Dany Boon (Stingy!): "I started begging"

superchondriac there was part of the autobiography: is there a pure compositional role here?

Danny Boon: While it’s not my place to say, it’s pure abuse. We’re not in a position to know if we’re being stingy… Even when I’m at my highest level, my character sees himself as very frugal, even green! as in greedy, Molière, François Gautier, your character is, after all, the only real victim of his own pathology… I like to play such characters who are victims of themselves. We empathize with him as he suffers from his disability: it makes him very touching.

Cheap! points out that our relationship with money is linked to our parents. How do you pass on the value of money to your children?

I would do anything to make them generous. When you see a street artist, they systematically ask me for money because they know I started by begging. After a misunderstanding, François thinks he’s a generous donor to a humanitarian organization.

How do you choose who you want to help?

With Jérôme Seydoux (Pathé’s boss, producer of Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis, editor’s note) Ch’ti FundDonating the proceeds of the products from my films in collaboration with La Fondation de France. This made it possible, among other things, to construct a social building. And I’ve been a sponsor of Children Action for over two decades, especially with Catherine Deneuve and Arthur: we put on shows.

You have received so much: do you feel the need to give?

Yes, but I guess I need this because I miss it more. Even though I felt guilty about making money when I started, the desire to help doesn’t come from there.

What flaws do you not tolerate?

Selfishness and egocentrism are unfortunately very common. Like the indifference that comes with it.

You’re back on stage for your 25-year career: is that a s way?

Stepping out of your movie star comfort zone?

Yes, it’s important to endanger yourself back on stage. I was very worried when I boarded this new show in Brussels. But I realized how much I came from there and that it was natural for me to go there to be with the people.

Our time is not joyful, do you have the heart to fight against the gloom?

Many people tell me: “Thanks, we need this.” For me, laughing fixes everything. Although I decided to return to the stage before the attacks, the feeling of bringing happiness to people is something extraordinary. I forget all my responsibilities as a producer and operator on stage, I’m just a comedian. It’s exciting to be comedian Dany again. So I tell myself that I want to do just that.

You left Los Angeles to settle in London: miss Ch’ti, rain and K-Way so much?

We finally broke up! The kids couldn’t get used to it: they all have friends they’ve grown up with for five years. It’s true I missed the rain and my K-Way!

Cheap! It will air on TF1 on Sunday, April 23 at 21:10.

Proposal collected by Julien Barcilon in 2016