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Roy Dupuis
Roydupuis-chatmag
Character name: Michael Samuelle
Full name: Roy Michael Joseph Dupuis
Date of Birth: April 21, 1963
Place of Birth: New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada
Age: 61
Nationality: Canadian
Nikita franchise: La Femme Nikita
GALLERY



Roy Dupuis (born April 21, 1963; age 61) is a Canadian actor from Québec who played Michael Samuelle on La Femme Nikita (1997-2001).

Early Life[]

Roy Michael Joseph Dupuis was born in New Liskeard, Ontario on April 21, 1963. He spent a significant portion of his childhood (from early infancy until he was eleven years old) in Amos, which is in a rural region of northern Québec called Abitibi. For the next three years, he lived in Kapuskasing, Ontario, where he learned to speak English. His father was a traveling salesman for Canada Packers, a meat company (now part of Maple Leaf Foods). His mother was a piano teacher. He has a younger brother named Roderick and an older sister, Roxanne. When he was fourteen, after his parents divorced, his mother moved the family to Sainte-Rose, Laval, Québec (in the greater Montréal area), where he finished high school. He had a strong interest in the sciences, especially physics, mathematics and chemistry. He credits seeing Ariane Mnouchkine’s film Molière at 16 with inspiring him to change his academic focus from the sciences to drama.[1] After high school, he studied acting in Montréal, at the National Theatre School of Canada (L'École nationale de théâtre du Canada) in 1984, graduating in 1986.

Career[]

His entry into drama school was accidental. A friend had been invited to audition for admission to the National Theatre School of Canada, but her counterpart, who had also been invited to audition, changed his mind and backed out. She asked Roy Dupuis to take his place, and he agreed to help out and went along, posing as the original candidate. Although he himself was not really the one invited to audition, he impressed the school's director so much that she invited him to apply formally for admission to the school, and he was accepted. After his graduation in 1986, and a few years of successful experience acting in the theater, in 1988, he began to be offered substantial roles in films and TV.

The relative anonymity that he enjoyed during those early years ended when 80% of the population of Québec watched the enormously-popular classic period miniseries Les filles de Caleb in 1990, turning him into a celebrity overnight and gaining him several awards for his performance as Emilie's husband, Ovila Pronovost.

During a 1999 interview, Dupuis said the following in regards to his approach to the character of Michael:

"I wanted to propose a character that was minimalist, total control. Because I thought that’s the best way to serve the Section. I wanted to build a character -- because in the Section you have two choices; you die or you live. That’s the choice you have. You decide to do it; they want you to do it or you die. And I think Michael finds it too easy just to die. He’s a perfectionist. So he decides to live. And since he decides to live, all he’s got left is his job. So he decides to do it as best he can. Not out of pride; just because that’s all he’s got left. And just -- that’s it. So for me to do the best job in the Section is to be completely emotionless; not showing anybody who you really are. So that they don’t see any weaknesses in you. And it’s also a way of being honest in front of everybody."[1]

In his native Québec, Roy Dupuis has won several MetroStar Awards (later renamed prix Artis in 2006). The awards recognize Québécois television industry and are determined by popular vote throughout the province.

  • 1991 Best Actor - TV Novel or miniseries - Les filles de Caleb (winner)[2]
  • 1992 Best Actor - Québécois TV Novel or miniseries - Les filles de Caleb (winner)[2]
  • 1993 Best actor - Québécois TV Novel or miniseries - Les filles de Caleb (nominated)
  • 1994 Male leading role - Telenovel or Quebec miniseries (nominated)
  • 1993 Best actor - Québécois TV Novel or miniseries - Les filles de Caleb (nominated)
  • 1994 Male leading role - Telenovel or Quebec miniseries (nominated)
  • 1993 Best actor - Québécois TV Novel or miniseries - Les filles de Caleb (nominated)
  • 1994 Male leading role - Telenovel or Quebec miniseries (nominated)
  • 1994 Supporting Male Role - Québec TV or Miniseries (nominated)
  • 1995 Leading Male role- Québec TV novel or miniseries (nominated)
  • 1996 Leading Male role - TV Novel or Quebec miniseries (nominated)
  • 2000 Male role - Québec TV series (nominated)
  • 2003 Male role - Québec TV series (winner)[2]
  • 2012 Male role - Quebec TV series (nominated)

He has been nominated numerous times for the Genie Awards (Canada's highest film award). It was later merged with the Gemini Awards (Canada's highest television award) in 2013 to create the Canadian Screen Awards.

