Photography and Words, Rachel Byrne.
Could you tell me about your life so far?
I was born in France in Mantes-la-Jolie, and then I lived with my grandparents in Abbeville, in the north of France, near Calais. My mum took us to London. I think I was 8. It was around 2008.
Could you speak English?
No. So when we first got here, I could hear all these like voices. And I was like “What language are these people speaking?” And I remember my mom would be like, “We’re in London.” And I was like, “What?”
Is your mum English?
No, she is French. But she had lived in New York for a bit with her older sister. Then she met my stepdad and they decided to move to London. My mum was keen of the English language, and spoke it well with a touch of a french accent.
I grew up here grew up in London. When I was in primary school, we did an end-of-year play, and that kind of sparked my love for acting and made me want to do more. My friend told me about The BRIT School, which I signed up for. I didn’t get in. But then I appealed the decision and had to do another audition, and then I got in. The BRIT School showed me what drama school was I applied to drama school. Got accepted and I’ve literally just graduated from drama school in the summer.
It taught me a lot about myself in terms of what I want and what I don’t want. What I stand for and what I don’t stand for. I would say I’m very nice, and sometimes I can be a bit of a people pleaser. But I’m trying to find the balance of being fair to myself, but also to other people.
How long did you actually spend in drama school?
Three Years. It taught me a lot about myself in terms of what I want and what I don’t want. What I stand for and what I don’t stand for. I would say I’m very nice, and sometimes I can be a bit of a people pleaser. But I’m trying to find the balance of being fair to myself, but also to other people. Still trying to find that balance.
That has been a challenge of mine as well, but the older I get the easier I find asserting boundaries. Turning thirty has helped so much.
A lot of people say that.
Because you begin to think “thirty-year-olds can do this” or “thirty-year-olds have boundaries and say no”. It gives you a sense of permission. It’s made me question a lot, and I think you’ll find it easier as you get older. The good thing about starting out as a people-pleaser and then learning to assert boundaries is that you will just be that little bit more sensitive. You will be good at saying no in a kind way. So it’s not always a terrible thing.
That’s my struggle as well – asserting boundaries in a nice way. And that’s the thing – because I’m from France, sometimes – and I recognise this a lot – different foreigners will have different ways of speaking, that to them is just normal. So for example, at work, one of my colleagues isn’t from the UK, and the way she speaks in English – sometimes if you don’t know her you might think it’s kind of rude. But it’s just the way people from her country speak and how it’s translated. I think it’s the same with French as well because we can be direct or very bold. Sometimes it seems like we’re being rude, but that’s just how we speak. I try to also think about what and how I’m saying something before I say it.
Usually when I tell the story it’s like, “Yeah, I was just walking through the alley and I got stopped.” But I knew that casting was happening, and I intentionally put myself there. Right now, that’s what I’m learning. As much as it’s good to have an agent, I want to give myself the opportunities as well. I don’t want to just sit around waiting.
I guess that’s really interesting. To come from a language or a culture that’s very direct, and then suddenly you have to be more sensitive, and you’re learning all this eight years old. It sounds quite intense.
How many languages do you speak?
I speak three languages. I’m trying to learn to speak Spanish, but I speak French, English and Manjack. It’s a Language from Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. It’s part of my tribe.
How has growing up in different cultures influenced you? How would you think it has changed you in comparison to if you had only lived in London your whole life?
When I’m in London I definitely feel like a South-London boy. I feel like I grew up here. When I’m in France, I also feel like a French boy. I would say the biggest difference between French and English people is that English people hide their emotions, whereas French people really share their emotions.
How did you become a model?
The story I tell is that I was at The BRIT School and we had to write our own play. I decided to go to a Black Museum in London, so I could do some research and write about it. As I was walking through an alleyway, a guy stopped me and said “We’re doing a casting here and think you’d be the right fit for our agency.” So I went in, did the casting, and then two days later, they got back to me and said “We’d love to have you on our board.” The truth is, I actually knew the casting was happening. So I purposely put myself in that street because I was like, “Maybe someone will notice me or see me?” So I walked there. And I think I walked around that block like three or four times. I did get stopped and the rest is true; they called me up a couple of days later and asked me to join.
Usually when I tell the story it’s like, “Yeah, I was just walking through the alley and I got stopped.” But I knew that casting was happening, and I intentionally put myself there. Right now, that’s what I’m learning. As much as it’s good to have an agent, I want to give myself the opportunities as well. I don’t want to just sit around waiting.
Do modelling and acting inform or influence each other in any way?
When I model, because it’s me, I feel more self-conscious. Whereas when I’m acting, I’m playing a character so I’m not overthinking. Now with modelling, I just have to tell myself that this is a character. At a shoot I did recently, we had to walk a long walk, and they said to me “I want you to be full of attitude and show anger in your face”. And I was like “Okay, let me play a character because that makes me feel more comfortable.” Because if I’m thinking that it’s just me walking, then I’m aware that so many people on set are watching me and there are so many eyes just watching me walk, and then the twenty-second walk would feel like an hour.
Are you someone who plans your future and career? Or do you just intuitively follow the path in front of you as it unfolds?
I used to just go for whatever day by day. Now I feel like, as I’m getting older and there are bills to be paid, I’m kind of realising that I need to sit down and plan it. I did a mood board for 2024 with the things I wanted to accomplish and the kind of money I want to make. So now I’m very much thinking about the future a lot. How I can get on top of my game and be the best in my field. So I would say Planning. A lot of planning.
I want to be that cool person who gives you the best answer ever. There was a quote that my drama school teacher always used to say. I think it’s by Denzel Washington. And it goes something like, ‘There’s no such thing as chance.’ It’s being prepared for the opportunity.
We are now in 2024. What did 2023 teach you about yourself?
Life can just change at any point. Like, I think I went from being so high to just so low. I think when I finished drama school… even though you’re told it’s a hard industry and all that kind of stuff. Like your brain just goes “Yeah, it’s fine, I’m sick at what I do, I’m good at what I do.” But coming out of drama school, sometimes it’s a bit raw. Audition after audition. Making it to the final rounds but not getting there. It can feel sometimes a bit defeating. And then with work – we lost someone at work. That was tough. Yeah, it was just a lot of things that just seemed to happen at the same time.
How did you manage to climb out of that? Is it just a case of ‘time heals’, or did you have an approach?
I think time heals. I don’t know if I’ve one hundred per cent sat down and processed it, because life is just so crazy, and a lot happens. I don’t want to say that I’ve ignored it or put it in the back of my head, but it’s just like – it is what it is. I think I have a bit of a mindset that, I can either sit down and cry or just keep accepting.
As difficult as it was, I think this experience will add another dimension to your character. Final Question, what’s your favourite piece of life advice that you would pass on?
I want to be that cool person who gives you the best answer ever [he laughs]. There was a quote that my drama school teacher always used to say. I think it’s by Denzel Washington. And it goes something like, ‘There’s no such thing as chance.’ It’s being prepared for the opportunity. So for example, it’s like, if I want to model for Calvin Klein but I’m not prepared – I’m not going to the gym, I don’t have abs and all that kind of stuff – I can’t expect it. But if I’m going to the gym every single day and I’m working on my body, when that opportunity comes, I’m not panicking. I’m prepared for every opportunity that’s coming. So I think that’s my favourite quote. And that’s what I’m trying to be in 2024. Prepared. Because when the opportunity comes, I’m not worried. It will be like ‘Yes, I can do it. I’m strong enough to do this.’
