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Every now and then, our editorial team engages in meetings with personalities who embody the essence of WANT through their unique perspectives, visions of a better living, and overall sense of style. And since we think details make the whole difference, here is a questionnaire about the little (and big) things in life.

For this month's feature, WANT had the pleasure of meeting with François Arnaud.

The passionate young Montreal actor first made his mark in Xavier Dolan's debut film I Killed My Mother (2009), captivated audiences worldwide in the popular series The Borgias (2013), and has continued his rise ever since, far beyond his Quebec roots. Here’s our conversation with a man who lives by the pulse of his emotions.

You've been building an international career for a few years now, including your recent work on the American film In Transit and the release of Orville Peck’s music video with Noah Cyrus, How Far Will We Take It. How has this changed you as a person and as an actor?

Working around the world mostly keeps me from resting on my laurels; it gives me perspective on the idea of "success" and the value I attach to it. I’ve mostly been involved in large TV projects, while in film, I often work on very independent projects. What do I love? The encounter—with a filmmaker, with actors who are there because they love the story and want to get their hands dirty… In Transit gave me the chance to meet Jennifer Ehle, an incredible actress and wonderful person I loved getting to know.

Orville Peck’s video with Noah Cyrus was mainly an opportunity to bring to life a song I’m a fan of, one I listened to hundreds of times before the shoot! I love the mix of genres in Orville’s work, both musically and visually. This summer, I went to Argentina to shoot a film with Harvey Keitel, an actor I’ve admired forever and never dreamed I’d get to work with. Moving around like this is exhilarating and a little disorienting at times… It really takes some self-work to find your center when you're so far from the people you love.

What are your main criteria when choosing a project?

I’d say it’s feeling transported by a world, a story. I also need to feel personally engaged. I often ask myself what I can bring to a project rather than the other way around. Usually, if I can’t find an answer to that question, I figure it’s because I’m not the right fit for it. I love being surprised by a character, a story, a script that reveals unexpected layers of depth. I don’t believe much in the rigid definitions of cinematic genres, like drama or comedy. I always try to find a bit of each in the other because, as a viewer, that’s what touches me the most. But beyond all that, if the people behind the project inspire me, I’ll say yes right away, no matter the content! It’s so rare to feel complete trust, to be able to surrender to a vision.

What role or type of character would you dream of playing?

I’m always drawn to complex characters, not necessarily good or bad. I’m fascinated by people who make mistakes and tend to dig themselves in deeper, trying to save their skin, their ego, or their sanity. And if, someday, someone offered me the chance to play M****** (from The Scottish Play), I’d be flattered, terrified, and utterly consumed…

My main character trait: Intensity

The flaw I can’t forgive: Laziness

The thing that makes me angry: Bad faith

My hidden talent: I do a pretty good Donald Duck and Daffy Duck.

Last time I laughed: I don’t remember, but it was definitely today.

Last time I cried: I don’t remember, but it was definitely today.

One thing that amazes me: Kindness, totally underrated.

In love, I am: Loyal, intense, maybe too sensitive.

What my friends would say about me: “He talks loudly most of the time but he can shut up, sometimes.”

The quality I appreciate most in others: Transparency

The smell that moves me: The smell of the forest.

The sound I like the most: The crackling of a fireplace.

The gesture that comforts me: A hand on my neck.

The ritual that makes me feel good: Picking a fragrance based on my mood, the season, the weather.

The thing I’m most grateful for: Being born curious.

If I had a superpower: To let go more easily.

I’ll never forget: My friends, my loves, my family.

The advice that left a mark on me: “Do or do not, there is no try” - Yoda

The place I could see myself living: Tuscany, for the wine and pasta.

The song that soothes me: I don’t really look to songs to soothe me; I want them to give me a jolt of emotion. Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux by Louis Aragon, sung by Françoise Hardy, breaks my heart, and it’s beautiful.

My idol: Anthony Hopkins. For his talent and his work, of course. But mostly for his curiosity and imagination that never fade. I still see the little boy in him.

What I most love to do in my free time: Cooking (and eating). And I’m starting to enjoy washing dishes, too…

My favorite book, film or show: East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Every time I start a book, I have to force myself to pick something else rather than reread it. That book has everything. Also, the very end of I Am Love, by Luca Guadagnino with Tilda Swinton, totally wrecked me. The first time I saw it was on a plane; I was in tears, and the guy next to me almost stepped in to help!

My fashion style: Jackson Pollock meets Pina Bausch (I wish!)

The project that challenged me most and how I overcame the difficulties: The hardest times are the ones without work. When I have an inspiring project lined up, I welcome the challenges with pleasure.

What’s changed most in my perception of my profession in recent years: There’s a real fear that people will accept artificial intelligence as a valid alternative to the creative vision of a fellow human. It completely mystifies me. Because no matter what AI can accomplish, it holds no interest for me. What I care about in art is the window it opens to the human being behind it.

What I love most about my profession: The surprises, the people I meet, and those few moments of complete freedom, when the stars seem to align, and we manage to create something we don’t even fully understand ourselves.

The cause that resonates with me: Resisting the hateful rhetoric of the far right. Fighting it with radical empathy.

Follow @francoisarnaud on Instagram to know more about his inspirations, his travels, his projects, and more.