Elodie Bouchez : César winner and French IT-Girl, photographed by Gyslain Yarhi

Most of us will recognise her face from the TV. The petite French Elodie Bouchez chased baddies alongside Jennifer Garner in the Alias agent series and starred in the cast of The L-World. However, writing her off to TV would be far too easy, after all, she has already got two Césars, France’s highest award for acting, under her belt. And her long-term partner is Daft-Punk half Thomas Bangalter. We couldn’t wait to go and meet her in Paris. A very young woman arrives at the shoot with hardly any make-up on. We witness a transformation taking place
on set. Elodie likes fashion, we knew that before. We now also know that she is just as confident off camera as on.

You are jetting off to Mauritius tomorrow? Work or leisure?
Leisure, I am going on holiday with a part of my family.

Odd, a part of your family? Does one say so? I continue with my questions.
You are on the road a lot. How often are you actually still in Paris, when you’re not in LA?
Why no, I am always in Paris, I don’t live far from here, in the Marais.

Things are going to get tricky. According to my research she lives in L.A., the questions that I have prepared don’t make any sense anymore. Now I need the inspiration is demanded as required in the editorial.
What speaks for Paris?
Nothing really, as soon as I get a chance to leave this town, I will be gone. The people here are so unfriendly, most of the time the weather is bad and I like to travel.

Not so easy. Next attempt. We know that she was in the first row at the Chanel show, we have the photos to prove it, in fact, she is a welcome guest anywhere. In France she is seen as branché, meaning trendy, hip, in other words one of the Seine’s It girls.
Doesn‘t the bi-annual Fashion Week count as a Paris pro?
Of course, there really are a lot of great shows in Paris. Fashion Week is a perfect reason to come to Paris and a lot of other events are also worth the journey.

You are considered a style icon in France. What is your style?
There isn’t actually anything special I can say to that. In fact, I just wear anything, from H&M to Chanel. I love vintage fashion and really like to go to flea markets. I have so much fun combining styles and designers. (The complete interview can be found in the new issue of BOOKLET).