Clive Owen gives 'most actor-y answer' as Seth Meyers asks if he spoke French after learning it for show

Clive Owen stars in 'Monsieur Spade' with French-speaking actors, and half of his dialogue are in French
PUBLISHED JAN 20, 2024
Clive Owen discusses learning French for a show and admits it didn't improve much after filming (@LateNightSeth/Youtube)
Clive Owen discusses learning French for a show and admits it didn't improve much after filming (@LateNightSeth/Youtube)

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: In a recent conversation with Seth Meyers, actor Clive Owen discussed his experience filming 'Monsieur Spade' in the picturesque area in south of France.

The conversation shed light on Owen's approach to learning French for the role and the unexpected twists that came with it.



 

In light of the interview, the show's X channel shared, "When asked if he could speak French, Owen gave the most actor-y answer".

Owen's French adventure on the set of Monsieur Spade

Owen, known for his versatility as an actor, delved into the challenges he faced when asked about his French proficiency before filming.



 

"How's your French? Is it good?" was the initial inquiry, to which Owen replied confidently, "It will be." As he admitted later in the conversation, this response was a classic actor's answer, full of optimism and determination.

The conversation took an amusing turn when Owen revealed, "My mom's a French teacher, and I got nervous about saying 'Monsieur Spade'".

"I was asked at the beginning, 'How's your French? Is it good?' I said, 'It will be'," added Owen to which Meyers replied, "Oh, that's very nice. That's a real good actor answer".

However, Owen candidly shared, "I tried to learn it classically and realized I was spending so much time learning things that I wasn't going to need".

(@LateNightSeth/Youtube)
Clive Owen revealed learning French phonetically for the show.  (@LateNightSeth/Youtube)

Owen's method of learning French for the role took an unconventional route. Rather than focusing on traditional grammar and written exercises, he opted to "learn it phonetically".

"I tried to learn it classically and realized I was spending so much time learning things that I wasn't going to need," he explained to Seth Meyers.

Meyers, seemingly amused by Owen's unconventional learning method, commented, "Oh, that's fantastic."

Seth Meyers highlights the unpredictability and unique strategies actors employ

As the conversation continued, Seth couldn't resist asking whether Owen felt his French had improved after leaving the South of France. With a touch of humor, Owen responded with a straightforward "No."

This admission, accompanied by laughter, provided a glimpse into the reality of language immersion for actors.

The optimism expressed before the job began gave way to the honest acknowledgment that the language proficiency didn't significantly improve during the filming process.

(@LateNightSeth/Youtube)
Clive Owen takes on the iconic role of Sam Spade in the new series 'Monsieur Spade' (@LateNightSeth/Youtube)

Seth Meyers cleverly pointed out the irony in Owen's journey, noting how, before starting the project, Owen believed he would have a good grasp of French by the time filming concluded.

However, as Seth humorously observed, the real truth often comes out once the job is over.

Owen's straightforward response, "Didn't speak it, didn't get better. I don't have to do it again," captures the essence of the challenges actors face and the relief that comes with completing a role that requires linguistic adaptation.

'Monsieur Spade' debuted its first episode on Sunday, January 14. 

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