Check out our interview with talented French actor and music composer Stephen Manas who is best known for his recurring role as Richard Montlaur in the Apple TV+ comedy series Ted Lasso, starring Jason Sudeikis.
Follow Stephen @stephenmanas
Hi Stephen, please tell us a little about you?
A simple person, who loves to travel discover new things. In love with acting, cinema and everything close to arts.
My first love was music then I had the opportunity to get closer to acting, and I really embraced it 🙂
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Open Minded
Spiritual
Pragmatic
How did you get started into acting?
The first time, I was 16, in my small town in France they were looking for extra. They actually gave me a small role for a week, and this is when I discovered it, acted for the first time and knew I would love it forever.
How has this changed your life?
Made me a happier person, having more possibilities to learn new things, experience life in a general way. I feel very blessed and fortunate that is why I am extremely grateful for the seventh art.
What is the best and worst part of being an actor?
Same answer: inconsistency
How do you prepare for a role?
Depends of the role, depends of the team, depends of the project. Sometimes I learn all the script by heart, other dialogues included. Sometimes I just work to understand the global vision of the project and the scene, and I keep it raw on set. It really depends of the situation 🙂
Tell us about your work in popular Apple TV+ hit show “Ted Lasso?” And about your role as Richard Montlaur?
That role was really helpful, as a first time job, playing a french character in a Hollywood comedy series is exactly what I have manifested. It taught me so much and the writers and Jason were very open to let me “do my thing” when it was related to French culture or habits.
How was the casting for this role?
Extremely simple, like most of the castings I guess.
Online auditions, self tapes, call back, call back, confirmation and flying straight to London 🙂
What other projects you have been part of?
These last 3/4 years I was mainly on Ted Lasso. before I was part of some projects around Asia, music composing projects for documentaries and movies. I also took part in some French features for some roles 🙂
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
I guess any role is wonderful to play with the right team and the right project. Boundaries and limitations are not something I have the luxury to have yet haha So I embrace any projects approaching me, but in the end it is just about feeling and researches.
If you weren’t acting, what would you be up to right now?
God knows … probably still a waiter or in construction to still be able to attend castings.. 🙂
Which fictional character would be the most exciting to meet in real life?
Emmet: The Lego Movie (I love his mindset)
Can you name 3 actors/actresses you would love to work with?
Tom Cruise – Morgan Freeman – Jim Carrey (list goes on)
Catherine Deneuve – Emma Watson – Sharon Stone (list goes wayyyyy on)
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Producer / Director saying “good job”, and least but not last the Fan’s smile <3
What’s your advice for the newer actors?
There is no path guys… We all have our own journey, don’t try to emulate anybody, just do what is feeling right for you.
Work hard, have fun, do your best and bless the art.
What would say are the greatest lessons you learned so far in this business?
Previous answer, if it doesn’t work out yet, it is ok, it took me 10 years.. Breath, don’t over stress and do not take everything personal 🙂
How would your best friend describe you?
Haha I have no idea, ask them ;p
If you are a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
interesting question … Unexpected Life
I still ask myself many times, who am I, why that soul that conscience in that body, why this physic, gender, why this life, just why.. everything is unexpected. Life itself.
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
Just enjoy the trip 🙂 we all have to learn right? Making no mistakes wouldn’t be fun.
What is your favorite healthy food?
Japanese food (and hot sparkling sake … try !)
And your favorite cheat food?
Japanese food… haha
What is your own definition of happiness?
Being in the now. Traveling alone, meeting people along the way, time with yourself, loving your job, being able to make choices.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
woa .. way to many .. buddha ? I we speak the same language of course. Why ? … mmm enlightenment doesn’t sound too bad doesn’t it ? 😉
Best advice ever given?
Breathe, let it go
Do you support any charity?
Yes when I can, Animal charities, ones that support help with mental health, people on the street I give a lot directly as I walk a lot (it is a form of charity for me)
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
No idea we’ll see :)) I will do my best I promise!
Favorite song? Why?
That’s a wrap – Thomas Bergesen (modern composer)
There is everything, every emotion in that song (also Spiderman 1 by Danny Elfman)
What do you think of Social Media?
Great tool fun, but, not sure it is the best for the young kids … its not life, it is not life, people needs to understand this, it is a communication tool, not everything is smiling bright and wonderful like sometimes it appears on insta 🙂
If you are aware of this and you don’t waste 1 hour a day scrolling on it I am ok with it.
Where we can follow you?
Social media!! haha I have just one where I am quite active instagram @stephenmanas
Photos: Matias Indic @matiasindjic
Image Agent: @tristannoumea #tlnconsulting
