"Versailles" interview with Stuart Bowman

Stuart Bowman on portraying Bontemps, a powerful man who gets great personal satisfaction from serving his King in "Versailles", a series that's been a life changing event in all the Versailles Family's lives


Foto: Stuart Bowman, Versailles - Copyright: Tibo & Anouchka / Capa Drama / Canal+
Stuart Bowman, Versailles
© Tibo & Anouchka / Capa Drama / Canal+

November 6, 2016 by Nicole Oebel @philomina_
Here's a German translation of the interview.

Being part of the ambitious project that is "Versailles", a historical series with glamrock flair and remarkably modern themes, what has it been like for you so far building and experiencing everything from scratch?

Being in 'Versailles' has been a life changing event in all of the cast's lives, but the fact that the adventure has been my whole family's has made it particularly special for me. By the end of season three my biggest boy will have had almost three complete years at Ecole maternelle and will put his father utterly to shame with his French speaking! In that time, said father will have made three ten hour movies playing a multi-layered character in an international hit series, filming in some of the most exquisite Palaces of France (and therefore the world) with some of the most beautiful and talented young people in that world. It's been magnificent. I'm very very very happy to be here!

Bontemps, King Louis XIV's premier valet, is the steady rock among all the characters we meet in "Versailles" season 1. He's always at the king's side, day and night. He's in a powerful position but he never seeks power or influence for himself. What do you think makes a man like Bontemps tick? And how did you go about portraying him?

I don't believe in altruism; I believe we all make the decisions we make because we get some personal benefit from our decisions. Bontemps, in our story, gets great personal satisfaction from serving his King, whom he believes, in turn, is serving his country. I portray Bontemps, as I portray all the characters I play, by looking for something that resonates with my personal history; with Simon [Mirren] and David [Wolstencroft]'s script something rang deeply true.

Is it fair to say you must have been joined at the hip with George Blagden during filming? What has it been like for you two creating this unique dynamic between Bontemps and Louis in season 1 when everything was new?

George and I met for the first time in a meeting set up by the producers in which we were asked to read the 'chair with no arms' scene. I didn't know anything about George, he didn't know anything about me. We read the scene. We felt the scene. I repeat, we felt the scene. I was subsequently very sure that my job was safe and that the next six months were going to be fascinating. George was going to be brilliant.

My initial response to George never faltered - I hope I play opposite him many times in future.

In the beginning of ep. 1x04 Louis is bleeding from a cut on his forehead. The way Bontemps says "from a hunting accident" suggests it is anything but. Do you know if there was actually more to the story behind this wound?

Do you know what, Nicole, I'm pretty sure it was a hunting accident!

In some aspects Bontemps is like a supportive father figure for the young King Louis and it seems he has been for many years. What do you think about Bontemps with regards to Philippe? Wouldn't Bontemps have been a father figure to him, too? It seems though as if Bontemps doesn't care for him very much.

Nothing is black and white in this show. Nothing is black and white in the triumvirate of Louis, Bontemps, and Philippe. Yes, I think you're right, Bontemps has a deep love for Philippe, but there are neither enough historical hours in the day, nor enough minutes in the show to demonstrate that love, so what we're left with is something that doesn't accurately portray what their relationship probably was.

HOWEVER. I think saison deux goes some way to redressing that imbalance!

The Etiquette scene is one of the best scenes in the whole first season! MonChevy, looking like schoolboys, handing over their manifesto and Bontemps accepting it with humorous disbelief. Please walk us through filming this scene, was it as fun for you, Alex and Evan as it was for us watching it?

I love that you love this scene! I think it's delicious - it's three actors who understand how gags work without treading on the toes of truth. There's actually nothing to walk through - Bontemps disapproves, with the aid of comedy spectacles (great idea from Daniel Roby), Philippe and Chevalier need to persuade the headmaster that they're responsible enough to take something on, Bontemps allows it to happen and the historical consequences are monumental. And then Alex hoiks his trousers up! It's a full stop on a scene that tells huge stories of cameraderie, hierarchy, and love. I, as I do often with Alex, laugh out loud whenever I see his beautifully placed timing.

Honestly. It just happened! (Because David and Simon PLANNED it!!!!!)

Foto: Stuart Bowman, Versailles - Copyright: Tibo & Anouchka / Capa Drama / Canal+
Stuart Bowman, Versailles
© Tibo & Anouchka / Capa Drama / Canal+

Tygh Runyan said in our interview that he thinks Marshal and Bontemps share a common sense of duty and self sacrifice and Marshal trusts Bontemps. Do think this feeling is mutual?

According to the historical records that I've read, and that I believe to be accurate, Bontemps was most probably doing the job that the show ascribes to Fabian. SO Bontemps was most probably overseeing torture, limited freedom of movement, lack of privacy, and many other similar restrictions that enabled a dictator to remain in power. So, yep, I think Bontemps is up to his neck in deep moral doo doo!!

NEVERTHELESS!!!!...

The first season ended on a gut-wrenching cliffhanger. Can you tell us where season 2 picks up or maybe how big the time gap will be?

Nope! You really do have to wait and see. I pushed SO hard for a transformation from the hall of mirrors into the 'hallofmirrorsdeck' where tout est possible, but they are still sticklers for historical accuracy I'm afraid! Hey ho - maybe season 7??

The Versailles Family and the lovely interaction between cast and fans never ceases to amaze me. The joint efforts for Evan Williams's Nep-All-In project, the fabulous fanart, it all goes back to how much the series moves people. What does it add to the experience of being on a show with a passionate fandom for you?

I just finished performing a comedy show in an arena in Glasgow where 10000 people stood up at the end of a two hour show to thank us for our work. We clapped them, they clapped us. We'd shared a once in a lifetime experience that will never be repeated. It was the most joyful piece of human interaction I've ever had the privilege to be a part of.

The generosity of spirit, kindness, decency, and, above all, empathy, that the Versailles Family has shown for both the characters and actors of 'Versailles' has been as close as, I think, you could imagine getting to that feeling without being in the same room.

It adds a lot!

We fans thoroughly enjoyed how you took us with you on your trip with George, Alex and Evan to see the England vs. Wales football match back in the summer. Did you have any more adventures together, perhaps exploring Paris and the surrounding area?

Thank the imaginary Lord, NO!!!!

George singing, Alex losing, and Evan, was Just ENOUGH!!

I love these young things, but, yep, ENOUGH!!!!

Thank you for making time for us, Stuart, you're a true knight!

Thank you for the great questions, Nicki

Related: Exclusive Interviews with the "Versailles" stars


Note: © myFanbase 2016 - The interview is exclusive to myFanbase and may not be published on other websites or the like. You may share the first two questions (up to 180 words) if you link back to this site. Translations other than English and German may be posted with full credit including the link to this site.

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