“When they were little, they were sick of being called Souchon”. This is the confidence that Alain Souchon made about his sons Pierre and Charles to Jean-Dominique Brierre, author of the biography Alain Souchon – Life is theater and memoriespublished by the editions of The Archipelago. The two children of the interpreter Sentimental Crowd are not the only ones to have suffered from their surname and the fame of one of their parents. Ben Attal, son of Yvan Attal and Charlotte Gainsbourg, also paid the price. “Ben comes from a privileged family, that has always bothered him, he has great humility and suffered from being ‘son of’”confided his father in the columns of Provencein November 2021.
Therefore, it is not always easy to grow and assert yourself when you are reduced to being the son or daughter of a personality. For Monique de Kermadec, psychologist and psychoanalyst practicing in Paris, “these children sometimes have difficulty becoming themselves” often being brought back to this lineage. “They stand out from others in a way that is not always comfortable. If we constantly refer to the fact that they are the child of a famous singer, actor or painter, they are deprived of the possibility of their own identity for the public., she explains to us. The child must then come to terms with his parents’ notoriety while trying to find his own place.
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“A childhood that stands out from the others”
Son of two icons of French song, Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan, David Hallyday did not have a childhood like any other. On the set of 8:30 p.m. Sunday, on November 19, 2023 on France 2, the 57-year-old singer remembered his young years with his two famous parents. For him, being the son of two great artists was nothing exceptional. “I think you realize when you start to have the ability to think. At first, for me, I thought that what they were doing was completely normal. I thought everyone was singing”, he recalled to Laurent Delahousse. It was not until the age of eight that he “understood that something not quite normal was happening”. A realization, late in life, which is completely normal as Monique de Kermadec demonstrates. “It’s a childhood that stands out from the others. When we are little, let mom be Celine Dion where daddy is Gérard Depardieu, we don’t necessarily realize it. But as he grows up, he realizes that his parent stands out and that he himself, by extension, is approached in a different way. He realizes that he is not just anyone, in quotes”analyzes the psychologist, emphasizing that“he lives in an artificial world surrounded by people present to accompany the famous parent”. This daily life, with parents recognized worldwide and busy with various projects, Lily-Rose Depp had no other choice but to accept it. “It wasn’t a typical childhood. I know very well that my childhood was not like that of others. But at the same time, she’s the only one I’ve known, so I have to live with it.”confided the daughter of Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp in the columns of Magazine ID in February 2023.
For others, being confronted with their parents’ popularity is more difficult to deal with. This was particularly the case for Natacha Polony’s three children. During his appearance on the show At Jordan’s on C8, in October 2023, the wife of Périco Légasse revealed that this “It was bad enough for them to see their mother on television.” The former columnist ofWe are not in bed then does everything possible to protect them from its notoriety. “We have to explain to them that this is not the norm, that it is a little special, but that, nonetheless, we try to ensure that they have their space preserved”, she explained. A way of doing things that Monique de Kermadec recommends. “If famous parents protect their privacy and limit their presence in the media, the child will live this life of a famous child peacefully. The parent must ensure that they provide a family and friendly environment”indicates the psychologist, specifying that “at that time, the child will be fine”.
A fame at the origin of certain suffering
Living with the celebrity of your parents also means living with the eyes of others. In an interview given to Parisianin April 2022, Chloé Jouannet spoke about the hurtful remarks she suffered during her schooling due to the fame of her parents, Alexandra Lamy and Thomas Jouannet. “In France, I was in the private sector, and I was very bad. I suffered from having famous parents, there was a lot of jealousy”, revealed the young woman. Attacks which are not without consequences as Monique de Kermadec explains. “It’s a real pain because the outside world will consider that he has everything going for him and that it’s not fair. He risks attacking her for that”, she analyzes. And to add: “We tend, perhaps a little out of a certain jealousy, to consider that he starts life with a marked path.”
The same goes for Emma Smet. With paternal grandparents and a father who were singers, the young actress suffered from the popularity of her family members. This imposing legacy, Ilona Smet’s little sister has long wanted to put behind her. “When I was little, I really wanted to change it, put it upside down. On Facebook, my name is not Smet but Tems. I wanted to distance myself from this name so that people don’t remind me of it all the time”she explained in the columns of We both. Finally, the 26-year-old actress decided to take on everything the name calls for. “People look at me, people come to see me and they judge me based on my name. It puts pressure on me but it makes me want even more to show that I’m not here for nothing. I’ve learned to deal with this pressure. with”, she assured. According to Dominique de Kermadec, this feeling of being awaited around the corner is not trivial. “They always say that it’s difficult to grow up with a famous parent because, obviously, the child has too many expectations. There is pressure to live up to, surpass or match the parent’s success.”
The celebrity of parents, “a happy privilege”
Rather than experiencing his parents’ fame as a burden, Thomas Dutronc decided to make it a strength. Indeed, the son of Jacques Dutronc and Françoise Hardy considers her more of an asset. “Having famous parents is a blessing, but one that can also weigh heavily. I always used to say that my father set ‘the bar high’ […] I have always been very lucky,” he admitted in the columns of The Sunday standin October 2023. And to add: “There was such overwhelming sympathy from people towards me that I always felt obliged to be respectful and polite because of this love that was being sent my way.” Result ? A virtuoso of gypsy jazz, the singer knew how to make a name for himself and impose his artistic vision.
For Monique de Kermadec, although the child wants to build his own identity, the fame of his parents perhaps “a happy privilege”. “Despite everything, the reputation of the parent can be an advantage. The child may have access to schools that are not accessible to everyone and to a network of influential people who can be valuable for the future. In addition, he can inherit a talent and make a career in the same field as his parent. From then on, we no longer approach her as ‘the daughter of’ or ‘the son of’”, she concludes. To this extent, they then keep the best of what their parent passed on to them and lead their own way. A way to write their own story.
Photo credits: Olivier Borde / Bestimage – Jeremy Melloul / Bestimage – Montage Gala.fr