Lucas Bravo on Emily in Paris Season 5, HBO’s The Seduction

Since breaking out globally 5 years in the past as Gabriel — the hunky French chef in Netflix’s hit romantic comedy “Emily in Paris” — Lucas Bravo has labored arduous to defy typecasting, in search of edgier and darker roles.

To wit, he stars because the morally corrupt Comte de Gercourt in “The Seduction,” HBO Max’s restricted sequence loosely based mostly on “Dangerous Liaisons.” But Bravo tells Variety that he’s additionally realized to embrace the escapism of “Emily in Paris,” including that he “wanted to bring back a fun Gabriel” within the upcoming fifth season, after a “gloomy” section that he famously stated was turning the character into guacamole.

The 37-year-old native of Nice was working as a sous-chef when he auditioned for sequence creator Darren Star. Bravo says he isn’t in a rush to make it in Hollywood, even when he has heat recollections of starring alongside George Clooney and Julia Roberts in “Ticket to Paradise.”

“She smiles, and rainbows and butterflies appear around you,” reminisces Bravo of Roberts. He additionally calls Lily Collins, the title star of “Emily in Paris” and his on-screen lover (typically!), a “genius.”

“The Seduction” premieres on HBO Max Nov. 14 and Season 5 of “Emily in Paris” drops on Netflix Dec. 18. Here, Bravo talks about each — and extra.

In the teaser for the brand new season of “Emily in Paris” you look fully Californian, with huge muscle groups and highlights. What occurred to Gabriel?

I feel Gabriel goes again to what he was in Season 1. I feel all of us needed to carry again a enjoyable Gabriel. I hope we addressed the demand!

In an interview, you stated that you simply preferred Season 4 as a result of your character was extra proactive, however you began wanting very depressed to me.

My character was proactive within the first half, after which the second half was a bit gloomy. When I did that [guacamole] interview, I used to be referring to my love for the character within the first half! I feel any actor is at all times blissful to have enjoyable components to play.

You’ve develop into the epitome of the French lover. How has it been to develop into that man whereas additionally chasing several types of roles?

It’s 5 years of a profession that began on Season 1, and me making an attempt to grasp what it means, what being within the public eye means, what rising with the character means. Nobody likes labels, however I really like the truth that individuals related to this character a sure means, and I fully settle for it.

With “The Seduction,” “The Balconettes” and “Libre,” you’ve performed all of the darkish sides of masculinity. Are you making an attempt to make a degree about males?

I feel we’re complicated human beings. We all have darkish sides, slightly frustration someplace, a wound from the previous. But we dwell in a society the place all the pieces must be excellent and we have now much less and fewer room for error or second possibilities. It’s vital to indicate that there are numerous grey areas in human beings. That’s additionally the place the business goes — extra nuance, richer storytelling.

You have stated that on “Emily in Paris” there was no room for improvisation as a result of it’s an enormous U.S. manufacturing. How was it to shoot “The Seduction,” which is an HBO present however is directed by a French filmmaker, Jessica Palud?

You can improvise a bit on “Emily.” If you could have a dialog with Darren, he’s open to concepts and improvisation. This masterpiece “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” has been tailored so many occasions. By selecting to make my character extra outstanding than he’s within the novel, I used to be given the chance to repaint part of one thing that’s existed for hundreds of years. Jessica, our director, fully opened the door for me to go as loopy as attainable. I needed him to be like a snake. Bad guys are scarier after they’re actually calm and also you don’t see them coming. You concern the second they’re going to blow up. Gercourt could be very calm till he tries to strangle you on a marble hearth or rape you. I needed his eyes to spark that concern greater than his physicality. The bizarre factor is when it’s a must to go dwelling and remind your self that you simply’re individual.

Your character in “Emily in Paris,” Gabriel, is a bit too excellent. Don’t you assume?

Your phrases, not mine. I don’t know. There’s numerous issues he did which can be questionable, I feel, nevertheless it’s not for me to evaluate.

Speaking of Darren Star, did you could have “Sex and the City” in thoughts while you auditioned for “Emily in Paris”?

“Sex and the City” began my sexual training. I used to be so younger after I watched it and I used to be like, “Oh, wow, those are the things you can or cannot do as a man.”

How was it to work with two Hollywood legends, George Clooney and Julia Roberts, on “Ticket to Paradise”?

It was actually essentially the most superb expertise of my life as a result of it was the start. I feel I had completed only one season of “Emily” and one film with Isabelle Huppert and Jason Isaacs. I arrived on that set with these icons. George and Julia have been pivotal in my profession ever since as a result of they took me beneath their wing — protected me, guided me, supplied me with superb recommendation. I nonetheless see George. We nonetheless discuss on the telephone.

Because he lives in France, proper?

Yes, he lives in France now. I used to be fortunate sufficient to go to him in Provence. He’s only a good buddy. To have somebody that beneficiant, that established, that benevolent taking you beneath his wing is essentially the most superb godfather you could possibly have on this business.

Did he offer you any good profession recommendation?

He gave me a bunch, however he by no means provides it except you ask. The greatest recommendation he gave me wasn’t literal — it was by observing him. On “Ticket to Paradise,” I spotted his solely objective in a scene is to make his companion shine. Most actors are available in considering, “I need to take my space.” George’s consideration is at all times on, “What can I do to make the person in front of me shine?” By doing so, he shines naturally. You can have a very selfless efficiency, and that makes your efficiency even higher. That I bought from George.

And how was it to play Julia Roberts’ lover?

Julia — she smiles and rainbows and butterflies seem round you. She’s simply the kindest. I name her girl No. 1. There was Julia, after which they created the others. She’s an angel, and he or she has a humorousness that actually cracks me up. She’s the funniest.

How has it been to star reverse Lily Collins in “Emily in Paris”?

Lily — I don’t assume I’ve ever labored with somebody that skilled. She raises the bar to a degree I’ve by no means seen earlier than. She made me a greater actor by way of her presence on set, the way in which she learns strains, delivers strains, participates in all the pieces. She sees all the pieces. She has a radar. Even when she seems to be like she’s studying one thing, she at all times has one thing good to contribute that strikes the narrative ahead. I feel she’s a genius — however don’t inform her that, she received’t acknowledge it.

Are you going to audition for “The White Lotus”?

I feel your entire nation known as their agent to be on “The White Lotus.” We’ll see how issues unravel, however anyone can be fortunate to be on such an excellent present.

What’s your subsequent undertaking?

There’s a film [Gilles de Maistre’s “Melodie for a Bear”] I simply wrapped in August in Montreal, the place I play a bear wrangler. It’s a good looking story a couple of father and a daughter reconnecting. I needed to be there for 3 months and get used to bears. I needed to learn to play violin. It was a reasonably intense train, however I left with bear mates. I understand how to deal with them, feed them, sleep subsequent to them. I’m excited for this film to come back out. It’s a good looking one set within the Canadian forest — numerous bears, numerous me with ripped-off shirts due to the bear claws.

That bought you out of your consolation zone for positive!

Well, nature is my consolation zone, so it bought me again!