ON AN UNUSUALLY RAINY MORNING IN LOS ANGELES, RISING ACTING TALENT IVAN DU PONTAVICE, IS BRINGING BRIGHTNESS TO THE DAY, FRESH FACED, UPBEAT (DESPITE THE LACK OF SOLEIL IN THE CITY), AND READY TO ZOOM. HAILING FROM PARIS, WITH BRITISH AND AMERICAN ROOTS, PONTAVICE HAS APPEARED IN THE FILMS RUPTURE, CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT, ON THE PULSE, AND BET ON DWIGHT! AS WELL AS THE SERIES THE BASTARD SON & THE DEVIL HIMSELF. HE’S ALSO A TRAINED CLASSICAL PIANIST WITH A PASSION FOR SHAKESPEARE AND THEATRE, HAVING STUDIED AT THE LONDON ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND DRAMATIC ARTS – BUT NOW HE’S TREADING THE BOARDS AS A COCKY MALE DANCER, WITH A THIRST FOR SUCCESS, IN THE NEW PRIME VIDEO SERIES, ÉTOILE, WHICH DIVES DEEP INTO THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL BALLET.

LIKE AN INTENSE AND UNCOMFORTABLE-TO-WATCH A PAS DE DEUX — A DANCE FOR TWO – PONTAVICE’S PARIS-BASED CHARACTER GABIN ROUX BECOMES ENTWINED IN AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED AND ARTISTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH TOBIAS, A GIFTED BUT ANTISOCIAL CHOREOGRAPHER FROM NEW YORK'S METROPOLITAN BALLET, WHO COMES TO THE CITY OF LOVE FOR A SEASON, AND A SLOW-BURN ROMANCE BETWEEN THE TWO ENSUES.

HERE THE ACTOR TALKS ABOUT POSITIVE ATTITUDE, JAZZ PASSIONS AND WHY RETHINKING MASCULINITY AND COLLAPSING GENDER BARRIERS IN THE WORLD OF DANCE AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL IS SO IMPORTANT.

Left Tank top and jacket **Yohji Yamamoto**, pants and shoes **Loewe**
Right Jacket **Vivienne Westwood**., earring Ivan’s own

So, let’s talk about your first major TV show, Etoile! You play headstrong dancer Gabin Roux. I imagine your background in music, the arts and movement helped with immersing yourself into the world of ballet – but I read that you also spent a year taking classes to prepare and had dance doubles too, was training hard?

Thank God we had dance doubles!! We had a year of Gyrotonics, it’s Pilates but with machines, and it’s an interesting practice helping to make you more flexible and have more depth and ease with the movement of the spine. It supports the dancer’s body to inhabit and occupy the space in a more fluid way, and without it I wouldn’t have been able to have the posture, believability, physicality and interaction with other characters.

I knew I wasn’t going to be dancing in all the scenes you see, as the level of dancing in the show you could only reach if you’ve been doing it your whole life, so we had body doubles who were elite professionals. For me, it was more about working on posture and attitude and how I move around with other characters in scenes, and make people believe I’m a dancer!

Did you find any parallels between yourself and Gabin, in your own personal and creative journey, and did you put your own spin on the character?

I realised later during the process where Gabin sits in me, as 8 years ago at drama school in London, I was an outsider like him, not because of my social background, but because being French and studying in the UK, there was an instant language barrier.

I was so tense and suffered a lot, as all I wanted to do was prove myself, but I was trying a little too hard, and that made me hot headed and a little arrogant and I became hard to work with as I was so self-driven and self-obsessed. I realised I had to grow out of it to become a professional actor, and adopt the right attitude, but if I hadn’t of gone through all of that, I wouldn’t be able to achieve the things that I have – and that energy was fuelled into something positive. So, I relate to Gabin in how he’s going through things the wrong way but he has a good heart and deep down he knows he needs that energy to propel him to where he wants to go. He just needs to channel that into something inspirational rather than a place of jealousy or competition, which allows him to mature, listen and interact positively and collectively with amazing people and teachers.

Left Jacket and pants **Prada**, earring Ivan’s own, rings **Bulgari** and stylist’s own
Right Top **Courrèges**, earring Ivan’s own

Did you look to any iconic ballet dancers for inspiration for the role?

