Yvette Beauvais Interview by Lindsay Davis in Vogue
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On Sunday afternoon I had the pleasure of interviewing Yvette Beauvais in my Plaza Hotel suite for an article in the August issue of InStyle magazine. InStyle editor, Nicole Andersen, asked me to conduct the interview since I knew Yvette.
I set out a pot of cinnamon tea and some cream filled coffee cake and when she arrived we settled down on the sofa to get started. I advised her that I would be recording the interview to make sure I had everything correct in the magazine. She'll also have the opportunity to read it and comment before I turn it in to Nicole.
I first asked Yvette, "Is Yvette Beauvais actually your real name.... or a stage name?"
Her clever response made me laugh, "No, it's actually my real name. Unless my parents have been lying to me for a really long time."
I confirmed that she was born in France on January 16th, 1985. That makes her twenty three years old at present. I asked her about her education, in essence what brought here this far this fast.
"After, ah...I think Americans call it high school here? After that, I went into Theatre Studies at the Sorbonne but didn't like it very much...so I auditioned and attended a theatre academy called Guildhall in London.
I asked her what actually brought her to America, and she blushed before answering, "It was very..ah...unplanned. I was in a cafe in Montmarte one day and in walked this very, very handsome pilot who eventually, along with his employer and his employer's girlfriend, convinced me to come back to New York with them....and that pilot is now my boyfriend.
I simply grinned as I responded since I've met him, "Oh yeah..... Jason Todd Brody.... the cute guy you love referring to as Pilot Boy"
I mentioned that my friend and playwright, Rachel Tatellio, gave her a nice start here in New York City by casting Yvette in Rachel's Creative Arts Theatre plays. I'd seen all the plays and felt that Yvette had displayed some real talent.
She smiled, "Merci, Lindsay....yes, Rachel was kind enough to help me out, and I will always be grateful for her."
"Which leads me to a touchy question..... I saw you as Miranda and as Charlotte in her plays. There are some situations where they wind up in bed with different guys in the actual shows where there is some nudity. I noticed that Rachel lets you keep your more private parts covered with the sheets."
She blushed as she responded, "Ah, yes..... I have a no nudity clause in my contract as I'm kind of.....well....I'm shy when it comes to certain things in acting.
I was right back on that subject with, "I understand. Then it had to really upset you when so many people saw the nipple slip on YouTube. What happened there?"
Yvette looked down, turning red in embarrassment and shifted uncomfortably, "To be honest...I...I don't really know who put that photo up...I'm incredibly embarrassed by it."
"I can imagine. But, you do know that it might have resulted in the big break that you're getting now, You could have languished in obscurity forever here in the Big Apple, as many do. It rose such an uproar that for the three days it was up there people saw you in that intimate state. Personally, I thought it looked fantastic, very loving and touching. I know that's why Nicole went looking for you. And Bobby made sure Gucci saw your work with their dresses. Bobby can be a,well aggressive guy, but he did turn that into a career for you. Comments?"
She paused a bit pondering her answer, "He did turn it into a career for me, this is true. To be honest, I almost thought Bobby was the one to put it online..I guess my only comment is that this is all a little strange to me. This happened very quickly and Bobby, like Rachel, is someone I have to thank for helping me out. I never thought I could ever be a model.
I just smiled, "Bobby was the person that first asked me to pose for him. Now I do lingerie modeling for him quite often and I'm not a bit shy about it. He airbrushes out the little goofs that can happen."
"He's very considerate. Not to mention very, very talented," she said with a knowing smile.
I only hesitated for a second before unloading a bomb, "Yes, very. My next question, since what you prefer is an acting career, these days nudity is pretty common place. Some day you will be pressed if you get a role in the movies. One good sex scene can sell a movie, we all know that. What are your plans there? Just say no, accept the scenes as long as they are sensual but nothing actually shows, or give your director that one little nipple view he'll request?"
She answered quickly, "I think it would depend what the scene was exactly and for what kind of project it was for. There are some excellent contemporary dramas that require female nudity, but that is not to say that, you know, I want to be auditioning for film roles like "Topless Dancer #3" or "Drunk Sorority Girl".
"Good answer," I said with a smile. "Sarah Jessica Parker who plays Carrie in SATC is a friend of mine.Her column as Carrie Bradshaw is right next to mine in the Times. She has it in her contract that she'll do naked sex scenes, but no naked breasts. If you've seen Swingtown, which I love by the way, nothing really shows there but the sensual scenes are breathtaking. If I were in your shoes I'd request that in your movies or plays."
Yvette laughed, "When it comes to those kinds of scenes, I'd have to think about it, not to mention talk it over with my boyfriend."
"I've seen you with Jason. Super nice guy, and you're really lucky. He's trying hard to protect you, looking out for your best interests."
That brought a bubbling smile fro her as she answered, "I am really lucky, really, really lucky. He's so wonderful. I love my Pilot Boy with all my heart" She paused and continued, "And he's going to totally kill me now that his nickname will be in print for everyone to see."
"If you ask me to leave that out I will. Ask him what he thinks. It sort of adds sensitivity though between you. I like it, and I've already used it in my gossip column so, your call?"
"I'll ask him...but I think you should leave it in."
I paused to sip my tea as she did too, then proceeded, "Okay, another tough question. This Vicki Jenkins situation, which apparently accidentally got you your big break. Nicole says Vicki now wants you to really model her Elite Designs and Nicole plans to use a few selected photos in this article. Are you planning to say yes or no? I think you might choose to use a different male in those scenes though if you accept that job."
She never hesitated, "Well, I'm kind of hoping there won't be any male in those scenes. Um, I still need to discuss it with Jason, but I'm leaning towards doing it as Nicole has stated she wants to use them and Vicki Jenkins certainly is talented."
"I think you should," I responded, "It will help by getting you even more exposure, just be careful with Bobby. Rach said she warned you to watch his pants and ask for a break if he starts getting "yancy". I've slept with Bobby several times, but on my terms."
She blushed and laughed, "Oh well, thank you for telling me, but I don't think I have to worry about Bobby."
Miss Gullible was speaking there, the same woman that thought Richard Sawyer was only interested in her career for months. I just smiled, "Good, Bobby is delightful in bed, by the way, but he's like me, always tasting the pack.
More deep blushes from Yvette, "Oh, well, he's certainly, ahhhh, I think the word is. "accommodating?"
I smiled at her choice of words and pressed on. "Now, your situation with your agent, Richard Sawyer. I understand he has you under contract.
"Yes, for the remainder of the year," and I could see her mind working.
"What are your real goals in life, Yvette?"
She gave me a big grin here, "Well, to be honest? I never really wanted to be famous. I think, I think fame would be wasted on me.I always just wanted to be a happy, working actor. And being with Jason, I am already happy. So look, I am halfway there."
"Good answer, I like that, but I fear you're about to get more national exposure than you hoped for. Just try and maintain your real life goals and keep us media people at bay."
She laughed, "Thank you for being my friend, Lindsay and I will always keep my priorities in check. If I ever returned home to Paris with an ego, I have four older brothers who would deflate it quickly.
That wrapped up the interview so I turned off the recorder and gave her a tour of my place. I think she was surprised at the nude painting of me over my bed. I explained that was a gift for MY boyfriend, Diego Farina. She just sort of nodded, which left me wondering if she might someday give her Pilot Boy a painting like that.
