They fell in love on The Simpsons and got married in real life. Meet the French Homer and Marge | The Simpsons

TThe Simpsons is the world’s greatest cartoon comedy, with suburban couple Homer and Marge at its heart. From their beginnings as high school sweethearts to the struggles of married life, they are an unbreakable couple. As heavy as it can be, it’s also a series with plenty of sentimental storylines, from Homer giving up his beloved Duff beer for a month to prove his love to Marge, to Marge composing a heartfelt poem to a dying Homer (miraculously, he survives his sushi-induced food poisoning).

Not even the temptations of a brunch-loving bowling instructor named Jacques or a donut-loving redhead named Mindy could come between them. Plus, of course, they enjoy the occasional “cuddle” (even on a miniature golf course…).

The Simpsons, now in its 38th season, has also enjoyed huge success across the world, meaning hundreds of international actors have lent their voices to the much-loved couple. Among them, Philippe Peythieu and Véronique Augereau, who – in addition to playing Marge and Homer in the French dubbing of The Simpsons since 1990 – met through the series and ended up getting married.

“Matt Groening called us the second most famous couple in animation history,” says Peythieu. “There were the actors who played Minnie and Mickey Mouse (the late Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor), and then there were us. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, he said, everyone he worked with was going through a divorce…”

The duo records their scenes with a director in a Parisian dubbing studio 10 to 12 days a year. But it’s clear that The Simpsons are a 365-day-a-year commitment, from their appearances at galas and conventions to the gifts they receive from their adoring fans. Both are adamant that they wouldn’t go on without the other, which means a definite commitment. No to the AI ​​that will take over in the future. “We are not for artificial intelligence, we are for artistic intelligence!” said Augereau. There will always be roles that require a human soul, she adds, and – for Peythieu and Augereau – this role gave them each an extra kindred spirit.

Do you remember your first meeting?

Philippe Peythieu: We met at a casting call in 1989 – it was only six months after The Simpsons debuted in the US, so it wasn’t yet a hit there. We auditioned, and then six months later – by fax – we found out that we had gotten the roles.

Véronique Augereau: Philippe and I didn’t know each other well at all. During tryouts, we passed each other in the hallway of the dubbing offices and greeted each other, but we were just colleagues – we weren’t even friends at that point. There’s a video of us at a wrap party for the first series and we walk past each other, without even speaking to each other, let alone stealing a glance!

PP: SoThis is how this beautiful story began. The recording process brought us closer together, as we worked in the obscurity of the studio, and so we became more than friends… We had to be very discreet at first, as it was a professional setting, but eventually word spread and we are now inseparable. As for the series, we never imagined it would last this long. But this success also contributed to the success of our relationship.

VIRGINIA: As for what actually attracted us to each other, it’s hard to say, but I think the atmosphere around the recording sessions helped – there was always a friendly, funny vibe. Personally, I find the series and the plots extraordinary and incredibly intelligent. I think we really loved this show and were excited about it from the start. We liked the spirit of the series, and this humor which can be quite biting.

What do Homer and Marge like about each other?

VIRGINIA: Marge isn’t a fan of Homer’s over-the-top antics, but deep down she knows he’s her one and only love in life. In the end, she has a lot of tenderness and affection for this man, whom she knows is devoted to her and their children. He is completely in love with his family – even if he doesn’t remember his children’s names all the time…

PP: Over the seasons, there were breakups, but each time, they found each other again. If you watch the movie (The Simpsons Movie, released in 2007), Marge decides to leave Homer, but ends up forgiving all of his stupidities. Their love strengthens, they manage to separate and then find each other again.

VIRGINIA: A French critic, Romain Nigita, actually wrote a book called The Simpsons or the Paradox of the Timeless Donut, for which we wrote the preface. (The book is about the show’s relationship with time, and how it never changes but always seems relevant.) It writes about Marge and Homer’s first meeting in high school – Homer smoking in the bathroom with Barney, Marge burning her bra at a feminist protest, before the two men cross paths at the high school dance. That’s when Homer says, “I’m sure we were meant to be together. Usually when I have a thought, there are a lot of other thoughts in there… something says yes, something says no… But this time, there’s only yes! How can the only thing I’ve ever been sure of in my life be wrong?”

When did you realize it was an everlasting love story?

VIRGINIA: Through all these seasons (we’ll be doubling season 38 soon), this couple is still standing!

PP: Despite his doubts, his worst blunders and the tests of time, Homer is sure of one thing: Marge is the love of his life!

What were your favorite romantic moments between them?

VIRGINIA: We love the bedroom scenes where they’re in their room with the lights off and you only see their eyes moving.

PP: These scenes which can be a little cheeky but which are very well managed – the show addresses sexuality but with lightness, tenderness and humor.

Is there anything you wish Marge and Homer would do differently?

PP: When you’re that addicted to The Simpsons, it’s hard to criticize the show. It would also be difficult to rewrite its history – it’s a show that defined an era. Besides, we love these characters unconditionally, so no matter what they do, we will always forgive them! Homer is also like us – I think as a man I’m a bit like him, and he’s a bit like me in some ways. What you see is what you get with Homer, and yet he still manages to surprise us…

VIRGINIA: Personally, I don’t like Halloween specials.

PP: She finds them scary. There was a Halloween episode where they aired The Shining – I loved that one.

What is your real relationship like off camera?

VIRGINIA: We share the same values ​​in life and move forward together, linked by a very strong bond.

How romantic are you in real life?

VIRGINIA: We often walk arm in arm down the street and people always say, “Hello lovebirds!” or – if I’m alone – “Oh, not with your husband today?” I don’t want to say that people have this idealized view of us, but when we meet fans at conventions, they always say the same kinds of things to us. Whether it’s on The Simpsons or in real life, it seems like a lot of people see us as that devoted couple they enjoy spending time with.

PP: We had the opportunity to meet Matt Groening and the team several times, and they always told us that the French version was one of the best, because we understood the spirit of the series, and the fact that we were husband and wife added that little something extra.

What was the most intense fan reaction to Marge and Homer?

VIRGINIA: People tell us you were the soundtrack to our childhood. Fans will tell us that we represent this perfect couple in their eyes – every Saturday evening we were at their house, in front of their TV, so for some people we were almost like surrogate parents.

Did you keep anything from the set that reminds you of Marge and Homer?

VIRGINIA: This doesn’t come from filming, but during a charity gala in Switzerland, we were given a huge portrait of Marge as a Playboy bunny (a reminder of the episode The Devil Wears Nada).

PP: I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been given donuts.

What can Marge and Homer teach us about love?

PP: What they teach us is that, whatever happens, everything depends on the strong bond that unites them. It is an almost indestructible bond despite the difficulties of life and the differences that sometimes separate them.

VIRGINIA: They show us that love is about forgiveness.

PP: And accept the differences between the two people.

VIRGINIA: We also have to be on the same wavelength in life… at home, we have the same tastes, like contemporary art, gastronomy…

PP: We are good people! We love life. We rarely argue, and if we do, it’s usually over trivial things.

VIRGINIA: That’s why it’s lasted all these years – we’ve been together almost as long as The Simpsons!