Patrick Bourgeois came third, Mario Pelchat second, and of course Roy Dupuis, at that time appearing to 80% of Quebec television audiences as Ovila Pronovost in Les Filles de Caleb, won the contest. Competition organiser Denys Bergeron was surprised by this, stating that, "television being the most powerful medium, it has the ability to propel an actor and create an enormous impact on men and women." And his point is ….?

In the magazine there’s a little paragraph about each of the finalists. This one is printed opposite a studio photo of Roy in a leather jacket, but I believe it was actually written to accompany the famous "Ovila chastises himself by the water barrel’ picture printed on the following page. It goes ….

"Take for example the winner. His naked shoulders, the hungry mouth, lips parted, and to top it all his eyes forever full of longing - the powerful Roy Dupuis is not easily forgotten. These woodsmen are irresistible. And everyone knows women go crazy for them.

With Les Filles de Caleb, Roy Dupuis demonstrated that the pleasures of the flesh stand the test of time. The price that Emilie paid for so much sensuality, was it worth the effort? After this vote, there’s no doubt. Always warm, always tender, always willing, even in the darkest moments, Ovila gives of himself like a wonderful fruit, ripe for eating.

How did you react when you learned you had won the competition for the most handsome man?

I was delighted.

And are you as ‘physical’ in real life as in Les Filles de Caleb?
Oh yes, I’m a wolf. It’s in my nature. It’s just the way I am.

And you, Simé (his girlfriend), what do you think of this top prize?

I’ve always found him handsome, so it’s no surprise!"

However, it wasn’t possible to get any more input from Roy as he was in Paris filming Entangled (Les Veufs). Instead, the editor asked Mario Fortier, who four months previously had secured Roy’s first ever magazine interview, to write about his impressions of that episode. You’ll find the interview referenced under 7 Jours, November 24 1990. Below is his account of how that interview took place. …. Viv >>

My Meeting with Roy Dupuis

I have done hundreds of interviews since becoming a journalist, but my meeting with Roy Dupuis will certainly remain the most unforgettable of all. It was indeed quite a task to try to penetrate the mystery of someone who was said to be inaccessible… and to conduct an interview while driving my car!

It is Monday 12^th November 1990, and I am a bit apprehensive of my meeting with Roy. Indeed, it is said that he hates giving interviews, and what is more he has a reputation for being uncooperative, not to say insolent, with journalists. I am therefore expecting the worst when I turn up at his agent’s office, where I am supposed to meet him at 14:45. At the expected hour Roy is remarkable by … his absence. His agent calls him at home and, surprise, surprise, Roy answers. Asked about his lateness, he wants to cancel the meeting because he’s been ill during the night with stomach flu, and he isn’t feeling very well. After a few minutes’ discussion between the two of them Roy finally agrees to keep his word. I run for my car to fetch him and bring him to the photographer, as I learn that he doesn’t have a car. In fact he doesn’t even have a driving licence. He opens the door and greets me politely, while pulling on his cowboy boots. I immediately notice his athletic build, his serious manner, and his intelligent expression. He disappears at once back into the house where I hear him converse with a female voice. Standing on the doorstep I hear his voice ringing out, "I don’t have to dress warmly - I’m already ill." His footsteps resound on the wooden floor of his apartment - Roy is looking for his cowboy hat which looks strangely like the one Ovila wears in Filles de Caleb. He pulls on his coat and says to me, "OK, let’s go," a little as though he needs to motivate himself.

We hadn’t got to the corner of the street when he breaks the silence, "Oh, no, I’ve forgotten my cigarettes!!" For the first time in my life I’m glad I’m a smoker! I immediately set his mind at rest by offering him a cigarette. And so, as Roy has only two hours to give us, photo session included, one has to make the best of a bad job - I have no choice; I begin the interview in the car as I’m driving along.

In the beginning he seems reticent. He answers sincerely, but he weighs each word and says no more than he has to. When I ask him where he was born, his answer is clear : "Amos." Great! Not very talkative, this guy! Hoping that he will be happy talking about his family, I try to adjust my aim and ask him if he has any brothers and sisters. A little sarcastically, but not maliciously, he answers with a badly concealed smile, "I’m like everyone else: I have one father, one mother … one brother and one sister."

Ouch! It’s really not easy getting this guy to talk! Especially as after each answer he lets out a deep sigh. However, even though we’re confined in the car, I don’t feel that the atmosphere is heavy. On the contrary, his last answer gives away his sense of humour. So I try again and ask him to tell me about the start of his career. He sets off with no hesitation and starts to tell me everything in the most minute detail.

That’s it: the ice is broken! I lead into talking about his sudden fame. He replies simply that he’s dealing with it and even coping with it quite well, adding, "I have a life and a private world which I hold on to. I don’t particularly like talking about myself in public."

