“It was a camp in Saint-Tropez on the set!” : Victor Belmondo talks about his experience in Bardo

On Tuesday 15 May 2023, France 2 continues its series of Bardot events from 9.10pm. As its name suggests, the fiction follows the footsteps of youth cinema icon Brigitte Bardot. Julia de Nunez (who entrusted this adventure to AlloCiné) plays the famous actress.

Here she particularly responds to Victor Belmondo (Stop Your Lies), who meanwhile portrays Roger Vadim, BB’s first husband. With us, the grandson of Jean-Paul Belmondo is back in this outstanding project overseen by Daniel and Christopher Thompson…

AlloCiné: What did Brigitte Bardot represent to you before participating in “Bardo”?

Victor Belmondo : I knew it was an icon. To be honest, I had seen very few films with him. I saw, for example, Contempt, a film I love. Otherwise, I saw him as someone who really marked a period that marked cinema.

Brigitte Bardot is a controversial public figure today. Did that make you hesitate to participate in the series?

No, because I was going to play Roger Vadim, who is not Brigitte Bardot. (Laughs) I really wanted to play this character. And then, first of all, I wanted to work with Danielle and Christopher Thompson. Finally, the story takes place in a time I knew very little about…

Are you worried about the fact that he did not want to be involved in the project?

No, because I think it’s absolutely free. He honestly thinks what he wants and says what he wants. This is his freedom. I wasn’t in the discussion at the beginning of the series, but Kristoff and Danielle told us she just gave the nod and didn’t want to know more. But he agreed!

How did you prepare for your role?

I watched a lot of interviews with Roger Vadim to hear him talk and think. I read what he wrote, watched his films, as well as documentaries and reports about him. I watched and read what others were saying about it. Actually, I just tried to find out who he was. I wouldn’t be like him because the idea wasn’t to be in mimicry, but just to know who he really was.

How would you define his relationship with Brigitte Bardot?

This is the first love that accompanied them all their lives. A great respect between one and the other, admiration, something deeply benevolent and sincere. Love can be different, it can have other forms, different forms, but they loved each other sincerely and with the gift of one all their lives.

How was filming with all the partners you chose?

It was cool! We “youngsters” were all very happy to shoot with actors and actresses we admire, such as Ivan Attal, Ippolite Grirado, Geraldine Pailhas… they made us feel very comfortable. It was liquid. And among those who had a little less experience, we were like friends. It was camp on set in Saint-Tropez! It was very cool.

Did your grandfather, Jean-Paul Belmondo, ever tell you about Brigitte Bardot?

Not much more than that, but I know she adopted dogs from her associations. Brigitte Bardot is organizing something, I think it’s an animal Christmas. My grandfather used to go there a lot and he regularly went with his dog! Besides, my parents were there and left me alone with the dog I grew up with…