Conversations with Aliocha Itovich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aliocha Itovich.

Hi aliocha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first discovered theatre when I was just ten years old, and I still remember the exact moment I fell in love with the stage.

I was performing in a school play. My character appeared at the beginning, disappeared for a while, and then returned later in the story. When I came back on stage, I heard a little girl in the audience exclaim, **”Oh, great! It’s him again!”**

That one little sentence changed everything for me. I suddenly realized how powerful theatre could be, how a performer could touch someone’s heart and create a genuine emotional connection with an audience. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to spend my life coming back on stage, making people feel something.

Soon after, I joined a young theatre company called *Les Espiègles*, whose members ranged in age from 8 to 21. I spent six wonderful years with them, performing extensively in Paris and touring throughout France, including at the famous Avignon Theatre Festival.

I then decided to deepen my training and studied with several remarkable teachers, including Jean Darnel, a highly respected figure in French theatre who taught me an enormous amount about acting technique and the craft of performance.

But I never wanted to limit myself to just one method. I was curious about everything and wanted to develop my own unique palette as an actor. I often think of acting as painting: you take a little colour from here, another shade from there, and gradually create something that belongs entirely to you. I drew inspiration from the Actors Studio, Lee Strasberg’s Method, the Russian school of acting, and many other approaches. Each one added a new colour to my palette.

At the same time, I dreamed of working in front of the camera. Thanks to some wonderful professional encounters and opportunities, I gradually began working regularly in film and television.

Among my television roles, I appeared in two major French series, *Balthazar* and *Astrid et Raphaëlle*, both of which have been hugely successful in France.

In *Balthazar*, I played Antoine Bach, the husband of the character portrayed by Hélène de Fougerolles. In *Astrid et Raphaëlle*, I played Angus Nielsen, the father of Astrid, portrayed by the wonderful Sara Mortensen.

For more than 35 years now, I’ve had the privilege of moving between these two worlds, theatre and the screen. And I still love both just as much.

Last summer, I created a very personal theatre production as a tribute to my uncle, Jorge Donn, who was Maurice Béjart’s principal dancer for more than 30 years. Jorge was an extraordinary artist, internationally celebrated for his talent, charisma and emotional intensity. Many people remember his unforgettable performance of Ravel’s *Boléro* in Claude Lelouch’s film *Les Uns et les Autres*.

Creating this show was much more than an artistic project for me. It was a deeply personal journey, a way of honouring his memory, celebrating his extraordinary legacy, and exploring the invisible threads that connect family, art, and identity.

And now, I’m about to embark on another exciting theatrical adventure with *L’Alphabet d’Elizabeth*, a play written by Cyril Gely and directed by Tristan Petitgirard.

I’ll be sharing the stage with Julie de Bona, a dear friend and a truly wonderful actress, widely loved by French audiences for her beautiful and memorable performances on television.

Alongside my acting career, I’ve also developed a deep passion for directing, both in theatre and in film.

Over the years, I’ve directed and co-directed several short films, many of them in collaboration with Guillaume Ducreux. Some of these films have travelled to festivals around the world and received awards, which has been incredibly rewarding.

One of them, Oh Merde!, received both the Audience Award and the Jury Prize at the Transfrontalier Film Festival and was selected for numerous festivals in France and internationally, including in Poland and Benin. The film was also acquired for television by TV5MONDE and OCS.

Another short film, L’Embauche, which I co-directed in 2022, was selected for the 2023 Alpe d’Huez Comedy Film Festival. And ANPA, another collaboration with Guillaume Ducreux, won an Audience Award.

I’ve also created and co-directed short-format comedy series, including Autant pour nous, produced by Christophe Offenstein.
More recently, I also directed a short-form YouTube series called “Cause toujours!”, which explores the role and place of women in our society through humor.
The series was written by Julia Dorval, who also stars in it alongside three other actresses: Perrine Gilbert, Eléa Clair, and Diane Dassigny.

In theatre, my work as a director has taken me in many different directions, from intimate one-person shows to family productions, magic shows, and more dramatic pieces.

