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Frank Leboeuf: No. I don't find myself especially funny.Following in the footsteps of Vinnie Jones and Eric Cantona, both footballers-come-thespians, must have been hard, considering neither have really taken off. Was it hard to be taken seriously?
In France, yes. They still think I'm a football player, like I'm still playing. But in the USA and England, I've been given a chance to show what I can do. Time is working for me and I just have to be patient before they decide to give me a chance.
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Certainly, being a French resistance fighter in Allies was very special. To be honest, I would have loved to have been in the film a bit longer to completely enjoy it. The nice answer is that all the different characters that I had to play were interesting and I enjoyed all of them.How, as a Frenchman, did you end up in a British movie?
Strange one. I was on holiday in the Grand Canyon with my wife Chrislaure and the director, Dominic Burns, called and said he wanted me in the film. My wife helped me record a test scene. And it worked. Must have been the scenery.If you could pick anyone in history to play you in a film—in Frank LeBoeuf: Ma Chambre, Mon Regles—who would it be?
I suspect some bald guy.Jason Statham? Bruce Willis? Yul Brynner?
Haha!Which footballer would you most like to play in a biography of their life?
In terms of pure ability and personal charisma, the only fit is George Best… Even if the hair issue is a bit of a problem.Who is the funniest person you know, Frank?
Didier Deschamps.Really?
He doesn't look funny, I know. But I swear he is.What sort of lessons did football teach you that you could take over to acting?
I guess it would be the discipline and the concentration. I always listen to the director and am ready to repeat and repeat the scenes if needed. And concentration seems to be easy to get for me because I had time to relax during a football game and be suddenly focused.Now we get to the dark heart of the interview. What's your biggest regret?
Nothing. I don't live with regrets. You just have to take full responsibility for your actions like a man.I captain a Saturday league football team—fancy a game next time you're in London?
Absolutely not. I don't play football anymore. There is a time for everything. And football is part of the past.Thanks for talking to me, Frank!
I hope you enjoyed it.Follow David Whelan on Twitter.