In Le Mystère Daval, Monday September 12 on TF1, she lends her features to the mother of the victim. Balancing between suffering and dignity, she introduces us to another Michèle Bernier. Confidences.
In The Daval Mystery, you play Isabelle Fouillot, whose daughter Alexia Daval was the victim of a sordid feminicide. How does one manage to embrace such a role?
Michele Bernier: It’s always quite complicated when it comes to a story that everyone knows. I didn’t want to copy or betray. Just give substance to my character as I perceived it: a strong and determined woman, who supports her family and her son-in-law at arm’s length, even if it means crying in her corner… I was somewhere quite happy to look like so little to the person I had to embody.
Did it allow you to protect yourself?
No doubt… I am an actress, but also a mother. We always put a bit of ourselves into what we play and I didn’t want to project myself into this drama that no one should experience. I almost wanted to forget that the TV movie was telling a true story to keep some distance, to remain the actress who follows the directions of a script. Nevertheless, even if I was well surrounded by the director and the other actors, the emotional charge was important. We knew we were shooting a particular TV movie and we kept it in mind. I hope viewers will be curious to see how we so respectfully tell this story that everyone has heard about.
Did you feel the need to meet Isabelle Fouillot?
No, because the screenplay is based on a book* which recounts the investigation, to which the screenwriter has added a few elements of fiction. I wanted to keep in mind that we were shooting a TV movie inspired by real events and not a docu-fiction.
You oscillate between dignity and suffering. Another Michèle Bernier, far from your comedian image… Do you have a new appetite for dramatic roles?
I think we all need, at some point, to get off the freeway and take other routes, just to see how it goes. For me, an actor is someone who tries to be authentic in everything he does, whether it’s funny or not. Whether I’m doing a one-man show or playing in a fiction, I try to do it with the greatest sincerity possible. Afterwards, I like to be a little jostled, to be confronted with actors with a different musicality, a different game. Even in The trainee where my character has been well established for eight seasons, we always try to avoid routine.
Does this explain why we will soon see you on TF1 in Syndrome E, a series darker than the black series?
I really enjoyed playing the character of this mother. She is so particular, ambiguous… What works is the rather jovial appearance of this grandmother and mother behind whom hides a heavy secret.
You are currently rehearsing at the theatre. Back at home ?
Ah yes, I am at home at the Théâtre des Variétés, in Paris, with a text written to measure by Laurent Ruquier ! We repeat I prefer that we stay togetherwhich is the continuation of I prefer that we remain friends, ten years later. But I’m changing partners. Frederic Diefenthal is very busy filming Here it all startsso I play with Olivier Sitrukwho is an excellent actor and I enjoy it. Do you realize, at my age, finding myself surrounded by such handsome boys?
Do you have any other projects on the way?
At the moment, the play takes up all the space since we start on September 15th. And next spring, we should shoot season 9 of The trainee. We’ll see if life has some other nice surprises in store for me.
*The Alexia Daval Affair – The real story, by Laurent Briot and Christophe Dubois, Michel Lafon editions.
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