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Guillaume-Jean Lefebvre painter, actor and photographer:
"Acting is more than a passion, it's part of who I am"
Interview conducted by Jean-Rémi BARLAND - Thursday, June 25, 2020
Artist-painter, actor and photographer, Guillaume-Jean Lefebvre, this Vosgien, originally from Remiremont, expatriate in New York is a jack-of-all-trades who has indeed found his way and fits into many universes. Meeting with an atypical artist, self-taught and committed to humanitarian causes.
How did this desire to become an actor come about?
I have always been fascinated by acting. I loved performing at school shows to celebrate the end of the year when I was only 6 years old. This was confirmed a few years later during a year-end show at the age of 13. Acting is more than a passion: it's part of who I am. I started making very early - with my father's camera and then with the one I got when I was 14 - films with my sister and my friends. My first intervention in New York was for The Fox channel in the famous show Dr Oz, which will soon be broadcast.
Clip "Me Quemo" in Kendji Girac in Cyril Hanouna's TPMP show
What are your other passions?
I am passionate about art in general. I love to paint and I have also participated for 2 years in the grand Gala Ali Forney Center in order to support the LGBTQ community and the homeless. This gala is worn by celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Jussie Smolett, Lindsay Lohan, Todrick, or even Billy Porter... I had the immense pleasure that the latter signed my painting to his image, during the 2019 gala. My paintings also made it possible in 2019 to collect for the association the sum of $7,000 out of the more than 1 Million dollars collected during the evening. Recently I made a giant painting in the Sofitel for the Broadway show Jagged little Pill. I would also like to thank the hotel manager for this superb opportunity, but also Darian James and Danny Harpez for their trust. I am also a graphic designer photographer, this allowed me to create several posters in France to promote various artists, plays and TV series. In New York I had the chance to photograph the Tony Awards Watch party ceremony among others. I am also the creative director of a new fashion magazine, which takes up a lot of my time. The magazine highlights a French or American celebrity each month. And fashion editorial content. I am proud of this project... and I am proud to already be able to count a number of personalities, both French and American, to my credit. This six-month-old magazine has already published photos and/or interviews with Mike Ruiz, Taraji P Henson, Rose McGowan, Veronica Webb, Angelica Ross, Deborah Cox, Madisin Rian, Lorie Pester, David Dickens, Jermaine Jackson, Hélène Ségara, Camille Lellouche and many others... I hope this is just the start. Fingers crossed.
What is your idea of acting?
I think it's a job that requires real passion and great motivation. Many want to become an actor for the one and only reason to be famous. That's never a good reason. We unfortunately also have a wrong label. Unfortunately, artists who wish to break through are judged as superficial, extroverted people, always in search of fame or recognition. As for me, I am a reserved person. I am also very critical of myself, and I took time to accept my body, especially after my dark past. The photo was a good therapy and the acting too, I like the fact of being able to interpret with my photos or others someone that I am not. I don't play, I'm that person for the duration of a shoot. Often people do not understand that this is acting art and that we must constantly promote ourselves with photos and other things in order to be able to reach the casting directors. But it's a wonderful job. Nevertheless I often have the impression that directors are no longer necessarily looking for actors, at least in France. If, for example, they need a person for a banker role, it is common to see in the ad that they are looking for real bankers, the same for security guards, lawyers, young people from the suburbs, etc. I think that that's too bad. A good actor can do anything.
Why did you choose the United States?
The United States came to me at a time when I wanted to leave Paris for London. I was at a turning point in my life where I needed changes in both my personal and professional life. I had the impression that I had gone around the question in France. I was born in Remiremont on June 24, 1990, I arrived in Paris at the age of 17, far from my family in a city I did not know, and following various personal events and bad encounters, I I had a serious depression which led me at 18 to the worst mistake of my life…. Which put me in a coma. I was in a wheelchair and in a rehabilitation center to learn to walk again. This left me with significant scars to this day. I have never said this publicly. It's the first time. Surely because of maturity and especially because I'm not ashamed to say it anymore. In 2017 it was in a way the year of change, I had the feeling that I could not evolve more in Paris in this area that I love so much. The United States was a new challenge, a new chapter, and new opportunities were offered to me here in New York. It was not easy to adapt, however I am delighted to have made this decision and moreover I found love there so what more could you ask for? I am happy here.
The body has a big place in your work. Why ?
The body is important more as a model than as an actor. However, we are not going to lie to each other: all this remains commercial and sometimes casting directors prefer for advertisements or other to take some actors pleasant to watch. I don't think I belong in this category, there are much better people than me and that's why I try not to let myself go too much. Anyway, staying authentic is one of my credo.
What is a great film for you?
I like several styles of films. However, I think that a great film carries you through the emotion transmitted by the actors, all involved in an exciting or moving story. This is why I insist on the fact that the actor must not "play" the comedy, but must be the person he embodies so that the spectator can be transported. And, a film is nothing without a good director, a good team of cameramen, and a powerful editing team.
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