Julie de Bona (School of life): "My student worries are back"

What appealed to you as Alexandra Delage, a French and drama teacher at a high school in Paris?

Julie de Bona: Scenario. I felt something challenging, real, one last thing. I knew I was dealing with a series that made people grow. I was also impressed by its authenticity.

The screenwriters were inspired by documentaries featuring true children’s stories. What do you think is the difference between The School of Life and other series set in schools, such as The Replace Or Rousseau’s mistake ?

I know these two shows are great in style, but I didn’t want to do this. When I read the script school of LifeI felt like I was in my favorite movie, Dead Poets Society, by Peter Weir. I found the same DNA there. Other series around the school literally give a somewhat cartoonish image of teachers. But these teachers do not exist. It’s still comedy. Yet in school of LifeThe teacher is a normal woman, an everyday hero who makes room for the students.

What did you find most difficult while playing?

The scenes where I was teaching French got me off balance because I wasn’t perfect at it. I was more drawn to science. I did Deug in biochemistry. This role was a bit like revenge and also a challenge. When I found myself in high school, my student anxiety returned. I worked like crazy. I memorized the metaphors I had to teach in three days, although I had not been there during the school year. The kids were great. They were able to show patience and kindness.

Is there a teacher who has graded you throughout your school life?

You have to go back to first grade: I had my teacher, Miss Côte, a wonderful lady I loved so much and discovered much later on a set that she was the mother of actress Olivia Côte.

This series indirectly evokes a topic that goes beyond the framework of school: how to manage your professional life while you are sick. How did you approach?

This is not the theme that pleases me the most because it is not easy to play. I was already close to him on the show. plan B (released on TF1 in 2021, editor’s note), followed by film for M6 last year dragon’s breathOn breast cancer by Stéphanie Pillonca. Playing a patient for the third time liberated me! On the strength of my two previous experiences with cancer patients, I was able to ask the authors to be as close as possible to the reality that patients live. I rested beyond my expectations.

School of life, Wednesday 5 April at 21:10 in France 2

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