Since breaking out globally 5 years in the past as Gabriel — the hunky French chef in Netflix’s hit romantic comedy “Emily in Paris” — Lucas Bravo has labored laborious to defy typecasting, in search of edgier and darker roles.
To wit, he stars because the morally corrupt Comte de Gercourt in “The Seduction,” HBO Max’s restricted collection loosely based mostly on “Harmful Liaisons.” However Bravo tells Selection that he’s additionally discovered to embrace the escapism of “Emily in Paris,” including that he “wished to carry again a enjoyable Gabriel” within the upcoming fifth season, after a “gloomy” section that he famously mentioned was turning the character into guacamole.
The 37-year-old native of Good was working as a sous-chef when he auditioned for collection creator Darren Star. Bravo says he isn’t in a rush to make it in Hollywood, even when he has heat recollections of starring alongside George Clooney and Julia Roberts in “Ticket to Paradise.”
“She smiles, and rainbows and butterflies seem round you,” reminisces Bravo of Roberts. He additionally calls Lily Collins, the title star of “Emily in Paris” and his on-screen lover (generally!), a “genius.”
“The Seduction” premieres on HBO Max Nov. 14 and Season 5 of “Emily in Paris” drops on Netflix Dec. 18. Right here, Bravo talks about each — and extra.
Within the teaser for the brand new season of “Emily in Paris” you look utterly Californian, with large muscle tissue and highlights. What occurred to Gabriel?
I believe Gabriel goes again to what he was in Season 1. I believe all of us wished to carry again a enjoyable Gabriel. I hope we addressed the demand!
Emily In Paris. (L to R) William Abadie as Antoine Lambert, Lucas Bravo as Gabriel in Emily In Paris. Cr. Caroline Dubois/Netflix © 2025
CAROLINE DUBOIS/NETFLIX
In an interview, you mentioned that you just preferred Season 4 as a result of your character was extra proactive, however you began wanting very depressed to me.
My character was proactive within the first half, after which the second half was a bit gloomy. Once I did that [guacamole] interview, I used to be referring to my love for the character within the first half! I believe any actor is all the time completely happy to have enjoyable components to play.
You’ve turn into the epitome of the French lover. How has it been to turn into that man whereas additionally chasing several types of roles?
It’s 5 years of a profession that began on Season 1, and me making an attempt to know what it means, what being within the public eye means, what rising with the character means. No person likes labels, however I like the truth that individuals linked to this character a sure manner, and I utterly settle for it.
With “The Seduction,” “The Balconettes” and “Libre,” you’ve performed all of the darkish sides of masculinity. Are you making an attempt to make a degree about males?
I believe we’re advanced human beings. All of us have darkish sides, a bit frustration someplace, a wound from the previous. However we stay in a society the place all the pieces needs to be excellent and we’ve got much less and fewer room for error or second possibilities. It’s necessary to point out that there are a number of grey areas in human beings. That’s additionally the place the trade goes — extra nuance, richer storytelling.
“The Seduction” (Max)
caroline dubois
You’ve mentioned that on “Emily in Paris” there was no room for improvisation as a result of it’s a giant U.S. manufacturing. How was it to shoot “The Seduction,” which is an HBO present however is directed by a French filmmaker, Jessica Palud?
You possibly can improvise a bit on “Emily.” When you’ve got a dialog with Darren, he’s open to concepts and improvisation. This masterpiece “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” has been tailored so many instances. By selecting to make my character extra outstanding than he’s within the novel, I used to be given the chance to repaint part of one thing that’s existed for hundreds of years. Jessica, our director, utterly opened the door for me to go as loopy as potential. I wished him to be like a snake. Unhealthy guys are scarier once they’re actually calm and also you don’t see them coming. You concern the second they’re going to blow up. Gercourt may be very calm till he tries to strangle you on a marble hearth or rape you. I wished his eyes to spark that concern greater than his physicality. The bizarre factor is when it’s important to go house and remind your self that you just’re a great particular person.
“The Seduction” (Max)
caroline dubois
Your character in “Emily in Paris,” Gabriel, is a bit too excellent. Don’t you assume?
Your phrases, not mine. I don’t know. There’s a number of issues he did which might be questionable, I believe, nevertheless it’s not for me to evaluate.
Talking of Darren Star, did you may have “Intercourse and the Metropolis” in thoughts if you auditioned for “Emily in Paris”?
“Intercourse and the Metropolis” began my sexual training. I used to be so younger after I watched it and I used to be like, “Oh, wow, these are the issues you may or can’t do as a person.”
How was it to work with two Hollywood legends, George Clooney and Julia Roberts, on “Ticket to Paradise”?
It was truthfully probably the most wonderful expertise of my life as a result of it was the start. I believe I had finished only one season of “Emily” and one film with Isabelle Huppert and Jason Isaacs. I arrived on that set with these icons. George and Julia have been pivotal in my profession ever since as a result of they took me underneath their wing — protected me, guided me, supplied me with wonderful recommendation. I nonetheless see George. We nonetheless speak on the telephone.
As a result of he lives in France, proper?
Sure, he lives in France now. I used to be fortunate sufficient to go to him in Provence. He’s only a good pal. To have somebody that beneficiant, that established, that benevolent taking you underneath his wing is probably the most wonderful godfather you possibly can have on this trade.
Did he provide you with any good profession recommendation?
He gave me a bunch, however he by no means offers it until you ask. The most important recommendation he gave me wasn’t literal — it was by observing him. On “Ticket to Paradise,” I noticed his solely objective in a scene is to make his accomplice shine. Most actors are available pondering, “I have to take my area.” George’s consideration is all the time on, “What can I do to make the particular person in entrance of me shine?” By doing so, he shines naturally. You possibly can have a totally selfless efficiency, and that makes your efficiency even higher. That I bought from George.
And the way was it to play Julia Roberts’ lover?
Julia — she smiles and rainbows and butterflies seem round you. She’s simply the kindest. I name her girl No. 1. There was Julia, after which they created the others. She’s an angel, and she or he has a humorousness that basically cracks me up. She’s the funniest.
How has it been to star reverse Lily Collins in “Emily in Paris”?
Lily — I don’t assume I’ve ever labored with somebody that skilled. She raises the bar to a stage I’ve by no means seen earlier than. She made me a greater actor when it comes to her presence on set, the way in which she learns traces, delivers traces, participates in all the pieces. She sees all the pieces. She has a radar. Even when she appears to be like like she’s studying one thing, she all the time has one thing good to contribute that strikes the narrative ahead. I believe she’s a genius — however don’t inform her that, she gained’t acknowledge it.
Are you going to audition for “The White Lotus”?
I believe the complete nation referred to as their agent to be on “The White Lotus.” We’ll see how issues unravel, however anyone could be fortunate to be on such a superb present.
What’s your subsequent undertaking?
There’s a film [Gilles de Maistre’s “Melodie for a Bear”] I simply wrapped in August in Montreal, the place I play a bear wrangler. It’s an attractive story a couple of father and a daughter reconnecting. I needed to be there for 3 months and get used to bears. I needed to learn to play violin. It was a reasonably intense train, however I left with bear mates. I understand how to deal with them, the way to feed them, the way to sleep subsequent to them. I’m excited for this film to return out. It’s an attractive one set within the Canadian forest — a number of bears, a number of me with ripped-off shirts due to the bear claws.
That bought you out of your consolation zone for certain!
Effectively, nature is my consolation zone, so it bought me again!
