen Studios, editor’s note) asked me to come back, I didn’t hesitate.
When you have had the chance to live with a character for 16 years and have been so spoiled, you cannot refuse such an offer. I think Boher was one of the most spoiled characters in this series.
He came from so low that it was easy to bring him back up and create things around him. And frankly, if I had to choose a character from Plus belle la vie, it would be Boher, because I adore him and I have a blast with him.
When Plus belle la vie ended, I wasn’t sad that the series was ending, even if I was sad to leave the people I loved. It’s part of our job. We are intermittent from the show, it’s something that we have to accept.
So I moved on, and worked on other projects. But when a year later, we contact you to tell you that the Plus belle la vie adventure is starting again, it’s just incredible.
Nedim Imre/CAPA Pictures/TF1 Stéphane Hénon and Moon Dailly
Were you not apprehensive that TF1 would modify what was the essence of Plus belle la vie for 18 years?
I was afraid of it. I wondered what they were going to do with the series, and if they were going to keep the DNA of Plus belle la vie because it was important. This is what the public wants to find too. They want to find the characters, the intergenerational side and the social issues.
I was reassured by reading the scenarios. We completely find the character of Boher. I play like before and I have no restrictions. There are different things but the DNA of Plus belle la vie is still there.
As you explained, following the end of Plus belle la vie, you participated in numerous projects. Will you still have time to act in other series or TV films?
I have no frustration. I am very happy to work on this series. The daily is really a format that I like. I’m hyperactive, I need to work. With Plus belle la vie, I have fun every day. It’s a real chance.
I’ve been having fun for 16 years, and I haven’t had to look for work for 16 years. So I have no frustration. Obviously, if I am offered something that interests me, production will adapt my schedule. But my priority has always been Plus belle la vie, because what I was offered with this series, I was never offered elsewhere.
Watch the first episode of Plus belle la vie, even plus belle this Monday, January 8 at 1:40 p.m. on TF1. Please note that from this date, the episodes will be available in preview on the TF1+ streaming platform.