With Pierre Niney bringing Yves Saint Laurent back to life in a new biopic, it seems he really struck a chord with Laurent‘s long-term partner, Pierre Bergé.
“When I made my entrance following two hours in make-up, Pierre Bergé started to sob,” said Niney. “The guy who knew YSL better than anyone in the world had glimpsed something of his friend and lover. It’s the one thing that makes me think that we perhaps really managed to capture something.”
The film that moved Bergé to tears is out now in French cinemas, and shows Niney at his finest. It may come as a surprise that the actor didn’t know much about the late designer before beginning the role, but adapted to the late desginer’s unique personality excellently.
“YSL has such an unusual voice and elocution that I didn’t want to tackle it in the wrong way,” he told Metropolitan magazine. “I wanted to work on it as much as I could until I came up with something that at least I was happy with. The voice contained all his fragility; however, I also believe that he used his shyness as a weapon his entire life.”
