Clémence Rochefort and Valentin Morel follow in the footsteps of their famous fathers: “They held each other in high regard”

Clémence Rochefort and Valentin Morel have joined forces on a new theater project that pays tribute to their family legacies, while also exploring themes of memory, depression, and artistic identity. In an interview with Le Figaro, the two artists spoke at length about their collaboration on La Fille de Don Quichotte, a play that will be performed in Avignon this summer and holds deep personal meaning for Rochefort, the daughter of the late French actor Jean Rochefort, who died on October 9, 2017.

For Clémence Rochefort, the project is much more than a stage role. She said the play is a way to address depression and to portray a person full of doubts who manages to overcome them. She also reflected on her father’s own difficult relationship with acting. According to Rochefort, Jean Rochefort felt his life would not have been worth living if he had not pursued the profession, but he also carried pain from years of struggle. He had not been accepted into the Conservatoire, and many people had told him that he was not meant to become an actor. Rochefort said he wanted to protect her from suffering in the same way.

To direct the project, Clémence Rochefort turned to Valentin Morel, son of François Morel, who shares her sensitivity to family heritage and artistic transmission. Morel said working with her has been a pleasure, praising her strong work ethic and creative commitment. He described her as unique, noting that she can embody both her mother and her father on stage, while also bringing a certain fragility, strength, and precision to the text.

Their collaboration is also rooted in mutual respect between their fathers. Clémence Rochefort said their fathers admired one another, adding another layer of meaning to the project. The partnership between the two “children of” artists reflects both a shared lineage and a desire to build something personal and independent through theater.

Rochefort and Morel did not meet until 2021, during a book signing in the south of France, despite their fathers already knowing each other. The two also share the same publisher, Plon, and had both published books before coming together on this theatrical project. Over time, their connection developed into friendship, and that friendship helped shape La Fille de Don Quichotte into a deeply emotional and symbolic work.

For Clémence Rochefort, the play may also represent a way to close an important chapter in her life. She said that with time, people are forgotten, and that this work could be her way of saying goodbye to something connected to her father. The production combines personal memory, artistic inheritance, and emotional release, making it a significant moment for both performers.