My biggest was Sergei Polunin, as I watched the documentary about his life, and it was interesting to see he was also an outsider and came from a troubled background and often holds problematic political opinions, but that’s all reflected in the way he danced. He’s someone who approaches movement and dance with this fire and genius within but also despair and sadness.

Aside from the on-location scenes, most of it was shot in dedicated sets built in NYC and Paris, right? Did that add an extra layer of authenticity for you?

I only filmed in Paris and the amazing thing that’s not really been talked about online, is that we didn’t really shoot at the Palais Garnier; I mean Charlotte did for a few scenes, but most of it including the dance rehearsals, was all filmed within a built set, Hollywood style! They made an exact replica of the Palais Garnier, and I couldn’t believe how real it looked, and that authenticity undoubtedly played a huge part in being able to tap into this character and exist within such a historic and grand place as that.

What about tapping into the signature Palladino dialogue style, which moves at the speed of light! Was that challenging trying to find that energy and that specific rhythm, as the stories move so fast?

Yes, and there’s a beautiful parallel learning ballet from scratch and then having to learn the music of the words, but they were very connected. Amy [Palladino] says she always films things in a balletic way and sees movement and patterns of movement of actors the way we look at a ballet. I also have a musical background having training as a classical pianist for 15 years before wanting to act, so the music of the words wasn’t an issue; the challenging thing for me was not losing touch with who the character is and his essence.

Through acting and dancing, speaking French and then English, there were all these different layers and aspects of him, so I just had to try not to lose my head and stay focused.

Left Tank top and jacket **Yohji Yamamoto**, pants and shoes **Loewe**, rings **Bulgari**
Right Jacket, shirt, sunglasses and tie **Celine Homme**, pants **Isabel Marant**, earring Ivan’s own

The one part of the show perhaps not moving so fast, is the relationship between you and Tobias, which intensifies as the first season unfolds! How did you build the chemistry between yourself and Gideon Glick, did you hang out before you started shooting?

Gideon came to Paris, and we spent time together and I also went to New York for the table reads, and we spent time with his family and his dog. I was nervous joining the show, and navigating the realities of being on set, and he was constantly checking in on me and having that friendship helped to develop that chemistry on set, as we were working from a place where we wanted each other to feel secure. We texted a lot after shooting scenes, and it always felt like two friends discussing things, rather than just two actors trying to be good. He played a big part in making me feel at ease and was like a big brother which is what Gabin also needed, and that’s the same with the romance in the show, it’s about respect and admiration.

Are you curious to see if the duo will be a couple in a potential second season, would you like to take it up in the story from where we left off or for it to jump ahead in time?

It will be interesting to see how they both cope with being in a relationship! We don’t really know what Gabin thinks a relationship should be, and Tobias had that thing with his ex where they didn’t speak for a year and then he broke up with him, so I’m a little worried for Gabin! [laughs] He’s also a control freak and would be texting every second, so there’s a lot of comedy potential in their relationship as they are polar opposites, but they also complement each other. It would also be funny to see Gabin finally achieve his dream to go to New York and how he's then the fish out of water and how Tobias would help him, so that opposite thing would be funny.

Left Shirt, pants and sunglasses **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**, rings **Bulgari** and stylist’s own
Right Jacket, pants and glasses **Balenciaga**, shoes **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**, rings Ivan’s own

Do you think this show will help Ballet do better with diversity, representing a new generation of dancers who are collapsing the boundaries between queerness and maleness, challenging the culture’s preconceived ideas of masculinity?

I love all that you just said! I grew up at a time in drama school, when we were discussing toxic masculinity a lot and as a privileged white guy, I felt like I had a lot of work to do on what it means to be a man and how I could deconstruct my own toxic masculinity.

Even as a writer and creator myself, I wonder what would feel legit or comfortable in acting as a man or men on screen, and it’s being challenged in this show. You see all those semi-naked, sensual, sweaty male bodies, and they’re all working on themselves to become more toned and athletic, but it’s to serve an art form.

Even with Gabin and Tobias’ relationship, it develops from a place of passion, respect and dedication and they both understand what they’ve been through to get to where they are, and it’s how they convey that. It’s not just about the romance, it’s about two men working on themselves as men and their beautiful qualities and supporting each other, so it makes the masculinity sweeter and lighter. Also, it’s such a big deal to have the kiss scene between them on such an epic platform in a mainstream show, and I feel moved to be able to give sense to my work and to see how people have reacted to it. Finally having representation like this for gay men within the arts, that’s already a victory for me to take away from this experience.

It’s also set a positive example to younger men who are perhaps thinking of a career in the arts.

Yes, because I remember playing tennis when I was younger, and I was bullied because I wasn’t good enough, and people used to mock that I should be a ballerina instead. There’s a weird understanding among men that if you’re not performing well in sport, then you should go and be a ballet dancer. But when I met the male ballet dancers in this show for the first time, they had the most beautiful, masculine, virile bodies I’ve ever seen in my life and work so hard to achieve that. So, it’s important we show and teach younger boys that it’s ok to do ballet or choose dance as a career, and it's not emasculating.

Left Jacket, shirt, tie, sunglasses and shoes **Celine Homme**, pants **Isabel Marant**, earring Ivan’s own
Right Coat and top **MM6**, shirt **Paul Smith**, pants **Giorgio Armani**, rings **Bulgari**

Although you didn’t come to the show as a trained dancer, you are a trained singer and musician, so did you grow up in an artistic family, and what kind of art forms were you exposed to that ignited the passion for performance?

My mum was a screenwriter, and my dad is a producer of films and animation, so I grew up watching lots of films and listening to all kinds of music. I started playing piano when I was younger and really enjoyed it and did 15 years at a prestigious conservatoire in Paris. I chose not to go on to become a professional pianist, as I wanted to pursue acting, but I wanted to keep on practicing and learning for myself, particularly jazz, and start from scratch with that, as it’s a different discipline and rhythm.

I became obsessed with all the classics like Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, and it all helped me through a difficult time.

It’s funny you mention Chet, as I was thinking earlier you remind me of a young Chet Baker, so maybe the next project to combine your love of music, jazz and acting would be playing him in a movie biopic.

There you go, you’ve completely figured me out! My absolute dream would be Damien Chazelle writing a biopic of Chet and getting me to play him, and I could learn to play the trumpet! Once you’ve learned to play an instrument, it’s not too difficult to take up another. So yes, that’s my whole personality to play someone real, with a physical or musical challenge, and a period piece, like Chet was mostly 1960s, combining my entire life into one role, it’s dreamlike for me.

Well, when you get the call and are cast, don’t forget me, I’m quite happy to be an extra in the background at the jazz bar, sipping a Martini.

I’ll credit you if that ever happens! I’ll say in our next interview that it all started with you, and you can be my emotional support on set too!

Left Jacket and pants **Prada**, earring Ivan’s own
Right Tank top **Yohji Yamamoto**, suit **Ambush**, glasses **Ray-Ban Clubmaster**, shoes **J.M. Weston x Sacai**, rings **Bulgari**

It’s a deal. So, looking ahead, do you want to focus on acting and try out new genres, what appeals to you, any specific directors you dream of working with?

Right now, I’m thinking of what projects I could bring something to. For me, as a musician and someone who has confidence in movement and studied at LAMDA in London and now some ballet training to, I think there’s ways to combine it all. I have always wanted to do theatre in London and work with someone like Robert Icke or Simon Stone or with the National Theatre or the RSC. I used to go to the theatre every week when I was at drama school and the stage is such a good way to learn your craft and improve.

I would love to work with directors like Damien Chazelle as I mentioned before, who’s bilingual and loves music and jazz as much as I do, and Xavier Dolan, as some of his films have affected me the most growing up, there is such a sensitivity to his work. I have lots of dreams!

Are you working on any new music too, as I know you released an EP a few years ago, so can we expect something?

Well, I play Jazz and often perform classic jazz standards at a bar in Paris which belongs to the fiancé of Lou de Laâge, who plays Cheyenne in Étoile. If this show works out and gives me more access to music projects, I would absolutely love to explore that.

Ok, let’s put you on the spot, choose one jazz song that encapsulates where you are in your life right now?

That’s hard, hmm…. [long pause of silence] … I’m thinking, Dream a little Dream of Me by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, which I listen to it a lot. I love to hear a man and a woman in a jazz song together and I guess that song is me right now, dreaming a little dream of me!