Laura Smet reflects on her deep bond with her late father, Johnny Hallyday, expressing how their connection transcended words. Despite her parents’ separation, she recounts a close-knit upbringing where her father remained present in her mother’s life. Smet shares the complexities of their relationship, including moments of intimidation and silent understanding. As she prepares to honor his legacy with the Johnny Hallyday esplanade opening, she clarifies that only one biopic is in development, emphasizing the importance of preserving his memory beautifully.
A Reflection on a Deep Connection
Laura Smet embodies the same modesty that defined her legendary father, Johnny Hallyday. In a candid discussion with *Paris Match*, she shares her profound relationship with the iconic rocker, seven years following his passing. “You have to understand, I was in love with my father; he was truly the love of my life,” Laura reveals. “I embraced all his choices and decisions. Our bond was incredibly strong; we communicated without words, merely through our gaze, and we understood each other perfectly.”
A Unique Family Dynamic
Despite her parents’ separation shortly before her birth, Laura Smet maintains that her upbringing was quite normal. “They stayed very close,” she reminisces. “My father made it a point to live just 200 meters away from my mother, watching over her. Even until the end, he would call her because she provided him with honest feedback, even when it was hard to hear. He needed that clarity.”
Laura admits that connecting with her father was not always straightforward. “He scared me a bit,” she confesses. “Even though we were close, my father intimidated me. We both shared a certain shyness, which made our interactions complex. We resembled each other so much, and I felt like I mirrored his younger self, which may have unsettled him. As a result, our communication was often non-verbal; it was surreal.”
The 41-year-old actress also reflects on the challenging final years of her father’s life as he battled cancer. “He never complained during his illness. Not once!” she asserts. “However, his last days were incredibly tough for everyone involved. It felt surreal, like something out of a film—too intense to be real!”
Laura recalls the moment she learned of her father’s terminal illness alongside her brother David and stepmother Laeticia, while he was receiving care at the Bizet clinic in Paris. Before he opted for palliative care at their home in Marnes-la-Coquette, where “the atmosphere was unique,” as she describes. “I visited daily, but I didn’t share my feelings. There were some intense exchanges between us, but I always made it clear that my love for him was unwavering.”
As she prepares to inaugurate the Johnny Hallyday esplanade at the Zénith in Clermont-Ferrand on December 17, Laura takes the opportunity to clarify that the biopic directed by Jalil Lespert, featuring Mathias Schoenaerts, will not be produced. “Cédric Jimenez’s film with Raphaël Quenard is the only one in the works, and he reached out to me for a conversation about it,” she shares. Whether through film or music, Laura emphasizes, “What truly matters is ensuring that his legacy is honored in the most beautiful way possible.”