[Interview to be found in the summer magazine, in kiosks or on subscription.] Fifteen years after his revelation to the public on Laurent Ruquier’s show On n’demande qu’à en rire, Alex Ramirès has established himself on stage with humor blending self-deprecation and the observation of our codes and foibles. Not surprisingly, therefore, to find him in the animated film Jim Queen, where he voices the hero, a flamboyant gay Narcissus obsessed with the size of his big biceps. Any resemblance to the actor, who opens his beauty lair to us, would not be so fortuitous…
Photography: Yann Morisson for têtu·
Quand tu te regardes dans le miroir aujourd’hui, tu vois quoi ?
Alex Ramirès : I’m starting to enjoy what I see! I’ve never hated myself and I have no score to settle with the old Alex. But now, I’m really happy to see that I’m gaining muscle, because it was a goal I had set for myself. I wondered what I could look like with a more massive body… and I like the answer.
Ce nouveau corps, tu le façonnes pour toi ou surtout pour le regard des autres ?
Both, of course. When I’m not feeling present enough on stage, I need a bit of fleeting love. The likes trigger the brain’s reward system, so in those moments I post selfies after leaving the gym. At the same time, lifting weights also helps to build oneself, to literally take up space. It’s a form of affirmation, and I enjoy reclaiming these codes.
Justement, tu te situes où dans la grande typologie gay : twink, gym queen… ?
I started as a twink without realizing it, and now I’m becoming a bit of a gym queen! My character in Jim Queen pushes this to the extreme: he crushes others to exist. It’s both fascinating and annoying. I’m into performance, while keeping some perspective. Muscles and tank top, yes… but lilac!
Dans la commu, tu ressens le corps comme une pression ou un jeu ?
A bit of both. On the pressure side, you’re not necessarily asked to be handsome but to be well built. Also, transforming physically can be a way to protect yourself, to assert yourself, especially when you’re tired of being harassed.
Tu fais partie de ceux qui enchaînent les pompes avant de partir en soirée ?
Yes, I’ve done it. There’s a ritual side I quite like. Some put on lip gloss, others do push-ups. And you can do both! There’s a bit of pressure, that’s true, but it remains a game. For my part, I know there will always be someone prettier, more muscular… So best to relax and keep your sense of humor.
Et ta routine beauté ?
Honestly? Nothing. There are mornings when I only go to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I should add that I wash at night! On the other hand, if I have to get ready for a photo shoot, I have all the products. But I never remember the order in which you’re supposed to apply them, so I check online… Toner, serum, cream? Otherwise, a bit of sun and joie de vivre does the trick.
Le truc le plus intime dans ta salle de bains ?
Perhaps those moments when I’m alone, goofing around. In my shower, there’s an acoustics that makes everything resonate, so I take advantage to go up into the high notes, or do a carnival barker voice on a ride. I also improvise prize-giving speeches… If I’m called tomorrow to host the César Awards, I’m ready!
Sur scène aussi, tu considères ton corps comme un outil comique ?
My show deals with the confidence, the one we have or pretend to have. There’s a whole reflection on appearance: how do you cope when you feel ugly, uninteresting and you want to disappear? I’ve thought about it, and that gave rise to Panache [the show whose tour will resume in October and end in January 2027, ed.]
