The venus and the hog; French Institute

Short of crossing the Channel, you can’t get more French than this. The French Institute is staging a French play, written by a contemporary French playwright, starring a cult French TV star. If you feel your French isn’t up to it, don’t panic: this is an opportunity to enjoy a French play with English subtitles - a first for London.

The beloved French actress Alexandra Lamy is to play Misia Godeska, a socialite and muse dubbed the ‘Queen of Paris’ of La Belle Époque. Godeska is caught between her misogynist husband and abject, filthy rich suitor.

Culture Whisper caught up with Lamy, who settled in London a couple of months ago. Starring in La Vénus au Phacochère (The Venus and the Hog) is an unexpected move for the actress who made her name on television. She is famous for starring opposite Oscar-winning Jean Dujardin in the cult French sitcom, Un Gars, Une Fille. Now, instead of a double act on television, she is performing solo and live. She plays all the characters in the play – four in total, including Godeska’s husband and lover. 

Playwright Christian Siméon’s script has the quality of pure 19th century French writing. ‘I think Christian writes like Balzac,’ confesses Lamy, adding: ‘He would probably blush if he heard that!’

It was, in fact, Siméon who approached Lamy and convinced her to return to her first love - theatre. Lamy trained in the South of France and then at Paris' private drama school, Cours Florent. Her lucky theatre break was a last-minute reading for the French radio station, France Culture, after which she was invited to perform in a Parisian theatre.

Among the film credits to her name are 'J'enrage de son absence' ('Maddened by his absence'), which was presented last year at the Cannes Film Festival and 'Ricky' by François Ozon, which was part of the Official Competition of the Berlin Film Festival in 2009. Her most recent films include 'I did it again' and the prize-winning, The Finishers, which is coming to London in April.

Asked how she feels about acting in London in front of a non-French speaking audience, Lamy replies: ‘It is undoubtedly a challenge. It will force me to convey emotions that people need to understand immediately, without having to read the subtitles. And it will be challenging because I will have to make sure I don’t speak too fast for the subtitles.’ 

Living in London suits Lamy. ‘I can walk around without being recognised and finally wear mini-skirts!’ she says, beaming. ‘And I can’t stop going to galleries and plays. London is pure culture treasure.”

'La Vénus au Phacochère' is on for three nights (3rd-5th February at 8pm).  Click here to book tickets via the French Institute.