On the occasion of Stéphane Hénon’s participation in the France 3 TV film “Murders in Font-Romeu”, AlloCiné returned to this experience with the actor. He also spoke with us about the future of “Plus belle la vie” on TF1.
Saturday September 23, 2023, France 3 invites its viewers to discover from 9:10 p.m. Murders in Font-Romeu, the new part of the “Murders in…” collection. Here, Béatrice De La Boulaye and Stéphane Hénon play the duo of investigators in this episode.
The story begins with the shock of the small town when the Baptist Father is found murdered in the famous Hermitage, not far from the National Altitude Training Center. While Lieutenant Thomas Errelbaz, in charge of the investigation, seems to manage the investigations in a dilettante manner, his colleague Julie Delpech, recently arrived from Paris, barely has time to put down her bags.
The investigation leads the two gendarmes to take an interest in the famous sports center and in Christine, its director… But a truth comes to redistribute the cards. In Font-Romeu, a mysterious individual is indeed settling old scores with the past.
At the microphone of AlloCiné, Stéphane Hénon looks back on this experience and discusses the future of the soap opera Plus belle la vie (of which he was one of the stars on France 3) which will arrive in a few months on TF1.
AlloCiné: What did you like about this project, “Murders in Font-Romeu”?
Stéphane Hénon: Doing a unit like that changed me because I’m more used to doing series. Then I liked changing the duo! I came across Béatrice De La Boulaye here with whom things went very well. Also, the scenario that was offered to me was interesting because it resembled the Murders franchise… but it also had a social side. I found it original. Finally, he is also the creator and producer of Plus belle la vie [Hubert Besson, ndlr] who produced this film. And just after the end of the series, it was not bad to continue on that.
What can you tell us about your character?
He is someone who is thoughtful, he has a military side, very straight. He always takes a lot of perspective. He does not intervene to say nothing, he is often a spectator while scrutinizing. He is outspoken and has a priority… which is not what we think! Also, I wanted to change the character of Boher who is a little more zebulous.
What differentiates your duo from that of the other “Murders at…”?
They remind me of the duo from the 1980s American series Clair de lune. I liked their dog and cat side. Besides, we would love to have a sequel to find out what happens to our characters!
Did filming in the mountains cause any constraints?
It’s certain that the mountains were a change from Marseille! But we cannot say that this environment caused us constraints. We do “passion” jobs so we see it more as something fun!
Afterwards, it is true that it snowed the day we arrived. We, the actors, are not the worst off. We are taken care of. Technicians, on the other hand, have it harder for them. Marion Lallier also had to [la réalisatrice, ndlr] finds subterfuges to try to nab plans before everything melts! It wasn’t easy for her. Fortunately, there was a good atmosphere and everything went very well.
This TV film has a social dimension as we said, is that important to you?
Necessarily. We’re talking about humans, it touches me. That said, if the film sends messages and opens the mind, so much the better! But I don’t feel justified in asserting certainties like other actors. I find it difficult, especially when we have spectators and people who like us.
Did you know Béatrice De La Boulaye before playing with her in “Murders in Font-Romeu”?
No way. I had never seen his work in Tropiques Criminelles. It completely changed her since she is usually in the tropics, in the sun! She plays more in a swimsuit than in a down jacket (laughs) She’s an easy person, she’s great and funny. She didn’t forget that she was there to play. She and I are here to entertain people, to convey feelings. We are big kids.
What were your other projects after the end of “Plus belle la vie”?
I filmed with Laurent Gerra in Morts au summit. I made a film by Frédéric Sojcher with Agnès Jaoui and Jonathan Zaccaï called Le Cours de la vie. I didn’t have a big role but it was very nice! And I did a guest appearance in Léo Mattéi with Jean-Luc Reichmann where I played an unfriendly baker… Anyway, I always play either a cop or a scumbag! (laughs)
How did you react to the official announcement of the end of “Plus belle la vie” by France 3?
I’m an intermittent performer, I knew very well that it was going to stop… You know, I had to stay three months and I stayed there for 16 years! It was just a gift for me, I was delighted. Emotionally, it was incredible. We gradually left each other. To have experienced this ending, it’s still good. I could have stopped one, two or three years earlier but then we all finished together. It was quite magical… And there, the icing on the cake, we’re going back!
Indeed. Today, how are you experiencing the resurrection of “Plus belle la vie” on TF1?
Honestly, it’s incredible! They called me, they told me: ‘Are you leaving again?‘ and I did : ‘Well listen, yes! Of course !’ (laughs) I have never been as spoiled with a role as Boher. I went everywhere with this character, I did everything! All ! So I said ‘Yes‘ without problem, at 3000%!
Are you afraid that this PBLV will be different from the one you knew?
This soap opera is a brand. If it was taken over, it is to keep this social side which is the DNA of Plus belle la vie. We can’t do otherwise since they have the rest with Here it all begins or Tomorrow belongs to us! I think there was a demand too. People were sad that it ended, I got feedback from the public every day. In any case, we’ll see and that’s already great because we’re going back! Let’s go ahead, be positive, see the glass half full and let’s go for it! We are all in this state of mind I think.