"I rely a lot on the costume": after having played Henri IV, Varois Jonathan Cardonnel imposes himself in the series Nouveau jour on M6

After having worn the costume of Henry IV in a great historical fresco for the small screen, the Var actor Jonathan Cardonnel plunges into a completely different universe.

In the series Nouveau jour , launched at the beginning of July on M6, he plays Jean, a macho and loudmouth firefighter, far from the nobility of soul of the "good King Henri" that we could see in Notre Histoire de France , broadcast on France 2 at the end of 2024.

Jean is a powerful, sometimes disturbing role, which he masters episode after episode. The path to this character was not a straight line. "I auditioned in November for another role, but I was finally offered the role of Jean," says the 36-year-old actor, originally from Saint-Maximin and now living in Barjols. Accepted in December, the actor began filming in mid-April in the specially built studios in Montpellier. "There are about thirty of us characters and we are gradually discovering what the writers have in store for us."

In Nouveau jour , a family thriller series that mixes inheritance secrets, human intrigue, and humor, Jonathan plays a character full of contrasts. "Jean is the loudmouth of the group. A guy who says out loud what many people think quietly, even if it hurts. He's misogynistic, not very tolerant... But he has a tough shell. My challenge is not to judge him so I can play him accurately."

Far from him the desire to caricature: "I rely a lot on the costume. In the firefighter's outfit, in the truck, I feel directly in the character's skin." One scene particularly struck him: when he forbids an amputee bather, played by an actress who is herself an amputee, from getting into the water. "It was difficult to play, you have to find the right distance. I can't help but apologize at the end of the scene."

Objective: to last, without betraying oneself

After Henry IV and John, the actor will also be appearing in the second season of Tom and Lola , soon to be broadcast on France 3. And he also dreams of other eras, of vintage outfits like Peaky Blinders , of the 1920s that he finds "aesthetically fabulous" . But for now, it's Nouveau jour that punctuates his daily life. "It's a bit like our permanent contract, this kind of role. In this uncertain profession, it brings a form of stability."

While he keeps his feet on the ground, he doesn't hide his pleasure. "This is the first time I've played a character whose experiences I don't know in advance. I'm discovering the scenarios over time and I can refine my performance by watching them broadcast on TV. It's very educational."

A way to grow even further, in a profession where empathy and adaptability are king.