RAYA MARTIGNY
Name: Raya Martigny
Age: 30
Home: Paris
Birthplace: Saint-Joseph, Réunion Island, Indian Ocean
Work: Actress — and much more than you might think
Photographed in an apartment
What does your Monday morning look like?
Monday morning is usually the calm before the storm. I take time to acknowledge the energy of the weekend, look through the notes on my phone, and enjoy my first coffee of the week.
How do you define what you do?
As a laboratory for deconstructing my own mind. It's a puzzle: finding depth in my life while making it joyful and beautiful.
Is there a specific satisfying moment in your work?
When I reconnect with someone I first spoke to ten years ago, and we both realise it's finally the right time to create something together. The fact that the idea has lived in both of our minds, constantly evolving while we stayed connected without even talking about it, makes it feel mature and truly meaningful.
What are you obsessed with?
Old fairy tale books from the 1920s and 1930s – especially those illustrated by Joyce Mercer.
Do you have a mantra, or something you often return to?
My dog makes me feel good in any situation. I love watching her happy – it calms me down and always makes me smile. I also do little magic gestures with my hands to protect and strengthen my energy.
When and how did you arrive in Paris?
I arrived in Paris a long time ago. At sixteen, I chose to move here on my own, without my family. Paris is the city where I encountered myself.
What's special about this city, and what makes it home?
I've never really felt at home in Paris.
Do you have a secret place in town or a secret ritual?
I love going to Versailles. The gardens are magical and beautiful. More than anything, I'm obsessed with nature. And honestly, I don't think anything stays secret in Paris.
What has changed between who you were ten years ago and who you are now?
I'm definitely more at peace. I know my limits, I know what I want, and I know that I'm a talented, ambitious, fantastic goddess.
If you had any advice to give...
Take time to acknowledge your successes, whether they're small or big, and celebrate them. Write down everything important that happens to you.
When do you feel proud, relieved, or at peace?
I feel most relieved when I'm on holiday, naked on a beach, listening to the waves and the ocean flirting with my ears.
How do you escape daily life?
I lock myself at home with my dog, stay in bed, and spend hours searching for vintage treasures on my computer.
What are you chasing?
I'm chasing respect from society.
What do you see behind the shadow?
A lot of beauty. An imaginary world. I love shadows so much.
A new project to come?
Directing. It will take the time it needs. Other than that, I'm entering the most peaceful era of my life.
Photography by Hanna Pallot
Interview by SP curatorial team