Why Swann Arlaud was “sick for 3 months on the set” of Dans L’Ombre

The committed actor, who plays a Right-wing advisor, a cog in the party, tells us that he had a lot of difficulty playing this very political character, in the series co-signed by Edouard Philippe.

In the Shadow got off to a mixed start last night on France 2 (2.07 million viewers on average and 11.1% audience share). However, the co-signed series Édouard Philippe is an astonishing television object, which autopsies politics as rarely, deciphering the internal struggles of a Right-wing party during a presidential campaign.

A Black Baron Right? “I don't know… I haven't seen Baron Noir because I don't watch any series at all… So, I don't have the reference“replies sincerely Swann Arlaudmet at the Séries Mania festival. The actor with three Caesars (for Little Farmer, Thanks to God And Anatomy of a fall) here plays César Casalonga, political advisor to candidate Paul Francoeur (Melvil Poupaud). A very political role, with which he clearly sought to distance himself:

“I was not immersed with political advisors. I did not particularly interact with Edouard Philippe. I learned my text, and I said it! I saw in this role a great opportunity to get away from hypersensitive characters, always emotional, for whom people usually come looking for me.”

And for good reason, César Casalonga is the manipulator In the Shadow. It is he who leads the campaign, advises, directs… A true Right-wing apparatchik, who has caused a serious conscience problem for Swann Arlaud :

“I had a lot of trouble personally. I was sick for three months on this shoot.” the French actor admits to us. “I was in total inner conflict.” Because Swann Arlaud is a committed actor, and not really on the Right. Signatory of numerous forums, he also took a position against the pension reform in 2023, asking the President of the Republic to withdraw the bill. So how to play at the same time in the series of your former Prime Minister?

“We are actors and we don't only play characters whose opinions we share, otherwise we wouldn't play much“, temper Swann Arlaud. “But yes, it was complicated for me. Until the end! Because I had a hard time liking my character, and I still do. So it's not easy to play, because we like to be able to defend our characters.”

So how do we sort things out? How can you separate your acting profession from your own political opinions? The question inevitably arises with a series as political as In the Shadow. But the co-writer Gilles BoyerMEP and former advisor toEdouard Phillippe in Matignon, calmly responds to this contradiction:

“We never ask these questions of an actor who plays a serial killer! As if it were much more serious to play a Right-wing apparatchik…”

Dans L'Ombre, mini-series in 6 episodes to watch on France 2 and already available in full on France.tv.