Fanclub Laurent Le Doyen

Laurent Le Doyen  
 

Agence Artistiques Laurent Le Doyen

fr/en

Synopsis and Press articles 

page 1

TV-Series Le Gerfaut 1987

page 2

Marion Sarraut and her TV-Series

page 3

Meeting with Laurent le Doyen 2010

page 4

Laurent Le Doyen in Macbeth  2012

page 5





 


The touching words of Laurent Le Doyen concerning the death of our Juliette Benzoni


February 2016
I
will keep the memory of a great lady full of gentleness, courtesy and humor that she gave me, with her talentMy immense happiness to incarnate one of the most beautiful person in my career. Thank you dear Juliette, that you let us dream so much. Laurent Le Doyen
 





 


 

May 2010
text Linda, webmaster

My very dear Le Gerfaut fans, I had been invited by Magali, the webmaster of the 'Official Homepage of Laurent le Doyen'  to attend their fan meeting in May 2010 and the launching of the new founded fan club of Laurent le Doyen! With such a prominent 'Member of honor' none other than 'Juliette Benzoni' herself ! When the Author had learned through Frédérique and Hélène (who could not attend), she
enthusiastically
asked to be registered as a fan club member!

With great pleasure, I had accepted to attend the fan meeting, and to become also a member  of the club. Smiling to myself, hearing voices who might say: « and what is a Catherine de Montsalvy fan doing there? To me, that seemed no problem, since I love all Novels by our favourite author Juliette Benzoni. It was at the same time, the opportunity to make new friends, and meeting for the first time Magali, webmaster like me  and of course, without doubt, the very great pleasure to meet the leading actor of that wonderful TV-Series 'Le Gerfaut' Laurent le Doyen in person! Travelling to France, to see again Frédérique of the Juliette Benzoni official website, with whom I share a special friendship.
 

excellent creation by Frédérique


The date was set and I looked forward to this surely amazing weekend at Versailles, the home  of some exciting scenes of the the four Novels and television series 'Le Gerfaut'directed by Dame Marion Sarraut  in 1987. Alas, Magali, was not able to join us at the last moment! For months she had organized everything, so that the fans of 'Laurent le Doyen' would be able to share an unforgettable day together. We all felt with her and were able to  understand her great sadness, not to be there and enjoy the company of fans and that of Laurent le Doyen.

Magali, knowing how much I love writing a report, had contacted me, if I would be so kind and take her job of writing a summary of the day, since she could not be there. Of course I agreed and so did Frédérique to support with photos and later with some creations.

We met on Saturday 8 May at ten o'clock at the Hotel Angleterre in Versailles. The 'weather fairy' had decided to be nice to the 'Le Gerfaut fans' and soon our little group consisting of Emmanuelle, her husband Jean-Marc, Sophie our Versailles expert, Frédérique and myself walked to the gate of 'Louis XIV, the Sun King's,' world famous 'Castle of Versailles'.
 

     

photo Versailles

Excited, with meaningful looks at each other, we stood in line and entered this historical place. I do not know how it is for my friends, but I am always in awe and seem to be transported into another time period when I am visiting such historic places. Imagining myself to be there, at the time when the most famous of all the French Kings lived at Versailles - or seeing and hearing with my inner eye, the mob coming and tearing down the gates of the castle. In the hope to catch poor 'Queen Marie-Antoinette' and her lovable and underestimated husband King Louis XVI. Who happened to be Juliette's favourite of the French Kings as we learn from many articles.

But enough of dreaming, once inside, we met Romy,
the president of the brand new fanclub, a very faithful 'Le Gerfaut fan', together with her sweet grandaughter Anaïs.  Under Sophie's conduct, we then visited the Gardens of Versailles, halting many times for a photo-shooting.

     

We enjoyed the sun, being spoiled by lovely Emmanuelle, who had brought home-baked cookies for us. Merci beaucoup Manue, what a grandiose idea and very much appreciataed by all of us! We walked on and soon it was time to take lunch in one of the restaurants, while we got to know each other better and shared anecdotes about 'Le Gerfaut'. Emmanuelle, in the absent of Magali, taking her role as 'lady-in-charge', looked from time to time discreetly at her watch! We felt how our pulse was beating faster - soon we would meet in person the Chevalier Gilles de Tournemine, the reason why we all had joined this fanclub!

There remained still time to buy some souvenirs, (... and of course the attentive photographer spotted one of Juliette Benzoni's Novel's 'La Chambre du Roi' in the souvenir shop..! ) and the tension was growing! We visited the Grand Trianon, admired the beautiful furnished rooms and felt like in 'Back to the Future' - looking at  Emmanuelle, who smiled at us and said: He is on his way... he is coming with the little train...

 

       

...and voilà, walking towards us, a smile on his face, a charming, and very good looking Laurent le Doyen, our "Star" of the day. Some of us had already had the great pleasure to meet Gilles/Laurent in person. I, who pretented to be so cool, was now also caught up by the excitement to meet the famous 'Le Gerfaut' in person ;-)

What is my opinion after he introduced himself to me? Only one sentence: « cher Laurent, you can count the 'Catherine de Montsalvy fan' now also to your very faithful admirers » ;-) !

