The premiere of “Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mad” by Robert Guédiguian took place in Yerevan within the framework of “Golden Apricot” international film festival. French actress Ariane Ascaride, starring in the movie, was present at the premiere. Mediamax managed to meet and talk to actress.

- I remember your first visit to Yerevan, everyone was convinced that you are Armenian. Nobody wanted to believe the Wikipedia fact. Now, after the premiere of “Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mad” in Yerevan, everyone who saw you playing Anouch, the mother of an Armenian family, is more that sure that you are Armenian.

- Oh my God. That is a pleasure for me. But I feel myself an Armenian. The first time, when I came to Armenia, it was quiet a strange feeling, I felt home here. Armenia brought my childhood back to me, here I am having exactly the same feeling as when I was young, living in Marseille. A sentiment of fraternity flies in the air of Armenia, this feeling does not exist nowadays in Europe. I am so glad to be in Yerevan, I can just walk in the street, watch the people, see a little girl playing in the yard. I consider myself to be adopted by Armenia.

Ariane Ascaride

Photo: Mediamax

- A woman adopted by Armenia, of an Italian origin, born in France, in love with acting.

- My father always dreamed of becoming a singer of opera. He was born in a family of Italian emigrants in Marseille. That is why it was very difficult for him to follow his dream. But there was always music and theatre and what is more important there was fantasy in our family. My father used to play in amateur theatre on Sundays, just for his friends and family.

When I was 8 years old I fell in love with theatre and tried myself on stage. It was so simple for me, so natural, because I was young and have no conscious of acting, I just felt. But when I grew up, I finally have a conscious of how incredible it was for me to stand in front of people and play for the audience. I felt so responsible for playing Shakespeare, Chekhov, Molière and etc. And I am still responsible for my acting. When I was 14 years old I realized that I did not want to play anymore. I wanted to study sociology. Then I started to go to school of theatre in Marseille again.

 It is very difficult to explain what I feel toward theatre, it is not love, it is just way of my life. In order to live I have to play. The actor exists only in the desire. My elder brother is an actor too, he is a director of a theatre now. My other brother studied sociology, as I did, he is a professor in the university, he is also a writer. So acting was kind of my destiny.

Ariane Ascaride

Photo: Mediamax

- Anyway, which field is closer to your heart - the world of movies or theatre?

- They are different, the art of theatre and the art of movies. Theatre is for my pleasure, I cannot exist without it. Theatre is real, at the same time you are at the same place with the audience; you become the maker of the reality. I am not there, I am far away, when the audience is watching the movie. We are free when we are in the theatre. I am a poor, little girl, when I play in theatre, because I am there, in front of people watching my every step. Theatre is a sacred place for me, it is my church.

Ariane Ascaride

Photo: Mediamax

- You have been playing in theatre and in movies for so long, what is there besides love, that makes you stay in the industry, without being bored, or tired?

- I am free, I do what I want, I am independent. I consider art to be the most important thing in the society. You can change the society if you give people the opportunity to go to theatre and watch the play, or to listen to music, or to read books etc. This is the responsibility I felt when I was a little girl. That is why the text of my character is the most important part for me, because they have the opportunity to speak out for us. If everybody shares culture, the society will not be the same. We need healthy society to be happy. When I don`t play, I don`t exist.

Ariane Ascaride

Photo: Mediamax

- But I have the impression that you do not play out of the movie, in the real life.

- I am a natural woman, sure I am not playing, because I am not a celebrity. I think celebrity cannot be an actor. A celebrity is a star – a beautiful person who gives dream to the audience. An actor is quite another thing. A celebrity always stays the same and an actor is so flexible, an elastic person who changes for the character. If you are experienced, it is not difficult to come out on the stage and play, but it is difficult to become the character, to feel what they feel. When I play, I just jump into it.

- Please, confess right now, didn’t you change after getting César Award in 1998 Marius et Jeannette?

-I was sitting in the theatre, I heard my name and did not believe to hear my name. I do not want to change, I always remain truthful to myself. I am the same, as some years ago. And it is a fundamental thing for me, always to stay true to yourself. The only change came because this prize gave me an opportunity to work with different directors, also to travel around the world. By the way, I was so much afraid of flying.

Ariane Ascaride

Photo: Mediamax

- You mentioned different directors, but you remain truthful to both yourself and to your husband - director Robert Guédiguian.

- We are never having conflicts while shooting a film, instead, we are having conflicts at home. He has a special respect for women and he thinks that we are stronger than men. And it is true. I never interrupt him, while on set I am the actress he is the director and we respect each other. He is very intelligent, he is the father of my daughters, he is my best friend and my inspiration. 

Lena Gevorgyan talked to Ariane Ascaride

Photos by Mariam Loretsyan