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Yanic Truesdale Discusses His Role in “Étoile” and the Legacy of the Palladinos
When Yanic Truesdale was approached by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino about joining their latest comedy series, “Étoile,” he initially had some concerns.
Best known for his portrayal of the character Michel in the iconic series “Gilmore Girls,” Truesdale expressed worries that American viewers might be perplexed by him taking on another French character in a production by the same creators. “When [the Palladinos] called me, I was super excited,” he shared with TheWrap, but he felt compelled to clarify one important point: “I said, ‘I don’t think I should do a French accent like Michel. The audience is going to be confused.’”
Truesdale, a French-Canadian actor who enjoyed significant popularity in the U.S. from his role as the witty concierge of the Independence and Dragonfly inns, was keen on ensuring that fans of “Gilmore Girls” might not associate him so closely with the idyllic life of Stars Hollow.
In “Étoile,” Truesdale takes on the character of Raphael, the deputy director of the Paris Opera and assistant to Genevieve, portrayed by Charlotte Gainsbourg. Unlike Michel, who often exhibited misery, Raphael is dedicated to his role at the ballet. “I said let’s not make him passive aggressive. If he had something to say, let’s make him a straight shooter,” Truesdale explained. He added that creating this character involved more groundwork than introducing someone entirely new due to the similarities in their backgrounds and origins with their creator.
For his performance in “Étoile,” Truesdale decided to retain his natural American accent for his English dialogue rather than adopting the French accent he used for Michel.
Truesdale affectionately refers to Sherman-Palladino as his “mother” because she played a key role in launching his American career 25 years ago. “You could ask anyone on set, I call her mom and she calls me son,” he remarked. He went on to emphasize the loyalty of the Palladinos, stating, “Once you’re in and once they love you, they love you for life.”
The Palladinos affirmed Truesdale’s sentiments, with Sherman-Palladino noting that casting familiar talent is often a matter of comfort. “If we feel this actor would work well with this character in this new thing, we just want to hire him back rather than looking for someone else,” she explained. “We also know the voices of these actors so well, certainly Kelly [Bishop], certainly Yanic. When we know them well, then we can really write them to order for them.”
In “Étoile,” Truesdale also reunited with Kelly Bishop, the actress who portrayed Emily Gilmore in “Gilmore Girls.” During filming in Paris, he had the delight of showing her around the city, marking her first visit there, and ensured they dined at one of his favorite Michelin-starred restaurants. “I wanted to make sure that she would have a grand time,” he said.
The series “Étoile” delves into the inner workings of two prestigious ballet companies striving to save their legacies by swapping their premier performers. It is currently available for streaming on Prime Video.
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www.thewrap.com