Questionnaire by Premiere France

Is Christophe Porteneuve your real name?

Yes (why on Earth would I make up such a name?!)

No nickname?

TDD (pronounce as if spelling out), but that's mostly in the computer world. My girlfriend calls me “Loulou,” but that's her exclusive privilege :-)

Women of your life?

Élodie, my mom (yeah, sounds oedipian…) On a lighter scale, Tasneem Ahmed.

Who were you ever mistaken for?

Hugh Grant, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Colin Farrell… Bwahaha! Er, no, it didn't happen that I know of.

What's your take on the British?

I love England. I certainly admit to many facets of the British culture being irritating to me, be it food, relation to the world or labor law, to name but a few. Still, let's avoid assigning traits to the mass, this is just stupid. We shouldn't consider a country and its inhabitants interchangeable. Think the Bush administration vs. most people in the West coast or the tri-state area, for instance.

What do you do when you're alone in an elevator?

I usually look for a mirror so I can check my looks, adjust my clothes…

The name on your mailbox?

“Christophe Porteneuve / Élodie Jaubert”

What hymn would you pick?

I would have said Beethoven's Ode To Joy, but on the classical side I think I prefer the Ride of the Walkyries. It always pumps me up when I work at my PC.

Your favorite word?

French's “doux,” which translates, depending on context, as “soft,” “sweet” or “gentle.”

Any change in your pockets?

I usually have around €30 (US$35). Right this minute, I must have about €15.

Your favorite multinational company?

Is there just one left without an army of skeletons in their closets? If we set this aside, I may go for the Accor group, because they provide quality hotel/restaurant services the world over (well, their bottom-rankers suck a lot, but hey, look at Sofitels, they're pretty sweet), and I guess this fits nicely with the French tradition…

The latest thing that was stolen from you?

My mobile phone, I guess. Early March 2002.

Do you practice any sports?

I used to, before I moved to Paris. Mostly swimming and biking. But now… I just haven't got enough time anymore. I should do some sports again, though. I had taken back fitness, then swimming… Damn lack of discipline!

Have you ever traveled around the world?

Not really. I traveled quite a bit, yes, but… I sure hope I'll do it one day.

Which destination would you recommend?

Hmm, that's a tough one. I have excellent memories of my holidays in Turkey. I also think we should go more to Northen European countries like Lithuania, and Eastern European ones like Hungary. People there are so warm, so kind to foreigners. On the other hand, avoid Croatia at all costs! The landscapes are great, but I lost count of the reports I got telling of open hostility towards tourists. Amazing.

Your favorite insult?

In English, I just can't recall what I might have blurted most. I haven't cursed or insulted anyone in English for a long time!

A life you would have liked to have?

Ï don't know. I'm pretty happy with mine. Even if, when you look at trajectories like those of Steve Jobs, Ben Goodger or just David Heinemeier Hansson, it makes you ponder.

What lost cause would you defend?

Let's see here… How about the complete cease of opium production the world over? Ain't it a good windmill to fight against? There's likely no chance to achieve this…

What do you always have in the fridge?

Milk, fruit juices, raspberry jam (or other red berries), yoghurt, cheese… I usually also have tomatoes, endives, mozarella and chicken. Since Élodie moved in, I eat much more often at home. Therefore my fridge is kinda full.

Your car?

None so far. I like BMW's Z3 Roadster in silver (or British green), as well as Audi's TT (same color), Peugeot's 307cc… I may just buy one, one day. When they'll pollute less, otherwise I'll take something else.

What do you have the nostalgia of?

I'm nostalgic of old friends who were very close to me, whom life kinda made drift away. Mostly people outside the Paris area, then. I find it hard to turn this kind of pages…

What music do you listen to?

Just about anything, except Trash, Black Metal, this kind of things. I like several rappers, techno music in general, goa, electro stuff… These days, I've been listening to more stuff, like Martin Rappeneau, Seal, Gilliane Kim, Norah Jones, Peter Gabriel, Damien Rice, La Grande Sophie, Matthieu Boogaert, the Wriggles and many others. But I also enjoy classical music, which in my opinion deserves so much respect. Those are real instruments, real composers at work. People just creating and sensing the work of 20 to 50 instruments in their mind, you know. I also enjoy a good lyrics writer.

Are you a bit of a musician?

Very, very little of it. Well, I'd have loved to learn to play the piano, the guitar and the sax, but I really didn't have the time, nor did we have the money to pay for classes or buy the instrument. I still dream of learning to play the piano and turn out to be good at it…

What does your God look like?

It doesn't look anything. I'm an atheist (though not an agnostic). My God is what my conscience tells me is right.