  • 1993 Best Actor in a Lead Role - Cap Tourmente (nominated)
  • 2004 Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Seraphin Heart of Stone (nominated)
  • 2005 Best Actor in a Lead Role - Memories affectives (winner)
  • 2007 Best Actor in a Lead Role - The Rocket (winner)
  • 2008 Best Actor in a Lead Role - Shake Hands with the Devil (nominated)

He has been nominated numerous times for the Jutra Awards (Québec's highest film award).

  • 2003 Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor - Seraphin Heart of Stone (nominated)
  • 2005 Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor - Memories affectives (winner)
  • 2006 Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor - The Rocket (nominated)
  • 2008 Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor - Shake Hands with the Devil (winner)

Roy Dupuis has served as a series regular on several Québec television shows, including the newspaper drama Scoop (1992-1995), the time travel science fiction series Les rescapés (2010-2012), social drama Toute la Vie (2019-2021) and its spinoff A couer battant (2023-2024). He has been nominated for the Prix Gémeaux, which honors achievements in Canadian television that are broadcast in French. It is the French-language equivalent to the Gemini Awards, but it remains separate from the Canadian Screen Awards.

  • 1991 Meilleur premier rôle masculin/Best Lead Actor - Les Filles de Caleb (winner)
  • 2011 Meilleur premier rôle masculin: série dramatique annuelle/Best Lead Actor - Les rescapés (nominated)
  • 2012 Meilleur premier rôle masculin: série dramatique annuelle/Best Lead Actor - Les rescapés (nominated)
  • 2020 Meilleur premier rôle masculin: série dramatique annuelle/Best Lead Actor - Toute la Vie - "Episode 19" (nominated) [3]
  • 2021 Meilleur premier rôle masculin: série dramatique annuelle/Best Lead Actor - Toute la Vie - "Episode 47" (nominated) [4]
  • 2022 Meilleur premier rôle masculin: série dramatique annuelle/Best Lead Actor - Toute la Vie - "Episode 63" (nominated) [5]

Select Filmography[]

Film[]

Movie Role Year Notes
Being at Home with Claude Yves 1992 Official Section - Un Certain Regard - Cannes Film Festival

Nominated - Genie Award - Best Motion Picture

Entangled Max 1993 English language film
Cap Tourmente Alex O'Neil 1993 Nominated - Genie Award - Best Actor in a Lead Role
Screamers Becker 1995 English language film
Waiting for Michelangelo Thomas 1995 English language film
Aire libre Aimé Bonpland 1996 Significant Spanish required for role
J'en suis! Dominique Samson 1997
Seraphin: Heart of Stone Alexis Labranche 2002 Nominated - Genie Awards - Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominated - Jutra Awards - Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor

Highest gross Quebec film that year

The Barbarian Invasions Gilles Levac 2003 Winner - Academy Awards - Best Foreign Picture
Manners of Dying Kevin Barlow 2004 English language film
Jack Paradise (Les nuits de Montréal) Jack Paradise 2004
Memories affectives Alexandre Tourneur 2005 Winner - Genie Awards - Best Actor in a Lead Role

Winner - Jutra Awards - Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor

That Beautiful Somewhere Detective Conk Adams 2006 English language film
The Rocket Maurice Richard 2007 Winner - Genie Awards - Best Actor in a Lead Role

Nominated - Jutra Awards - Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor

Emotional Arithmetic Benjamin Winters 2007 English language film
Mesrine: Killer Instinct Jean-Paul Mercier 2008
Truffe Charles 2008
Shake Hands with the Devil General Romeo Dallaire 2008 Nominated - Genie Awards - Best Actor in a Lead Role

