7 Jours march 1999 2 diff. interviews.

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=130 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <IMG SRC="2e783b10.jpg" border=0 width="131" height="177" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> 7 Jours  march 1999  2 diff. interviews.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>     <IMG SRC="2e9d25e0.jpg" border=0 width="466" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>7 JOURS MARCH 20, 1999</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>THE NEW LIFE OF ROY DUPUIS </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>From the hour when the police series Nikita made him a rising star in the United States and English Canada, Roy Dupuis has kept his two feet quite square on the ground. To stay there, he chose to go back to his roots, an exercise which resembles ironically that which he made when he played the role of Ovila Pronovost in the teleseries Les filles de Caleb... </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Career of Roy Dupuis has known for three years an ascension enviable in the United States because of the role which he interprets (the killer agent Michael) in the police series Nikita (La Femme Nikita). In Quebec the last week in order to take part in the Soirée de Jutra, the popular actor agreed to lend himself to a private conversation, during which he delivered with generosity the broad outline of his professional and personal life. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Roy, did the Soirée des Jutra allow you to go return to Quebec after a long absence? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Let us say that it's one of my rare public appearances anymore. I return each weekend here, after my five days of filming in Toronto. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you now make career in that city? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Partly. My role in the series Nikita obliges me since for the last three years to work there eight or nine months per year. It is because filming takes place over there that I accepted the contract: if it had taken place in Vancouver or Los Angeles for example, I would have refused it, because that would have moved away me from Quebec for a too long a period. And that, for the moment, it is something which I am not ready to accept. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For what reason couldn't you exile to yourself abroad during this time? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Quite simply because it is significant for me to return as often as possible to us, to Quebec. It is essential what I can find each weekend at the house for my renewal. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For isn't it a few years, you have lived in the countryside? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Yes. Three years ago, I bought land and a house dating 1840, located on 54 acres. It is my dream house; I looked for it for six years. Now that I've found it, I hold to it deeply and I spend a lot of time restoring it. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you carry out the work yourself? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Absolutely. It is not really something new for me. I grew up in Abitibi and, when I was young, I passed the majority of my time to build tree-houses in the forest. I always was very close to nature. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What modifications have you done so far on your house? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>During the first year, I restored my kitchen. Then, last spring, I built a gallery [porch] in cedar. It should be said that I have many projects planned for the very long term. I also planted 80 apple trees and pear trees, then 36 15 years old maples. I wanted them to be rather old so that I can see them running [note: He seems to be referring to sugar maples] before I die. (laughter) My house, it is really my new passion. The fact of having it and being close to nature enables me to look at the trees, people and, anything of significance, with a different eye. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One thing is certain, it is a way of life which contrasts greatly with that that you had when you lived downtown... </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When I left Abitibi to come to establish myself in Montreal, I partied a lot. Everything was new to me, and I had to try evrything. But after a time, my interests changed. One tries each one in his own way of returning to his roots. For me, one of the best ways to do that was to buy this house, to restore it and make a life in it. As I said it, it has great significance in my eyes. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is on your land that you want to pass all your life? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Completely. I hope that my refuge becomes a family house. It is one of the principal reasons which encouraged me to buy it. I want children and I want to see them growing in this environment. I hope that after my death this place is their roots; that this residence is the first place which they will choose to go home to, to go back to their past. Family gatherings are an extremely significant thing for me, So I'm doing what is necessary to be sure that my house carries beautiful memories as soon as possible. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>To return from there to your career, the least which one can say, it is that your participation in the series Nikita propelled you onto the anglophone scene... </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The series is very succesful, it is a fact. At present, I'm waiting to hear if a fourth season is a go; the interest expressed by the viewers leads me however to think that it is only a formality. The series really does very well. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you think up to now of your experience as an actor in the United States and English Canada? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is obvious that that requires more work and more concentration of me than when I play in French. The advantage, on the other hand, it is that Michael, my character in Nikita, is of Belgian origin, which gives him a certain latitude in his way of being expressed. So it's not not serious if his accent betrays his French-speaking roots. I had requested for this myself. I found that that conferred on Michael a more international identity. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Which are the different projects which occupy you these days at the same time as the filming of Nikita? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I've got one day left of work to close my participation in a documentary about the life of Maurice Richard. A little more than one year ago, I played Rocket in the Heritage Minute but, this time, it is an exhaustive work. It will make use of new documentary information, but there will be also a segment which I could describe as fiction, i.e. actors will play certain scenes of the life of Maurice Richard. I prepared for the role by viewing films recalling his life and his career, and I found that very interesting. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Does having a tight schedule because of filming Nikita prevent you from accepting other interesting projects? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Yes, sometimes. Last summer, for example, I had to refuse a principal role in a film where I was to play against Dennis Hopper. Filming began two days after the end of the season of Nikita and, as I would not have had much time to prepare myself, that would have been good neither for the persons in charge of the film nor for me. Another disadvantage, it is that filming took place in Mexico, which would have obliged me to be away for long. It is too bad, because the role appeared captivating to me. I was going to play a monk who restores frescos in the churches. [Note from Quinn: I'm really glad he brought this up because I had heard he was signed for this film and was wondering what happened to it!] </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now that your career is really established, to what do you aspire? