French Official Fan Club Interview

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French Official Fan Club, October 1998
by F.Dauquier

F.Dauquier: Do you often come to France? If so, what do you think of this country?

David Duchovny: It’s my first time. I know it’s hard to believe. My father has been living here for 5 years, but I never had the opportunity to come and visit him. This is his favorite country, he always tells me to come because it’s a beautiful place. Yesterday, after a 12 hour flight, we had a long drive, and I must say that Paris is the most beautiful city I’ve ever visited before! I suppose you agree, don’t you? Paris is a town where you can walk. In Los Angeles, you can’t move without a car. Moreover, the architecture in Paris is full of history.

F.D: Yes... Talking about History and Culture, you like poetry. So we’d like to know if you had a favorite French poet?

DD: I like Baudelaire a lot, but you have to know that my French isn’t good enough for me to read poems in their original version. And poetry is so hard to translate. A translation from a language to another betrays the rhymes and sonorities. So I think the best way to totally appreciate poetry in French is to read it and understand it in French! My father started learning French reading "L’Etranger" [a novel written by Albert Camus], which is easy to read. Actually, I think I could read it too...

F.D: Oh, so maybe you can say a few words in French for the fan club members?

DD: uh...I prefer to say them in English! (laughs). I just want to thank them... I know it must be hard to love The X-Files and its actors, when you feel like you can’t communicate with them... But it’s very nice for me to be here and to know that people here like me and support me silently... It is true that I never took the time to communicate with the French fan club before... So I thank you for your patience.

F.D: Did you know that your father came here to visit us?

DD: My father!?

F.D: Yes ! And actually, he’s a member of the fan club ! (laughs)

DD: Did you make him pay? (laughs)

F.D: No... But he really wanted to do so!

DD: So he heard of the fan club, and just... came here to see you?!!!

F.D: Yes. He came in and said "Hi. I’m David’s father".

DD: I guess it was hard for you to believe him at first...

F.D: Yes, it was so incredible!

DD: You should have asked him to show you his ID (laughs). How many people went and said they were my father? (laughs)

F.D: One.

DD: Okay, so I guess it had to be him!

F.D: Yes it’s him... Let’s talk about the movie. Could you tell us about the scene that was the most difficult for you to play ?

DD: I think the one I most dreaded was the one where I’m drunk and talking to a barmaid... I had to relax and say everything about Mulder’s background for all those who didn’t know the series. We had to explain who the character is, what he believes in, and what happened in his life. But the fans already know that, so I didn’t want to be too obvious... I guess that the fact of being drunk was a good idea, but I didn’t want the character to be too pathetic. Moreover, since this scene happens rapidly in the movie, I had to keep a distance between Mulder and alcohol : I didn’t want him to be repulsive and pathetic... It was a real challenge not to fall in one of the extremes... Finally it came out to be a funny scene... When I saw it for the first time in public, I was really glad to hear people laugh!

F.D: Does it mean that you’d like to see your audience laugh more often by acting in a sitcom?

DD: If I was asked to play in a sitcom right now, I think I would refuse. I don’t feel I’m ready for that, but I guess that like for everything, there’s a way to do it right... Anyways, I’m not attracted by this genre.

F.D: My favorite episodes are dark episodes, such as "Oubliette" in the 3rd season.

DD: Oh! This one’s my favorite too!

F.D: The episode is very subtle and I think you understood a lot of elements in this story.

DD: Some of the scripts give us the opportunity to play new feelings, and they allow the characters to express themselves in other ways. It makes them grow... The actress who played Lucy is great, and Kim Manners directed the girl who played Amy in a very good way. So it made the work easier too, especially if you naturally feel sad. But than you have the feeling that you’re not working hard enough. But I guess that if you feel like it was easy, it’s because you got it right. It takes a lot of energy to work on a wrong basis. I really loved this episode, and I’m proud of it. A lot of people liked it too, though there are no tricks in it. It is neither a gore, nor a Sci-Fi episode. It’s more like a love story. Sometimes, Chris is worried when he thinks an episode isn’t "flashy" enough, but I think we should do such episodes more often.

F.D: How do you prepare before the shooting of a scene?

DD: It’s always different : whatever happens in your life, you come with the feelings that are linked with these events. As an actor, you sometimes have to cry and to be desperate. (ironicaly) With a little luck, something sad can happen to you the on the same day, but if not, you have to find the path that will bring you to this feeling... So each day brings its difference. The best thing to do is to try to relax... In my case, it’s good to abandon my apprehensions. And even if I already know the script, I prefer to let myself be surprised. I mean you don’t try to cry in life : you cry, and that’s all. That’s why I don’t want to forecast things in my acting. In never say to myself "I must cry...I must cry...". I can’t do that.

F.D: Is there a movie that inspired you for your acting? Or the acting of another actor?

DD: Not really. Actually, when I was in college, I wanted to become a writer, and then, I took a drama class. And that’s what started my career as an actor.

F.D: Which method do you use when you’re acting : the English one (the actor creates the characteristics of the character he plays according to his own imagination) or the American one (Actor’s Studio, the actor uses his professional experience and goes on the field to work the feelings of his character) ?

DD: My job consists in alternating both methods. It depends on the character and the script.

F.D: Thank you for your time.

DD: Thank you.