EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

With

Moi je joue!,

Victoria Monfort turns life into art.

Conducted by Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

1. Victoria, how did the idea for Moi je joue! come about? Was it a long-standing desire or a recent spark inspired by your own experiences as an actress?

Well, first of all, thank you for having me. Actually, it came to me right after I gave birth to my first child. I wanted to get back on stage very soon after she was born.
And I actually auditioned for the role of Brigitte Bardot in the Netflix series. So yes, Moi je joue! was inspired by a real audition I took.
I didn’t get the part, but I thought, “Well, let’s just do something else instead.”
It was fun because so many actresses in Paris went for that audition.
And of course, only one got it.
So I thought, let’s make something fun out of this — about how, for a moment, every girl in Paris wanted to be Brigitte Bardot. And in the end, only one was chosen.
That’s when I thought: maybe we should create something playful and honest about that experience.

2. The play speaks of passion, vulnerability, and a deep need to exist in a challenging industry. What message do you hope to convey to audiences, whether they’re artists or not?

Well, first of all, as an artist, I think you just live for it — you live your passion, and you never give up.
Even if you get a “no” on a project, it doesn’t mean you’ll get lots of no’s.
So my message would be: listen to yourself. And please write — write your ideas, create anything, get inspired.
Watch films, read novels. And maybe try to build a group of artists around you, who can help shape the person you want to become as an artist.
That really worked for me. I always work with a bunch of friends — I need them to shine, and I think they also count on me to help them shine too.
So yes, never stop. Never stop creating, dreaming, hoping. And surround yourself with artist friends.

3. The show blends theater, dance, music, and stand-up… Why did you choose such a hybrid format? What does it allow you to express that words alone might not?

Because there are four of us on stage, and each of us is different.
I also wanted to highlight the many professions in our industry — you can be a dancer, a musician, a stand-up comedian… but in the end, you're still an artist.
There’s this common passion for success, no matter the path.
So I wanted to show that everyone can share their work in their own unique way.

Victoria Monfort is much more than an actress — she is a storyteller, a creator, and a true force of imagination. From comedy roles on screen to writing and producing her own projects, she constantly reinvents herself with sincerity and passion. With Moi je joue!, a hybrid show blending theater, music, dance, and stand-up, she transforms personal experiences into something universal, playful, and profoundly human. Now, as the play travels from Paris to the U.S., Victoria opens up about her journey, her inspirations, and her vision of art.

INTERVIEW

4. You’ve already written and produced your own short film, Dans les parages, which was very well received. How was writing Moi je joue! a different kind of experience for you?

It was very different. Writing a play is a different process — especially when you already have a theater willing to work with you.
This time, the writing process was short — just two months.
I already knew the theater wanted to collaborate again, since I had done a play with them before.
So I didn’t have to “sell” the project once it was written, which made it easier.
In the end, it was quicker, easier, and cheaper than making a short film.
But the passion was exactly the same.

5. You're known for comedic roles on film and television. Is it important for you to also show the more intimate, sometimes tougher side of the profession?

Absolutely. I really wanted to be sincere — sometimes even deep and honest.
Of course, there’s a lot of joy in this job, but also a lot of difficult times.
Just last week, I had three rejections. I was in the final selection for all of them — just me and one other actress — and I got three “no’s” in a row.
That was a tough week.
But next week is a new week.
I think it’s important to show the darker side of the job sometimes too.

6. You play friends who support each other on stage, and you’re real-life friends as well. How does that bond influence your performance? Has it changed the way you work together?

Absolutely. When you work with a friend, you can ask anything — there’s no judgment.
Money doesn’t become a real issue, because you’re all invested in the same project, giving 100% of yourself.
I love working with friends — you get to enter their intimacy, and you can ask a lot from them.
Not just as actors, but as artists, as collaborators, even as promoters of the project.
You can be completely yourself.
I only have positive memories of working with friends.
Maybe I’m lucky — but so far, I haven’t had any issues doing so.

Actress: Victoria Monfort
Photographer: India Lange
PR Agency : Agence French Lights

7. The play has been met with great enthusiasm — first in Paris, then on tour, and now an upcoming American tour. What does it mean to you to take this project so far?

It’s pure joy.
I’m very excited to bring Moi je joue! to the French community in California.
It’s an amazing opportunity to showcase the work we’ve been doing for the past two years.
And as a new LA resident — I moved there six months ago — it’s also a great way for me to share my work, not only with the French community, but more broadly.
It’s a lot of pressure, but also a lot of happiness.

8. There’s a powerful quote in the production notes: “The most personal is the most creative.” In what way has this play brought you closer to yourself as an artist?

That’s a very good question.
I find that quote completely true for me. I always put a lot of myself — my memories, my experiences, my friends’ stories — into my scripts, films, plays… everything.
I can only be 100% myself when I write about personal things, whether they’re mine or those of people close to me.
So yes, I really believe that “the most personal is the most creative.”
I actually read that quote after Bong Joon-ho won the Oscar for Parasite, and it deeply resonated with me.

9. After such a collective adventure, what do you take away as the most valuable part of the experience? And what would you like to explore next — in your writing or on stage?

The most valuable part is definitely working with my husband, my best friend — who’s also the godfather of my child — and Marion, who’s another dear friend of mine.
As I said earlier, working with friends brings me joy and motivation. I feel like I become the best version of myself in that environment.
That said, for my next project, I might want to create something a little more personal.
Maybe a play just for me. Or maybe just two women on stage — me and a friend — and we’ll write and perform it together.
But yes, I want to focus a bit more on myself as a writer.
I’m a giver — I tend to write a lot for others — but maybe it’s time to write a bit more for me.
That said, I still love group projects. But I think that’s my next step.