After early careers in software development and language teaching, he shifted gears to follow his passion into acting, appearing in international film, television, and theater productions across Europe.

A native French speaker fluent in English, Hungarian, Spanish, Malagasy and more, Harry brings a global perspective to every role he takes on (on and off camera) blending street smarts, an island gentle soul, a geek’s mind, and a love for storytelling.

When he’s not on stage or in front of the camera, you’ll likely find him at golden hour behind a lens capturing the moment, behind the wheel chasing it into the sunset, or behind a glass of something good, soaking it all in and sipping time.

A longtime fan of Budapest, Harry calls the city one of the world’s most underrated treasures, especially the corners off the beaten track, and he’s proud to be part of its ever-growing international community.
 

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

I moved here in '93 when I was 15. It was time to leave Madagascar, my mother's island, where I grew up (and which I adored), and discover the other half of my identity, Hungary, my father's homeland. It was a bittersweet shift, but also the start of a wild, beautiful and mostly educative journey.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

I've been an expat in the Netherlands, India, Sweden, and Austria, and to be honest, pretty much everywhere I've been, I've always felt like an expat.

But aside from feeling at home in Hungary, I've also always felt especially at ease in France, French-speaking Switzerland, and Miami, USA as an expat there too. Different vibes, same comfort zone. Probably the French language factor... and maybe just a little bit of the Miami Vice factor too.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

That such a small country packs in so much complexity, contradictions that somehow harmonize, grief and pride, silence and roar, the beautiful and the bleak. It’s all here, squeezed into a place most people still can’t find on a map. It only added more fuel to the intrigue, inspiring me to get more and more immersed in it.

4. Friends are in Budapest for the weekend – what must they absolutely see and do?

Skip the overhyped 7th district and wander through the charming chaos of the 8th instead. Catch some real folk music, soak in the thermal baths (just not during Sziget, unless you’re into people soup), eat Hungarian, but steer clear of tourist traps, and most importantly, talk to people. Hungarians might seem reserved at first, but once you break the ice, they’ll surprise you. Just… maybe don’t flash too wide a smile right away, or they might think you’ve escaped from somewhere.

And of course do yourself a favor: make time for the city’s stunning cultural landmarks and institutions. They’re not just photogenic, they’re part of the soul of Budapest.

5. What is your favorite Hungarian food?

Halászlé, Hungarian fish soup. Thick, rich, a little fatty, and perfect with hot peppers and tejföl (sour cream, obviously). There are two main types, Baja and Szegedi, both great, but let’s agree, no pasta in there, please.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Hot chili sauces. I've got around 20 bottles at any given time, some store-bought, some homemade Madagascan style, others flown in from Madagascar or the US. Capsicum is basically my fuel. I believe it keeps me alive, and healthy, alert, and possibly youthful? Who knows, tell ya later. 

7. What is your favorite Hungarian word?

Egészségedre. It’s more than just “cheers.” It’s a mini poem. Ég means sky, egész means whole, egészség means wholeness (which eventually came to mean health), and -edre means to yours. So when you say it, you’re literally toasting to your wholeness. Hungarian is full of little etymological treasures like that. Totally geek-worthy.

8. What do you miss most from home?

If home is Madagascar, and it is, because that’s where I became me, then I miss the sea, the strange and wild nature, the seafood, and most of all, the people’s radiant, unbreakable smiles, no matter what life throws at them.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Besides currently being an actor and a linguist (after having made my daily bread as a computer programmer and a language teacher for many long and enriching years), I'd love to dive into photography and directing. I feel like blending the different senses I've learned to sharpen over time could lead to some interesting storytelling.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

Anything in politics, finance, accounting, insurance, basically anything that might make me rich but empty, and that’s just me, not denigrating these fields for others. But in the end I like looking at the bottom of my glass by choice, not existential despair.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Sorrento. Just... wow. The light, the colors, the breeze, the smells, like bottling sunlight inside a drop of dew. Pure poetry.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

Madagascar. I haven't been back since '93. It's time.

Though honestly, it might still be a fantasy for now, depending on the budget. So realistically? Probably somewhere in the Mediterranean or Adriatic Sea again... or maybe Morocco.

13. Apart from temptation, what can't you resist?

A spontaneous, last-minute adventure that turns into an all-nighter full of memorable shenanigans and ends with sunrise and a grin that hurts. Life's too short to over-plan everything.

14. What was your favorite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Bands? The Doors, Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Underground. Films? Back to the Future, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Trainspotting. Hobbies? Building working cars out of tin cans, programming video games, creating fractals, playing guitar, writing poems, and flying Microsoft Flight Simulator in real time overnight, usually on a school night.

15. Red or white?

Red for partying, white for chilling

16. Books or films?

Films. Always loved them, and now I'm lucky enough to work in them. A good book still hits the spot, but cinema is where I breathe.

17. Morning person or night person?

“Wine in the mornin’, and some breakfast at night… well I’m beginning to see the light” – Velvet Underground. Yeah, that about sums it up.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Racism and authoritarianism. Those are hard lines for me. Basic dignity and freedom should never be up for debate.

19. Buda or Pest?

Both. It’s gotta be Budapest. Born in Pest, raised in Buda, reborn in Pest again… and I’ll probably grow old in Buda or even further out, or who knows where, in which country I’ll end up next. But this city has it all, elegance and edge, architecture and nightlife, forests and thermal springs. It’s ridiculously underrated.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

Take it easy, but take it. If it’s heavy, f**k it.