October 2002

MICHAEL VARTAN, DOUBLE AGENT

French immigrant in Hollywood, Sylvie & Johnny's nephew has definitively become a star through his role in Alias

By Henry Arnaud

Scan courtesy of Claire.

Translated by cremefraiche on Vartanetc.

For those not familiar with French Pop Culture, Johnny Halliday is the French Elvis, his ex-wife Sylvie Vartan, our Barbra Streisand and his son David a very popular pop singer.

How do you feel about your family ties with Sylvie, David and Johnny?

I never wanted to take advantage of the celebrity of my family in France to succeed in entertainment. In the US, nobody really cares if I am Sylvie's Vartan nephew or not. I grew up far from Paris in a village with 300 inhabitants, Fleury, and I was seeing Johny and Sylvie on regular basis when I was a child. I still participate to family reunions when everybody gathers in Los Angeles. But more and more rarely, and my cousin David is less often in Los Angeles.

Why did you settle in the US?

I was doing lots of back and forth trips between France and California when my parents separated. Mum (Doris) remarried with Ian Lafrenais and they pushed me to take acting classes. Then, all has been about luck and encounters. Another reason which drove me away from my birth country is the French military service which I refused to do.

Do you miss France?

Sincerely, I feel more American than French. Since Dad died, last year, I don't have that many ties left with France and a painful memory linked to France. I have the best youth memories attached to Normandie but I could not live there anymore.

You are presented as the most wanted bachelor in the US...

It is nice but I don't think about that when looking at myself in a mirror! My small celebrity is linked to the success of Alias. Nobody was looking back at me before. I have acted with Drew Barrymore (Never Been Kissed), Madonna (The Next Best Thing), Gwyneth Paltrow (the Pallbearer), but I always played supporting roles. My participation to a Friends episode in 1997 helped me to get a little more recognition on TV. I also did 2 episodes of Ally Mc Beal in 2000, a few months before my audition for Alias.

Alias follows the adventures of a group of secret agents throughout the world. However all the episodes are shot in Los Angeles. How does it stay credible?

This city is composed of lots of different neighborhoods: Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Koreantown... You can feel like you are switching countries while you go from a Mexican ambiance to an Italian or an Asian one....

Have you changed your behavior since Alias success?

No, I am not a regular of the party circuit. (he actually says the hot places where to cruise). The shooting of the show takes 12 hours a day. When I have some free time, I play hockey. I am training 2 to 3 times a week. It is great to unwind!

You are on screen in One Hour Photo with Robin Williams and your naked scene has been talked about a lot in the US...

Only Americans are still offended in seeing part of a butt or a pair of breasts. In One Hour photo, my character is cheating on his wife. Robin Williams plays a crazy person who forces my character to simulate a sexual act with his mistress. The perversity of this act was much more disturbing to me...

© Tele 7 jours 2002

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