Hmmm… I’m still a long way off cracking this thing. Ever since we set off, his eyes haven’t left the road in front of us. His voice is controlled, very low, and his delivery is rather slow, so that, at the same time as steering the car, I have to pay a lot of attention to his scarcely perceptible comments. And as he’s wearing dark glasses, it’s impossible to read his eyes.

However, even though he’s hardly chatty, Roy answers all the questions I ask him, directly, without ever trying to skirt round them. In this sense his honesty is disarming, and happily gives the lie to his reputation as someone who is unhelpful to the gentlemen of the press.

Furthermore, he seems very calm and confident. However, when I state that he’s a sex-symbol, his answers become hesitant. Come on, he’s not stupid. He knows very well what I’m talking about. So, is he responding evasively because he’s ill at ease, or because he’s humble? I don’t have time to wonder about this for very long when he suddenly tells me that he’s a great lover and a great romantic! Is he trying to redirect he conversation, or have I just received a gift from heaven? No matter! Without losing an instant I grasp the life-line he has thrown to me : "Oh, right! That woman’s voice that I heard at you house - was that your girlfriend?" "Yes, I’ve been living with her for 18 months," he says. "Can I have her name?" "No!" he replies, turning towards me with a big smile. "And does marriage interest you, Roy?" "I’m not against it; it’s a great family occasion. Especially Italian church weddings followed by a big feast!" His expression tells me that I’m wasting my time trying to find out his real opinion.

While I overtake several vehicles he keeps perfectly quiet. As he’s done since our departure he never initiates a conversation, as if he is there to fulfil our contract, just to answer my questions.

He is giving me a hard time, but I don’t hold it against him at all. On the contrary, he’s very nice to me, and paradoxical as it may seem, I don’t feel that he’s at all distant. I’m equally convinced that, had we met under better circumstances, his honesty would have been a problem, as I strongly believe he’s incapable of lying. And then again, he seems to have a lot of self-confidence: "It depends on the day and the situation. I have quite a wide emotional spectrum. I can be very vulnerable or completely unshakeable." You have to admit, the more time passes, the more transparent he becomes!

After about 15 minutes we eventually reach the studio of Pierre Dionne, our photographer. While we’re walking, my tape recorder continues to capture his comments - and his burst of laughter when I ask him if he’s an organised sort of person. "I’m quite the opposite!"

At the studios we’re waiting for Roy. Pierre’s reflectors are set up and Nathalie Coderre, our co-ordinator, is bringing out various garments intended for our protégé. She immediately notices his boots, which are the same make as hers. He refuses, however, to take them off, preferring to wear his own.

Then he falls in love with a leather jacket which he puts on without hesitation, muttering to himself, "If I’d known I would have brought my own." Then, looking at the stool placed in front of an illuminated mirror, he deduces, "Right. I expect that’s where the make-up happens. Let’s go."

Pierre brings him a plain coffee into which he adds a little milk and two sugars, then he lets the make-up artist, Johanne Piette, do what she likes … until she starts on his hair. We’ve misjudged our hero …. let it be said once and for all : it’s absolutely forbidden to comb Roy’s hair. But he immediately remedies the situation by running his fingers through it!

When he comes back from the first photo session, Roy borrows another cigarette which he calmly smokes. The atmosphere is very relaxed; Roy is at ease with everyone, cracking jokes and chatting uninhibitedly about everything and nothing. The inaccessible person that he was at the beginning has disappeared, and we’re finally getting to know the ‘real’ Roy Dupuis. While he tries on various sweaters and walks around bare-chested, he declares, half-serious, half-joking, "If I go on like this I’ll be completely naked within half an hour." As he goes back into the studio the eyes of Nathalie, our co-ordinator, and Johanne, the make-up artist, betray their fantasies …..

The telephone suddenly interrupts the atmosphere. At the end of the line someone wants to speak to Roy. It’s probably his agent who seems to be asking how Roy is going to get home, because he says, "I left too quickly. I don’t have any money on me." I immediately tell him not to worry, that I will lend him what he needs, and , hold on, I will even bring him home. After another photo session he has several oatmeal biscuits, and a second cup of coffee. During all the time that Pierre was taking photos Roy never showed the least sign of impatience. He accepted without question all our photographer’s ideas, and never tried to make a point of expressing his own tastes or preferences.

It had been agreed that Roy would leave at 16:45 because he had to go home before going on to Old Montreal. Eventually at 17:10 we leave Pierre’s studio, once again a witness to his co-operation. On the way home I continue to interview the new heart throb of Quebecois television who now, very much at ease, borrows a third cigarette.

When I drop him off a couple of steps from his front door he shoots out. "Hey Roy, didn’t you say you needed some cash?" "That’s right. I could use 20$." I give him 40$, which he accepts, thanking me and waving me goodbye. Then he disappears into the night.

Several days later I receive in the post a cheque from Roy, duly addressed but not signed! I inform his agent, Hélène Mailloux, and two days later it’s all taken care of.