Winner - Jutra Awards - Meilleur Acteur/Best Actor

Les doigts croches Charles 2009
Coteau rouge Èric Miljours 2011
Roche papier ciseaux Vincent 2013
Cyanide Joe 2013
Another House Gabriel Bernard 2013
Ceci n'est pas un polar Andrè Kosinski 2014
The Forbidden Room Cesare 2015 English language film
Feuilles mortes Bob 2016
Pieds nus dans l'aube Lèo 2017
Les fleurs oubliées Albert Payette 2019
Take Me to a Nice Place Tommy 2021 English language short film
Brain Freeze Dan 2021 Opening night film at Fantasia Fest (Montreal)
Inès Christian 2021
Pointe Noire Louis Leger 2023 English language film

Opening night film at Cinema on the Bayou (2025)

Rumours Maxime Laplace, Canadian Prime Minister 2024 Out of Competition - Cannes Film Festival

Toronto Film Festival English language film

Hair of the Bear Benoit 2025 English language film

Television[]

Show Role Year(s) Notes
Les filles de Caleb Ovila Pronovost 1992 Québec miniseries: 20 Episodes
Scoop Michel Gagné 1992-1995 Québec television series: 76 Episodes
Blanche Ovila Pronovost 1993 Québec miniseries: 4 Episodes
Million Dollar Babies Oliva Dionne 1994 CBS/CBC TV miniseries: 2 Episodes
Dark Eyes Danny La Blanc 1995 Unaired TV pilot (English)
Urgence Barette 1996 Offered a main character role but declined due to a scheduling conflict
La Femme Nikita Michael Samuelle 1997-2001 91 Episodes
The Last Chapter

Le Denier Chapitre

Ross Desbiens 2002 TV Miniseries: 6 Episodes

English & French versions filmed simultaneously

The Last Chapter: The Second Chapter

Le Denier Chapitre

Ross Desbiens 2003 TV Miniseries: 6 Episodes

English & French versions filmed simultaneously

Les rescapes Gérald Boivin 2010-2012 Québec television series: 23 Episodes
Toute la Vie Christophe L'Allier 2019-2021 Québec television series: 72 Episodes
Á couer battant Christophe L'Allier 2023-2024 Québec television series: 48 Episodes

Documentary[]

Production Role Year Notes
Chercher le courant Self 2010 Associate Producer
L'empreinte Self 2015
Apres la Romaine Self 2021 Associate Producer

Theatre[]

Production Role Year Notes
Fool for Love Martin 1987 Théâtre du Quat'sous - Montreal - Brigitte Haentjens
Romeo and Juliet Romeo 1989 TNM - Montreal - Guillermo de Andrea
Le Chien Jay 1989 NCT and CNA - Montreal - Brigitte Haentjens
Un oiseau vivant dans la gueule Adrien 1990 Théâtre du Quat'sous - Montreal - Brigitte Haentjens
True West Lee 1994 NCT - Montreal - Brigitte Haentjens
Blasté Ian 2008 Usine C - Montreal - Brigitte Haentjens

Philanthropy[]

In 2002 he co-founded the Rivières Foundation to advocate for the protection of Canada's rivers from exploitation by hydro-electric developments. He serves as its co-president and concentrates considerable time on developing it when he is not working professionally.

Trivia[]

  • Has played the cello from a young age and does his own playing for roles when required.
  • Frequently dubs his own lines in French or English for the appropriate market.
  • Avid hockey player.
  • Does his own motorcycle riding for roles.
  • Developed an interest in sailing and refurbished his own sail boat.
  • Enjoys mountain climbing and has done so in the Himalayas and the Andes mountain ranges.
  • Turned down the opportunity to audition for the role ultimately played by Billy Crudup in Almost Famous (2000) [6]
  • During the run of La Femme Nikita, he would fly from Toronto, where the show was filmed, to his home on the outskirts of Montreal every weekend where he was very hands on in the refurbishing of a rural 1840s farmhouse. He purchased the home in 1996 just prior to committing to La Femme Nikita.

Gallery[]

Video[]

Roy_Dupuis,_Diplômé_1986_Se_révèle_-2010-

Roy Dupuis, Diplômé 1986 Se révèle -2010-

Roy Dupuis Theatre School featurette - French

Roy_Dupuis,_Class_of_1986_Revealed_-2010-

Roy Dupuis, Class of 1986 Revealed -2010-

Roy Dupuis Theatre School featurette - English









External Links[]

Imdb Roy Dupuis at the Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Roy Dupuis on Wikipedia

References[]

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