Benjamin Lavernhe does not sulk his pleasure to be in Cannes to present two films there: Jeanne du Barry by Maïwenn and Abbot stone by Frédéric Tellier, shown out of competition on May 26… “It’s the first time I’ve come to Cannes with films,” he confided to 20 minutes. As a kid, I watched festivals on television and there, I felt like I was playing an actor presenting a film at the Cannes Film Festival. I was there for the stage fright and the excitement. »
Benjamin Lavernhe starts his festival well. He is impeccable as the valet of Louis XV, which earned him praise from Johnny Depp in an interview with the Sunday newspaper. “I took screenshots, admits Benjamin Lavernhe, who readily admits having been impressed by his partner. I was a movie buff before becoming an actor. »
A more than perfect valet
Benjamin Lavernhe quickly felt at ease with his partner. “I was impressed by the way Johnny handles French. He listened, always ready to take ideas into account, he recalls. We got on the same page very quickly, which is important because my character is the closest person to being a friend to the king. »
The actor, well known to fans of the French comedy, downright steals the show from Johnny Depp in an almost silent role where he conveys a lot of feelings through his look and attitude. “The costume, the make-up and the wig helped me a lot to compose this character, to find his gestures in front of the king whom he follows all the time, he explains. The valet even slept at the foot of the sovereign’s bed. He had a string attached to his wrist so that he could immediately satisfy the slightest need of the latter. Maïwenn did not keep this detail from the hero’s intimacy, but she gave pride of place to the servant in her film.
It is therefore not surprising that Benjamin Lavernhe marked the spectators with Jeanne du Barry, with his tall figure managing to physically dominate the king, while remaining in his servant role. He now dreams of one day climbing the stairs with Leonardo DiCaprio or shooting with Xavier Dolan. “I now know how to play an actor at the Cannes Film Festival,” he jokes. You have to make an effort to sap and smile, but not too much. “We think that this method will often serve him, because he should become a regular on the Croisette.