[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for Étoile.]

Summary

In the Prime Video series ‘Étoile,’ Raphaël’s is the right-hand man to the director of Le Ballet National in Paris.

Raphaël’s commitment and devotion to Geneviève is clear when he steps in for her anytime she’s unavailable.

The series from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino showcases the importance of support for art forms like ballet.

From Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, the Amazon MGM Studios series Étoile is set in the world of professional ballet and follows the talented and temperamental dancers and artistic staff of two companies. At Le Ballet National in Paris, where Geneviève Lavigne (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is the director and Raphaël Marchand (Yanic Truesdale) is her right-hand man. Anytime Geneviève is unavailable, it’s Raphaël who channels her with sarcastic wit and grace.
During this one-on-one interview, Truesdale discussed the email he got from the Palladinos that led to this role, how Raphaël would get along with his Gilmore Girls character Michel, Raphaël’s devotion to Geneviève, the chair bit in episode five, how making Étoile felt different from Gilmore Girls, the privilege of watching the dance performances, and that he feels like there’s still a lot left to be discovered with this series.

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Collider: When this came your way, how did you find out about it? Do you just get a phone call from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, or do they present it in a more formal way?
YANIC TRUESDALE: You get an email and you get really excited because they say they’re thinking of you and they’re checking in. So then, you hope, but you don’t know. You’re like, “Thinking of you? What does that mean? Am I coming in for a scene? Am I coming in for a day?” I had no idea. But I was like, “Oh, this would be so nice,” just the idea of reuniting with them and reconnecting with people that I love and have known for 25 years and that have changed the course of my career. If I die tomorrow, I will be forever known as Yanic Truesdale from Gilmore Girls, who played Michel. I’m Michel until I die. That does not happen so frequently in a career, so it’s a blessing and I feel very grateful. The chance to work with them again was just really exciting.
’Étoile’s Yanic Truesdale on the Bond Between Raphaël and Geneviève

“It was a different relationship than Lorelai.”

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

Where these dancers are dedicated and devoted to ballet, Raphaël seems dedicated and devoted to Geneviève. Where does that come from?
TRUESDALE: It was very interesting because it’s a different relationship than Lorelai, to connect with the world that I was part of before. He admires her, and he’s 100% behind her and there to facilitate all of her needs and her vision. I love that. It’s a different energy. It’s a different vibe. It’s a different connection. That made me feel good, and it felt different from the connection that I had before. And also, I think he’s just really dedicated to the institution and to making sure that this art form will survive. He’s the money guy. He’s the deputy director. Without money, there’s nothing happening, and we all know, nowadays, money is just going out the window. It’s definitely a challenge for those art forms to survive really and to expand and to thrive. As boring as some people might think that this job is, without this job and without these people, it would just not be possible.

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Gainsbourg also talks about the romance between Geneviève and Jack, and why she might be more heartbroken than she lets on.

What was it like to find that dynamic with Charlotte Gainsbourg?
TRUESDALE: I’ve watched Charlotte since my childhood, in all the French movies. I grew up watching French movies. She has a very specific energy and rhythm to her. There’s something very mysterious about Charlotte Gainsbourg. She’s very private. She speaks softly. You have to lean in to hear what she’s saying. And so, I had to approach her, the actress and the character that she’s playing, in a different way. I was a bit observant at first and let the chemistry build on itself in a natural way. Luckily, we became fast friends, and we connected and we love each other. It’s easier when there’s a real connection in real life because you don’t have to think about it. It’s just on the screen. When you don’t have it in real life, you have to build it in the performance. The same happened with Lauren [Graham]. We’ve been friends now for 25 years. So, when the friendship is there and you truly love each other, I think it shows on screen and it’s probably what you felt.
One of my favorite moments with your character, and really one of my favorite moments in the show, is in episode five with the chair at the desk. It’s such a funny moment with Gabin telling Raphaël that he’s too low at the desk. How was it to shoot that and get the timing right?
TRUESDALE: To be honest, I just did a play, back home at the Lincoln Center of Montreal. I’m a stage actor. That’s my training. And I’m a physical comedic actor, which I can really do on camera. That was just a physical comedy bit. At first, it was a small thing, just adjusting the chair once. But I asked the director, Scott [Ellis], “Do you mind? I feel like there’s a bit there. Can I play with the chair a bit?” And he was like, “Yeah, sure.” So, I did all kinds of variations of the chair. In the end, I probably pushed the bit too much, but what’s on screen is what’s left of it.
Yanic Truesdale Says that Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino Are Just as Brilliant Now as They Were on ‘Gilmore Girls’

“They just have 25 or 30 years of experience now.”

gilmore girls

Image via The WB

You’ve been working with the Palladinos over a long span of your life. How does working with them so many years ago compare to now? Does it feel the same? Does it feel different?
TRUESDALE: It’s the same and it’s different. They’re the same people. They’re as brilliant as they used to be. The dialogue is as good as it used to be. They just have 25 or 30 years of experience now. When we first did it, we were in our late 20s or early 30s. We’re now people in our late 50s. It’s a different energy. It’s a different confidence. There’s an ease and a confidence to it. It’s more relaxed, more loose, more playful, more fun in many ways because of that experience and that maturity. We did Gilmore with very little money, with an average of 25 pages more than a normal show, but the same amount of time to shoot it. That is not the case here. We had time. We had the budget to make it special and beautiful. I really appreciated that 360 with different elements to it, but still the same connection and love for each other.
I love that we got more Gilmore Girls episodes, but do you still hope that there’s more of a chance to play in that world again?
TRUESDALE: To be honest, it’s not something that I think about. But I meet fans all the time, and I just did a convention in Connecticut where I met thousands of people that flew from all over the world and, of course, they want it so badly. So many people have watched it, 10, 15, 20 times over. I wish I had more to give them, just because they’re so dedicated and they’re so invested. But it’s not something that I personally think about.
How do you think Michel and Raphaël would get along if they ever met each other?
TRUESDALE: I think they would get along well. Michel really appreciated people that were good at what they do, and Raphaël is really good at what he does and is really committed, so I think Michel would respect that. And they’re both French. They’re part of the same culture and references, so I think they would get along.

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Did you have a favorite dance performance in this?
TRUESDALE: There are so many. There’s the ballet at the end, that I thought was so great. With many of the dance numbers, I was just floored. I had the privilege of watching them rehearse the choreography, and to me, that is as enjoyable because I can really see how they worked their way to the end performance. It was quite a privilege to see that from up close. You really have top-notch dancers there, from the Paris Opera and the New York ballet. It was just incredible.
’Étoile’s Yanic Truesdale Hopes to Continue to Uncover the Layers of Raphaël

“I feel like there’s a lot to be discovered.”

What would you still like to learn about your character or see him get to do in future seasons?
TRUESDALE: I feel like there’s a lot to be discovered. I want to know what his personal life is. Outside of work, who is he? Is he a happy guy? They’re so good at creating multilayered characters. I can’t wait for them to dig in.

Étoile

Release Date

April 24, 2025

Network

Prime Video

Étoile is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out the trailer: