interview by JANA LETONJA

French actor Edouard Philipponnat is starting to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Most recently, he starred in ‘Napoleon’, alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. Next up, we will be seeing him in ‘Lost in Wonderland’, the live action feature re-imagining of ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

Edouard, just recently, we’ve been able to watch you in ‘Napoleon’, alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. How did you land this role? What was the most exciting thing about this project for you?
I first heard about the project when I had the chance to play a small role in Sir Ridley’s ‘House of Gucci’. I arrived in Rome where they were in their last week of filming and over those few days I would overhear talks between the crew about their next project being a historical epic. I remember asking the brilliant Janty Yates, our costume designer, what it was going to be. She mentioned the name ‘Kitbag’ and that it was very secretive, so naturally as the new kid on the block, I was telling myself whatever it is I have to be in it. She knew I was French and she told me to keep my ears open. 

 A couple of months went by and I was filming another movie in Budapest when I got the call from my agents saying that Sir Ridley is filming his next project by the end of year and that there’s a role they want me to audition for. The audition process took about a month. We’d film our 12 hour days and at night when I got back, we would tape various options for the audition. It was right on the last day of filming that movie that I got the call saying I got the part.

There are so many aspects that excited me with ‘Napoleon’, primarily the title itself, the cast and of course the Maestro himself, Ridley Scott, and being able to work with him again. But really, it felt like that one opportunity people in the industry talk about. I’d say it was my Brad Pitt ‘Thelma & Louise’ moment.

full look ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

In ‘Napoleon’, you played Tsar Alexander, the infamous rival of Napoleon Bonaparte. What did you learn through this role, not only about the history, but about yourself as well?
A tremendous amount, truly. It is such a large production with professionals who help you with research material. The amount of detail that goes into these sets, and primarily the costumes, was just incredible for me. We had numerous tailors from all around the world come in and get my exact measurements to a tee. Everything was hand embroidered down to the selection of fabrics. My costume, for instance, one of them. It has never and most probably will never be duplicated. 

The character I play, Tsar Alexander, was so incredibly fascinating. He was very young at the time these events took place, filled with ambition and an eagerness to explore and learn. I could easily relate to him because here I am now, a kid that grew up on a farm in Finland, thousands of miles away from the movie world, standing next to the titansof our industry. It’s overwhelming, terrifying and exciting. You are constantly trying to find your place in this spectacle and at the same time, trying to earn your seat at the table, so to say. And I think that was the case for him. He was raised by his grandmother and had the opportunity to view the world with a set of different colors than what would have been the norm at the time. We spoke with the director and decided to add this element into my character’s approach with Josephine. It ended up being a beautiful thing because her character had been through a wave of abuse by the men around her and here is this young man who, instead of wooing her, shines light on her self-worth. It was all improvised and brought her to tears. It was truly something special and a moment I’ll never forget.

jacket, trousers and scarf WILLY CHAVARRIA
socks FALKE
shoes CAMPER

Next, you’ll be starring in ‘Lost in Wonderland’, a live action re-imagining of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. What can you tease about this upcoming film?
It’s a fun, weird trip of a movie. It’s very grounded in the sense that there are no floating animals or walking cards. It’s real and gritty, filmed all over the streets of Budapest. It’s poetic and metaphorical. I haven’t seen the film yet, but it has an amazing cast of Ella Travolta, James Cromwell and Terrance Howard. All fantastic company to be around. The whole experience was such a blur. I definitely tried weird and interesting things, so I’m excited about how it’ll turn out. 

How was it portraying The Mad Hatter? What can we expect from your character in this film?
Like I said, definitely strange and weird. I think he’s a floating cloud that goes where the wind blows. He’s all over the place, partly in charge and partly under the foot. It’s of course inspired by the original ‘Alice in Wonderland’ character, but it’s definitely its own thing. He leads us through the gutters of this strange world.

suit MOSCHINO
tie PAUL SMITH
loafers CASABLANCA

You started acting at 13. How did you develop passion for acting?
I was given an incredible opportunity by the producer Raffaella De Laurentiis. I had come to Los Angeles on vacation and my fatherwanted to give me the opportunity to have a stab at a profession I liked. I had been transfixed by the idea of playing characters and creating them, so when we came out, he had organized an actors workshop class for me. I have to say it didn’t go well at all, but somehow this coach sent some of the taping we had done that day to Raffaella and by chance, she was in town and said she wanted to meet. She handed me my first script at that dinner table. That year I was moving schools from Finland to Switzerland and my parents wanted me to focus on my studies, which meant I couldn’t go and do the movie. But by the grace of luck and chance, my father received a phone call from Raffaella later that year saying that she has a small role for me and if I was allowed to do it, it could be the beginning of something. Long story short, they allowed me to go and it changed my life forever. I remember crying at the end and calling both her and my father saying I didn’t want to leave. I had found my home in movies and I didn’t want to let it go. 

full look KENZO
shoes CAMPERLAB

For your first major role in ‘The Runner’, you lost 37 pounds to play a drug addict. How challenging and hard was this intense preparation for the role?
Without a doubt the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I did it over 8 months where I’d slowly, but surely cut down on different foods and liquids until I reached about 500 calories a day. Then about 1 month out, I decided it wasn’t enough and went down to 300 calories a day. Looking back on it, that was very dangerous and I didn’t really have any professional by my side to guide me. I would lay in bed for about 80 % of the day, with the exception of using the bathroom and eating my few spoons of granola. The oat milk I used was probably about 100 calories itself, so it wasprobably just that and about 2 full spoons of granola a day. I had health issues that lasted for the next year, my skin had turned yellow and blue. It wasn’t pretty, but I knew that this was the opportunity. I wouldn’t get this chance again and so I treated it with that sense of urgency. It was a small indie movie with barely any budget, but we had a great team, a wonderful director and it’s where I met Cameron Douglas, who I’m fortunate to now call a brother. I’ll forever be in debt to that movie and what we all did. In fact, right before I got cast in ‘Napoleon’, Sir Ridley called the director from ‘The Runner’ and asked to see the film. He took the time to do that which is incredible.

full look PAUL SMITH

How do you usually prepare for new roles? Do you have any special process or ritual?
I can’t really say because I don’t have a method. I don’t like to put too much attention to it. I read the material over and over again and have all of these ideas, but eventually there’s that moment where things just fall into place. I do tend to do a lot of writing. When I was in bed for ‘The Runner’, not able to move much, I was terrified I wouldn’t be prepared, so I decided to write a ‘prequel’ script to that film. I made it all up of course, but in doing that, it created an organic introduction and past between my character and his surroundings. It was cool because I felt like I had the inside scoop on where everyone came from. It was my own fantasy of course, but I think it gave me some confidence and reassurance that everything was going to be okay once we started.

full look MAISON MARGIELA MM6

What are your goals for the future of your career?
Really just to keep doing what I love, which is making movies. I know I’ll want to direct at some point down the line. I hope I can look back at this in 10 years and say I’m doing it. But really, to just be able to create art with people. Movies bring people together both on and off screen. I know I’m extremely lucky and fortunate to call this my work and to be able to do what I love.

You actually speak four languages, Finnish, Swedish, English and French. How does this help you in life and in your career?
Tremendously. It’s a tool I get to use daily with work. It opens a door to different cultures. It’s allowed me to get in touch with people in ways I otherwise may never have.

TEAM CREDITS:
talent EDOUARD PHILIPPONNAT
photography NICK RASMUSSEN
styling MARISA ELLISON
groomer RACHEL BURNEY
styling assistant ALEXIS KOSSEL
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
lightning APUTURE