“Did you see how he looks like Omar Sy?” It’s crazy, they have the same nose! “Hanging out in the city center of Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne), with Mamadou Haidara, on a freezing afternoon, difficult to go unnoticed. The one who plays Assane Diop, alias Omar Sy as a child in the Lupine series, a real hit on Netflix, has become in a few days a local celebrity. Some give him a warm “Congratulations! »With a pat on the shoulder, at the foot of his building, in front of the town hall. Others keep him sleeping, laughing: “It’s not good to gallop the girls!” », In reference to several scenes of the fiction, of which five episodes out of ten were posted on January 8. Smiled at him, savoring his pleasure.
He keeps his head on his shoulders. But this sudden fame warms her heart. A year ago, this young man of 16, in second in a professional high school in Alfortville, had never heard of Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme or Nicole Garcia, his partners on the screen.
It all starts when a team arrives in its city, in 2019, to shoot “Gagarin”, a feature film originally scheduled for the official selection of Cannes 2020. Gagarin is the mythical city of Ivry, demolished in 2019 The one where Mamadou grew up, with his father, a mason, his mother, and his six sisters and brothers, before being relocated.
“Everyone was very cool”
His friends are selected for roles of extras. But there is no more room for him. Disappointed, he leaves his contact details to a member of the team. Life goes on. Until one day someone contacts him again for the Lupine casting. He arrives at the hearing, a little stressed. “I was asked to imagine that there was a pretty girl at the other end of the pool and I had to pretend I was very intimidated and intrigued at the same time,” he says. A scene from the script.
His game convinces. He lands the role. However, there is no question of igniting. “With us, we say: Do everything in silence so as not to be disappointed “. So, in Ivry, he remains discreet about this new activity. On filming days, a car picks him up early in the morning and takes him to the set, to the four corners of Ile-de-France. He learns his text “super easily”, thanks to a coach. And feels more and more comfortable, drawing his lines, including one “Go fuck yourself madame”, balanced without blinking at Nicole Garcia. “Everyone was very cool, especially for people who are not of my generation,” remarks with a laugh this football and PlayStation fan.
Not easy to take on, the kiss scene
Of course, some scenes are trickier than others. Like the ones where he has to kiss girls? “No, that’s easy, it’s in my habits! », He blurted out with an irresistible smile. Not easy, however, to assume in front of the family, gathered in the living room on the day of the release on Netflix. “We were sitting on the sofa, I knew the kiss scene in the pool was coming, and I didn’t want my mother to see it,” recalls the talkative and sympathetic Mamadou. So I got up, and I locked myself in the toilet. I came back two to three minutes later, I was too ashamed ”.
From the shoot, Mamadou liked the atmosphere, the team, lots of laughs in spades. His 1990s wardrobe, on the other hand, he left it without regrets. “I had to wear big, super-loose jeans. The first time I wore it I took a picture of myself and sent it to a host I know saying: “But seriously, were you dressed like this before?” You are crazy! It’s hot ! “, laughs the young actor. But afterwards, I got used to it ”.
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The day after the release on Netflix, it was impossible to remain incognito. “When I wake up on Snapchat, I see at least 150 messages from people who have seen me on the show. It was crazy ! Everyone said to me: You can be proud! », Says Mamadou. “It’s incredible what happens to him, confides, moved his mother, Sira. I didn’t know he was going to get that far ”. A few days after its release, Lupine ranked number 1 in the platform’s most viewed programs in France, but also in many foreign countries.
“I’m afraid to take the melon”
His teachers also congratulate him. “Friends of my older sisters ask me for dedications. I didn’t think I would ever do this in my life. I’m afraid to change, to take the melon, ”he suddenly slips, looking serious. His model for keeping a cool head? Omar Sy, seen on the set. “He’s super-nice, and he’s very simple, very accessible, he’s a good example,” says the boy.
He also bought Arsène Lupine’s book, from which the series is inspired. He hasn’t read it yet. “Reading is not my thing. But I was told that it was important, I will try to get started, ”he promises. In high school, he prefers history lessons. “In the show, I play the only black in a white high school, and everyone looks at me weird. These questions interest me! He remarks soberly.
The profession of actor tempts him. “Before the shoots, I used to go out with my friends all the time, I didn’t do anything. There, I discovered a world that I like and that I did not know ”. He would like to play again and several agents have already contacted him. “Either I’m going to work like a normal human or I’m going to continue. We’ll see, ”he blurted out. Lucid and not a high roller. A few meters away, two friends approach to congratulate him.
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/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/larazon/WCXFAZS3YRGRZNDOVLA4SZNH2M.jpg "How to live without looking back?")
