According to Francois Civil, “The Boss of Actors”: Who Plays Cardinal de Richelieu in The 3 Musketeers?

This week Eric Ruff shows The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan, the first part of Martin Bourboulon’s diptych adapted from Alexandre Dumas’ famous novel (the film will be followed by The Three Musketeers: Milady, scheduled for December 13). The charismatic 53-year-old actor stars in it as Cardinal de Richelieu, pitted against musketeers energetically portrayed by François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Dury and Pio Marmay.

Passionate about theater and music, Eric Ruf attended the Belfort Conservatory, where he received a diploma in instrumental practice. He then joined the National School of Applied Arts and Crafts, then the famous Cours Florent, where he was taught by such big names as Jean-Pierre Garnier, Maurice Attias and Josephine Derain. In 1992, he entered the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art. Acting in many plays, he quickly made a name for himself in the industry.

In 1993, Eric became a resident of the Comédie-Française, and then a member in 1998. Then he worked under the guidance of famous directors (Valery Lessor, Christian Heck, Julie Delique, Guillaume Gallien, Véronique Vella, Jean-Yves Rouf, Denis, Denis. , Hervé Pierre, etc.) in several plays born from the pen of the greatest playwrights (Moliere, Anton Chekhov , Victor Hugo, Edmond Rostan, Jean Racine, Heinrich von Kleist, Shakespeare or Paul Claudel, to name just a few).

At the same time, Eric Ruff is also a theater and opera director. He guides in this way Le Pre aux Clercs, Pelleas and Melisande, Life of Galileo, Bajazet, Romeo and Juliet, Peer Gyntetc. With his talent and work rate, he received many awards (such as Moliere in a supporting role for an actor in 2007 for the role of Christian. Cyrano de Bergerac). For “multitasking”, it also works as a decorator (always for Cyrano de BergeracHe takes the decorator scenographer Moliere).

Although he is primarily a theater man, Eric has made several forays into film and television. In 1995, he appeared in the romantic comedy Marie-Louise ou la permission with American Kate Beckinsale. Then we see him in a supporting role, in such different films as The Owner, Place Vendôme, Passionately, Without Me, The Third Part of the World, Poupupidou, RIF, Three Memories of My Youth, Maryline, My Stupid Dog, I. Blame or even The Line.

On the television side, the Belfort native makes occasional TV appearances, most notably Pigalle at Night, where he impresses opposite Jalil Lespert by harassing a strip club owner.

In 2023, Eric Ruff will take on the role of Cardinal de Richelieu in Martin Bourboulon’s diptych The Three Musketeers. For this occasion, he rubs shoulders with great stars such as François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Dury, Louis Garrel (whom he taught at the Conservatoire), Eva Green, Vicky Cripps and Pio Marmay. The actor confides in his character: “Richelieu arrives on my journey when I have been the administrator general of the Comedie-Française for eight years.

“This theater is under state supervision and is a cooperative of independent actors and actresses, which shows how much I am in conflicting directions and separate logics. This also implies that human management of more than four hundred people is necessary. , who are engaged in fifty different professions. Therefore, there is something about Richelieu’s road that is not completely unknown to me! I don’t know whether Martin was thinking about it consciously or not.”

For an anecdote, Francois Civil gave a test to Eric Rufus when the latter was competing with another actor to camp Cardinal de Richelieu. D’Artagnan’s translator recalls: “It was scary because I had already been cast and Eric is the director of the Comédie-Française, he was a bit of a boss to the bosses of the actors! I felt awkward… Also, as it was the first time I played d’Artagnan in front of a director, I felt so pressured that if I’m bad, they’ll fire me!

Finally, note that Eric starred in Aramis José Dayan’s TV movie Milady (2004), with Ariel Dombaslé in the title role and Florent Pagny as d’Artagnan!