But it is her role as Sylvie Grateau, boss of a luxury marketing agency who reluctantly takes on the young naïve American, Emily, that has turned Leroy-Beaulieu into a global star.
We spoke to the lady of the moment about her thoughts on the show … and then some.
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu relishes her caustic part on Emily in Paris
“There is a type of American, like Emily, who wants to conquer the world and thinks they know how to do everything better than the rest, but then comes up against someone like me who says: ‘I am Asterix and I will not let you pass!’” said Leroy-Beaulieu with a grin, invoking the beloved French comic-book star who fights the Roman Empire.
Leroy-Beaulieu’s career started strong in the 1980s, with an award-nominated turn in Trois Hommes et un Couffin, which was remade by Hollywood as Three Men and a Baby.
But she never expected to become the embodiment of Parisian style for foreign audiences, having struggled to fit into the city after arriving from Italy as a child.
Sylvie Grateau: a joyous collection of clichés
Yet Leroy-Beaulieu says the show challenges stereotypes while having fun with them.
“These characters show the importance of breaking certain rules of behaviour, that people have many facets, and you can’t judge them on face value,” she said.
There were moments in season two when Grateau’s tough facade was broken, such as when she was mistaken for the mother of her young lover in a restaurant.
“In season three, we will see more of her vulnerability,” said Leroy-Beaulieu.
Older women’s sex lives has been a hot topic in 2022
Leroy-Beaulieu is cautious about the idea that French women are more liberated.
“Compared to American women, who tend to be prisoners of certain codes, we have this reputation [for freedom] … but it is not necessarily true,” she said.
She’s an inspiration for many
Still, despite the many lighthearted clichés in the series, her character has been inspirational for many. “Even if she is b****y, she can handle any situation,” said Yvonne Hazelton, an American writer living in Paris.
She can also relate to the character’s liberated love life. “I got a divorce in my early 50s and for someone of my generation, when you get a divorce, the level of freedom is amazing,” said Hazelton.
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