I’ve directed productions such as Stabat Mater Furiosa, as well as a one-woman show starring Marie Lanchas, which was performed in several Parisian theatres. I also spent many years creating shows for younger audiences, including productions at the magnificent Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.

More recently, as I said before, I wrote with Élodie Menant et my wonderful wife Julia Dorval , I also directed and performed in Dans l’ombre de Jorge Donn, a deeply personal theatrical tribute to my uncle, combining acting, dance, music, video projections and stage illusions. This production brought together many of the artistic disciplines I’ve explored throughout my career.

What I love about directing is the freedom to imagine an entire world and bring it to life. As an actor, you’re part of a story. As a director, you help shape the story itself, its rhythm, its atmosphere, its emotions.

And whether I’m standing on stage, performing in front of a camera, or directing from behind it, I’m always searching for the same thing: that magical moment when a story truly connects with an audience.

After all these years, what continues to drive me is exactly the same feeling I experienced when I was ten years old: **the desire to return to the stage, to tell stories, and above all, to move people.**

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most people, my journey has been anything but smooth. But as they say, **”It’s not the destination that matters, it’s the journey.”**

Throughout my career, I’ve had to work other jobs to make a living. I’ve done all kinds of things, including spending nearly 20 years working in construction and renovation.

And strangely enough, I think it was one of the best experiences I could have had as an actor. It kept my feet firmly on the ground and allowed me to meet people from completely different backgrounds, many of whom knew very little about the artistic world.

I learned so much about human nature through those encounters, and all those experiences have helped me build my characters throughout my career.

Of course, I’ve also had my share of disappointments, more than actual obstacles. Projects that seemed incredibly promising but never happened, opportunities that I thought would take my career to the next level but ultimately led nowhere. Auditions where the casting director made me feel almost certain I’d got the part… only to discover that I hadn’t!

Those experiences taught me one important lesson: **”Until you’re actually standing on stage or in front of the camera, never celebrate too soon!”**

But perhaps my biggest challenge was bringing my tribute to my uncle, Jorge Donn, to life.

It took me almost seven years to finally get the production on stage. Between producers making promises they couldn’t keep, financial difficulties, and the COVID pandemic, it was a real uphill battle.

There were moments when it felt like it might never happen.

But when you finally see a project you’ve carried in your heart for so many years come to life, all those struggles suddenly seem worth it.

And that feeling is simply extraordinary.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I’m most proud of, first of all, is simply still being here, after more than 35 years, doing what I love and having had the opportunity to explore so many different projects and artistic worlds.

I’m proud that I gave myself the chance to make my short films, that I followed those ideas all the way through and shared them with an audience, instead of letting them gather dust in a drawer somewhere.

I’m also incredibly proud of *Dans l’ombre de Jorge Donn*, a production I fought so hard to bring to life, and especially proud of what we achieved.

As for what sets me apart, I’d say my versatility and adaptability. I love moving from one artistic world to another, working with different directors, exploring different styles and approaches.

I also really enjoy the physical side of acting. Give me a stunt to perform and I’m happy! 😉

And I love learning new skills for a character, whether it’s a particular craft, a physical discipline, or dance, as I did for *Dans l’ombre de Jorge Donn*.

I think what keeps me going is that curiosity. **After all these years, I still want to explore, learn, take risks, and surprise myself.**

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Curiosity! I think that’s one of the most important things in this profession.

Be curious about people, about different ways of working, and about the world you’re trying to be part of. Meet new people, watch others work, and never stop learning.

I often say that if you want to work on a particular TV series, you should know that series! Watch it, learn about the actors, the writers, and the directors. Understand their world and what they’re creating.

There’s no magic formula for building a network or finding the right people to guide you. But genuine curiosity opens doors, creates connections, and sometimes leads to unexpected opportunities.

**It’s certainly been one of the most valuable things throughout my career.**

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agents-associes.com/artiste/aliocha-itovich/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliocha_itovich/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliocha.itovich/?locale=fr_FR
• Other: https://www.filmmakers.eu/fr/actors/aliocha-itovich

Image Credits
Benoit Marechal.