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When the Nikita series is finished, I don't think that I will want to do another series. I think that I will put television to the side for a while and concentrate rather on my career with the cinema. That will give me a greater latitude with regard to my use of time on the professional level. I will be able to carry out several contracts and to take on different challenges during a same year. I would also like to do more documentaries. It's a field which fascinates me more and more. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2edc92b0.jpg" border=0 width="201" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="2edc92b0.jpg" border=0 width="201" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="2edc92b0.jpg" border=0 width="201" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2ea5e060.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="262" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>7 JOURS MARCH 20, 1999</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Roy Dupuis' new life. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Roy Dupuis' career has been soaring the last few months in the US, thanks to his role as "killer" operative Michael on "La Femme Nikita". Passing through Quebec last week for an appearance on the "Jutra" awards ceremony, the popular actor has agreed to a "tete a tete". He spoke with generosity about his professional and personal life. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Roy, has the Jutra ceremony allowed you to come back to your homeland after a long absence ? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Not really. I come back home every weekend after 5 days of shooting in Toronto. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Is your career mostly taking place in Toronto these days? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Partly. My role on LFN brings me to Toronto 9 months of the year. That's why I took the role. If shooting took place in Vancouver or LA, I would have refused because it would have kept me away from home for too long. Right now, it's something I can't accept. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Why can't you stay away from home? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Simply because it's important for me to come back to Quebec. It's essential for me to get back home every weekend, to relax. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: You've been living in the country for a few years, right ? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Yes. 3 years ago, I bought an old farm house built in 1840, with a big land. It's my dream house - it took me 6 years to find it. Now that I've found it, I want to spend time there, and do renovations. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: You do the work yourself? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Absolutely. That's nothing new for me. I grew up in Abitibi (way north of Montreal), and when I was a kid, I built tree houses. I love nature. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: What work have you done on your house so far ? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: First year, I renovated the kitchen. Last spring, I built an oak porch. I have so many long term projects - I planted trees - I want to see them grow up before I die ! My house is my passion ! Having this house allows me to look at nature, trees, and people, in a different light. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: It sounds different from the lifestyle you had when you lived in the city! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: When I left Abitibi and moved to Montreal, I sure had a great time ! All was new, and I tried everything I could try ! Now, my priorities are different. Everybody tries to get in touch with their roots. I achieved that by </B></div> <div> <B>buying the house. As I was saying, it has a lot of meaning for me. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: So you want to live the rest of your life on that land? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Absolutely. I want to raise a family. I want to see my kids grow in that environment. I want that land to be my legacy to my kids - a place for them to go back to after I die. A place for them to build their own future. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Getting back to your career, the least I could say is that LFN has really helped your career in the english speaking world! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: The show is very sucessful. We are waiting for a confirmation on the 4th season, but the way things are going - it seems like a sure thing. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: What can you say about your career in the US and in english Canada ? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: It's more work and more concentration than working in French. But since my character is Belgian, it doesn't really matter if my accent is noticeable at times. It gives Micheal an international appeal - something I asked the producers to integrate into the storylines. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Besides LFN, what are you working on these days? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: We're putting the final touches on a documentary about Maurice Richard. A year ago, I did this "patriotic minute" tribute to Richard - this time, it is much more. Part of it will be a documentary, part of it will be "fiction" - meaning actors will play out some scenes from Richard's life. I prepared for the role by watching film clips, and short documentaries on his life. It was extremely interesting. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Did you meet the legendary hockey player? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Yes ! And all I can say is our meeting was very emotional. Mr. Richard is a very touching character. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Does LFN keep you from working on other projects? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: Yes, sometimes. Last summer, for example, I had to refuse a starring role alongside Dennis Hopper. Shooting was scheduled to begin only 2 days after season 2 of LFN wrapped up. I had no time to prepare - it would have been bad for me, and for the movie. Also, shooting was going to take place in Mexico, forcing me away from home for a good while. It's a shame, though, because the role was amazing. I was going to play a monk specialized in restoring religious artwork! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>7J: Now that your career seems well established, what do you aspire to? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RD: When LFN is over, I think I'll stay away from TV. I will concentrate on movies. It will give me more latitude - both professionally and personally. I'll be able to do very different things, in the same year. Also, I would love to produce/direct documentaries. I find documentaries fascinating.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>       <IMG SRC="4d43e310.jpg" border=0 width="574" height="49" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Echo Vedettes March 20th, 1999</B><B>                                                                        </B><A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Echo Vedettes March 20th, 1999 "><U><B><IMG SRC="1be3e220.gif" border=0 width="62" height="34" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>