Laurent  joined us  to visit the 'le Petit Trianon' following the traces of 'Le Gerfaut'  shared jokes with us, and had a lovely word for everyone. He patiently stopped whenever we wanted him for a photo-shooting, for

 


which we 'shamelessly' took advantage of! He surprised Frédérique and me, as he sang to  us, a few notes of a terrific version of 'I love Paris in the Springtime'...! Allow me to say a few words about Laurent le Doyen.

In my humble opinion, a very attractive, charming and adorable man- showing his pleasure that we are his fans and that we loved his performance as 'Gilles de Tournemine'. Sharing little anectotes with us - helping us to find the shooting places, which Magali, to entertain us, had given us  as a 'treasure-hunting-mission'... Yes Magali, we found everything, thanks to Gilles/Laurent ;-) - halted at the place where 'Gilles' had his duell with 'Ambassador
Caramanico', witnessed by  and Admiral John Paul Jones.

       

We never got tired to admire all the beauty of the 'Gardens at Versailles'. There was  the 'Le Hameau' Queen Marie-Antoinette's refuge, together with the leading star of 'Le Gerfaut' extremely popular years ago, and never forgotten by the fans, who had either watched Dame Marion Sarraut's TV-series in 1987 or read Juliette Benzoni's book series Le Gerfaut des Brumes back in 1976 - 1981.

Dear friends, I have no idea how many kilometres we made on foot...! We laughed and joked about it, but would never have admitted then and there that we would pay the toll later on, for all this sauntering in one of the most beautiful places on earth while we not all wore appropriate shoes ;-) Our hero had an excellent idea (thanks Laurent for your superb idea ;-) and showed us a short-cut... I see, "Le Gerfaut" knew his way around at Versailles... of course as the private bodyguard of 'Queen Marie-Antoinette', he definitely recognized the area again...
 


We decided to enjoy a ride back to the entry of the  Palace of Versailles with the little train, and left the background for some of the shooting places of Le Gerfaut behind us with a sigh.... At that precise moment we climbed onto the train, the sun went for a little rest and heaven sent the first raindrops down to us. But what were a few drops of rain, compared to this amazing afternoon together with the guest of honour?

We made a last stop, took some more photos - while  I noticed what an observant eye Laurent le Doyen had. As some of you know, he is not only an excellent actor, but also a painter and photographer - and s
o his eyes did not miss the unique moment, to take some magnificent photos before we went out:
 

     

We hurried to the last stop of our fan club meeting - inviting Laurent to join us in the car, while the sky had now opened and sent us showers.

At the restaurant still in Versailles, - Armelle, another fan club member, was waiting for us. She had not been able to attend during the day, (just like Hélène, my very dear friend, who spoils me sometimes with her splendid creations concerning the world of 'Catherine and Arnaud'). I am sure it was not easy for Armelle at the first , when seven happily  smiling, and chatting together, women entered - among them, tall and handsome Laurent le Doyen.

But no worries, Armelle and the Le Gerfaut fans understood each other at first sight. We ordered our meals, and Laurent found finally out that little Anaïs had the whole day a secret, she was hiding from him! I will not betray it, for me that was so cute, and I can tell all the fans of Laurent le Doyen, is a sweet and and lovable man.

It was Laurent who thought of calling our absent friend Magali, at the restaurant, thinking how upset she must still be, for not having been able to attend the reunion. He then told us of some of his future plans - joining Frédérique  for a cigarette break... which she naturally enjoyed while twinkling at us...
 


My impressions of that stupendous day? I hope that all members of fan clubs are treated so courteously as we have been, by this gallant and well-mannered Star of the memorable series Le Gerfaut!
 
«
Let me now express my personal thank you, for making this all possible dear Magali, be it the entry to the area of Versailles, the Grand and Petit Trianons, the beautiful gardens and even the restaurants, where we were able to rest our "strained" feet and at the end having supper all together, to round off the beautiful day

Thank you cher Laurent for sharing a moment with your fans. I shall remember this founding day of the very first fan club of "Laurent le Doyen" with a deep gratification! I have been welcomed by the "Le Gerfaut" fans with open arms and I like to express my sincere thank you for that. I am only sorry that I was not able to meet Magali and some of the other fan club members, who were for different reasons not able to attend the fan meeting at Versailles ».

You can trust me, 'Le Gerfaut' and with it Laurent le Doyen shall have a very special place in my heart, together with all his fans. After all, we all belong to the "La Benzoni/Sarraut family, or as Laurent whispered in my ear "Mafia"


Nota: Do not miss the link to the website Plateform des agences artistiques fr/en  for all the professional works of  Laurent le Doyen

Linda, webmaster of the official Catherine website, approved by Juliette Benzoni in 2009

 






 

Two years later, when I met the fan club, in Paris to watch at the Theater Macbeth  with Laurent in the role role, he granted me the great honour of signing the creation that my sister had surprised me with. Thank you very much dear Laurent, it was the icing on the cake

 



Paris, Winter 2008

A random meeting in Montmartre/Paris between Laurent Le Doyen and Gérard Chambre, who played with him in 'Le Gerfaut' and whose role was that of the American Admiral 'John Paul Jones'.


return to site map
 

I would like to thank Frédérique for the beautiful banner on top and for her help on certain facts about *Le Gerfaut*



© 2008 - 2024 linda compagnoni walther
non profit site
all rights reserved