Marc-André Grondin Talks About His Role in Richelieu and the Arrival of His Third Child

Marc-André is the star of the film Richelieu, by director Pierre-Philipe Chevigny, in which he plays the role of Stéphane, a seemingly heartless boss. The artist tells us about this project, but also about the series Reasonable doubt and the arrival, at the end of the year, of his third child — his second with his partner, actress Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse.

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Marc-André, this role in Richelieu really takes you where you’ve rarely been seen, right?
Yes, it’s a beautiful composition role and it’s a beautiful character. I like having to change my physique, the way I speak, and build something of myself for a role. I was able to afford it with this film, and all that in a universe that we don’t often see, both in cinema and on television. Director Pierre-Philippe Chevigny is also incredibly talented and it’s hard to believe that this is his first feature film, whether it’s the writing or its preparation on the set, where it was very impressive. It’s really a nice meeting.

What charmed you in this project?
The script, so well done and well worked. There is also all the social and political relevance, without it being too strong. It is a feature film which is not demanding, but which is at the same time. It is a critique of a system that is necessary and that gives a voice to people who often do not have one. In short, I could hardly miss it!

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Tell me about your character.
Stéphane is an executive in a vegetable processing factory and he is a normal guy who has risen through the ranks. He did arm work and finally ended up as a boss. An international megacorporation has taken over this factory and it must respond to the pressure. On paper, my character is the villain of the story, but when you see the movie, you understand pretty well that there is no villain in this story. It is the system that is. Everyone is trying to survive as best they can. The multinational exploits the factory, and the boss of this factory exploits the immigrant workers who exploit each other. There is a general examination of conscience to be made on the whole system.

What do you remember from this shoot?
We shot in Laval. It was a great shoot, with a great atmosphere on set. There were many Spaniards speaking their language. Me, I tried to understand and I asked Ariane Castellanos, one of the main actresses of the film, to translate everything for me. Most of the scenes were shot in sequence, which brings a very interesting rhythm. It’s cinema in the pure tradition, like when I was little and we shot on film. During the first scene, I was completely paralyzed by the sequence shot to be shot. It was the closest thing for me to my fear of doing theatre.

Why do you have the anguish of doing theatre?
I don’t do theater and it’s voluntary on my part. It’s not the art form that touches me the most, even as an audience. When I was younger, the theater didn’t interest me so much. I am a child of cinema and television, that’s what I like the most. I tried to do theater in high school, and I was so stressed that I made myself sick. I’m very shy when I have to perform in front of an audience and it’s the same for interviews in front of cameras. When I went to Everybody talks about it, people found me dark, but in reality, I was completely paralyzed. Over time, I’ve softened a bit about that, but it’s still difficult. A few years ago I did a public reading in front of 4000 people at TIFF (Festival international du film de Toronto). I thought that after a few pages of reading my stage fright was going to pass, but no, it was like this throughout the reading. It was terrible!

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If one day you are offered a small role in a play at the TNM, are you going to say no?
I will definitely say no. Well, you should never say never, because I know that in my life, I said never many times and, finally, I did it. But there is little chance that I will one day find myself playing in the theater. I can’t see myself doing that. There is a blockage and I think that my pleasure, in this profession, I find it in cinematography. I am zero anxious when I have to play a role in front of the cameras. As much as I’m super shy on a TV set doing an interview, I’m completely different when I’m acting. I’m really more comfortable. Even when I was making music, I refused to do drum solos because I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.

And on a daily basis, how does it go?
I am not the one who will chase crowds and worldly events. When I was young, I went to see so many shows! But, as I get older, I seem to like it less. I’m not shy in life with the world I know, but I’m socially shy. Besides, I don’t do this job to seek attention. I do it for the fun of it, because I grew up in it and I love being on sets.

How did your desire to do this job come about?
Because of my older brother, Mathieu, who was an actor. He started before me and my mother accompanied him, so me too. At one point he auditioned for a commercial and I was asked to audition too, even though I was too young for the part. I continued, and my brother and I both starred on the show A sign of fire. I never stopped afterwards.

Your brother Mathieu is now doing something else and has given up acting. Did you think about it at some point?
Yes, and I still think about it. For me, nothing is certain in this profession and I will perhaps get up one morning with the desire to do something else. I love this job and I have a great attachment to sets. But, if one day everything stops, it will be OK. I also work in production and I have a few projects in development.

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What kind of summer did you have?
A great summer with Julie Perreault on the set of the next season of Reasonable doubt. I really have a great bond with this girl and it’s a pleasure to work with her. I can say that things are moving in this new part and that there is a lot of action. Season three will be truly amazing.

You worked all summer and Sarah-Jeanne too. Was the work-family balance difficult?
It was a lot more relaxed and easy than last summer. Our little Lawrence is over a year old now, so it’s easier. Last summer, Sarah-Jeanne was doing Revolution et The rebels, and our son was just a few weeks old. But there, with another child coming, it will be even easier, since we will take a little leave to experience it as a family. Our child is expected for the end of the year; our filming will then be over.

Here you are as a couple and father of three children, including two with Sarah-Jeanne. Who would have believed it?
Let’s say that the arrival of Sarah-Jeanne came to change a lot of things in my life and I didn’t expect to be a father of three children. I hadn’t closed the door on the idea of ​​another child, but I had to meet the right girl, and I found her with Sarah-Jeanne, who is fantastic. I already had a daughter, who is now eight and a half, and if I hadn’t had other children, I would still have been super happy. But Sarah-Jeanne and the children, it’s a great gift in my life. It’s often a pretty headache of schedules for both of us, but it’s nothing compared to all the happiness that this new family life brings us. We have really fun kids. My eldest is extraordinary with her little brother and she helps a lot. My son, Lawrence, is a great kid and I’m sure the next one will be too.

Are you the kind of dad you thought you were? Are you different than you were with your daughter eight years ago?
Ah yes, I am much more in control and, above all, I have more experience! I will be even more comfortable with the third, since I will have experience with the second. Over time, we are less stressed and we anticipate everything a little more. We gain confidence. The vision I had of being a parent before being one and the father that I am are two different things. Let’s just say I’m a lot less cool than I thought I was and a lot more protective. I realize that Sarah-Jeanne and I had good role models, and we try to be as good as them.

Do you know what the sex of the third baby is?
No, we don’t. We wanted to keep the surprise for Lawrence and we are doing the same with the baby to come. We are going to have a surprise when he is born and we especially hope that he will be a healthy baby.

Are you going to be the kind of dad who takes his kids to the arena for hockey practice on Sunday morning?
I didn’t have that, me, and even that I don’t really know what it is. I’m more the kind of dad who goes to see a Blondie show with his daughter on his shoulders. Sarah experienced sport during her childhood and she had parents who accompanied her to tennis tournaments. My parents followed me on the sets. But, one thing is certain, I will follow the passions of my children.

Sarah-Jeanne is a fan of renovations. Do you have any new projects in this direction?
Right now we are making a room for the new baby. I love renovations like her, and I’d say she found her perfect match with me on that. We always have ideas and there is always something we want to do. But you have to choose the moments and everything in its time. Right now, with the kids and the baby coming, it’s not the time to embark on big projects. But Sarah-Jeanne can get up one morning wanting to paint a wall, and I’m going to get into that too. So, we are never safe from this kind of madness!

In closing, what are you working on this fall?
I have a few things here and there, I’m finishing the shoots of Reasonable doubt. Series IXE-13 will be released soon, and there is also a co-production with France. And then I donate my time to the Evenko Foundation; it consists of raising money to donate musical instruments to underprivileged schools. It’s something that’s really close to my heart. Otherwise, I will be on paternity leave with my little family of three children.

Richelieu hits theaters September 1.
The third season of Reasonable doubt will be presented on Radio-Canada in January 2024.
IXE-13 will be presented at Club illico in 2024.
To know more on the Evenko Foundation.

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