These were very harsh words but today, Francis Perrin no longer fears them. Guest of the second part of C to youthe legendary actor of the Mongeville series was able to look back at length on his career, alongside comedians Hakim Jemili and Ahmed Sylla who came for their film Here and there.
And after broadcasting an archive showing the beginnings of Francis Perrin at the conservatory with the actor André Dussollier, Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine recalled certain comments made by the teachers regarding the evening’s guest: “During your first theater classes, the teachers said that you had an unattractive physique and an unlistenable voice.”
Facts detailed by the actor: “Yes, they told me: ‘You don’t have a voice, you don’t have a physique, you will never play the leading roles”. But it doesn’t matter, I like being put to little tests in life!”adds Francis Perrin with humor, far from feeling sorry for himself.
Helping his mother
Because humor and laughter have been part of Francis Perrin’s life since his earliest childhood. Proof of this is provided by this other anecdote told by the actor and which concerns his mother, the victim of mockery from children because of this handicap which causes her to limp. “At the time, I spoke quickly and stumbled over words. And as it pained me to be made fun of, I increased my stuttering, and it made people laugh. Like that, they made fun of me and they no longer made fun of her. It was won”says Francis Perrin, under the emotional gaze of the columnists and guests around the table.
A beautiful anecdote which inspired Ahmed Sylla, who imagines the start of a film inspired by this story. Where his sidekick Hakim Jemili wants to be more down to earth: “It’s beautiful because we would have simply fought like idiots.”