Fanny Herrero, the acclaimed creator of the hit series Call My Agent!, recently accepted the French TV Disruptor Award and shared her insights on creativity, challenges, and the importance of boldness in the industry.
Fanny Herrero: Boldness, Burnout & Global Success
Fanny Herrero accepted Deadline’s French TV Disruptor Award this week at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous gathering in Normandy, France. It’s the biggest market of the year focused on French TV programming, and it was fitting that the creator of the French hit series Call My Agent! was on hand to receive the award. Herrero’s credits also include Standing Up, A French Village, and Kaboul Kitchen. In a sit-down with Deadline, she discussed her TV work, the Call My Agent! movie, and her Olympic moment. Check out her interview in full below.
Overcoming Initial Doubts
With a movie coming and Call My Agent! being an international hit, convincing talent to join the project was initially challenging. “The scripts were good, the production was good, but no one would play in it!” Herrero recalled. “Actors, at that time, were not really used to coming to television, especially those from cinema backgrounds.”
Creating Relatable Characters
She paid tribute to the French TV executives who backed the show, acknowledging their initial hesitations. “I think they felt like we were in some sort of revolution. We were just trying to create a good, modern comedy. They were concerned about whether audiences could identify with characters from Paris’s cultural elite. In the end, we made it happen.” Herrero emphasized the importance of making the characters relatable: “We had to feel for the characters, the agents, and the assistants; they had to be like us, normal people in a crazy world.”
Optimism in Writing
Herrero described her writing style as open, joyful, and optimistic. “My writing is not too cynical or dark. I think that helped create a world that feels accessible.” With adaptations of the show running in several territories, Call My Agent! has become an international format.
The French Touch
“For me, this show is so French, with all our French actors. People say French comedy doesn’t travel, but we did it. It’s still a surprise when people from different countries tell me about the show,” she said.
Transforming for Local Audiences
Herrero is not directly involved with the international versions. “A good remake has to be different from the original; it must be culturally rich, true, and authentic. The cinema industry is a great window to observe society and address important questions about how we coexist.”
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Facing Burnout
After working on Call My Agent! for seven years, Herrero departed before the final season due to creative differences and burnout. “I felt both fragile and strong. There were two options: take a break to recover and feel creative again, or just leave. The decision was not easy, but I made it.”
Olympic Experience
Following her work on the series, Herrero joined the writing team for the unforgettable Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. “I am still not really over it. I think about it often and sometimes watch the images of what we created; it’s something that will leave a mark.” On the day of the ceremony, she experienced crippling nerves: “I was shaking. I wondered how people would react. The stakes were so high, but we managed to pull it off.”
A Call for Boldness
Accepting her Deadline French TV Disruptor Award, Herrero spoke about her Olympic experience and used it to advocate for boldness in creativity. “We were deeply convinced that we wanted to share values dear to our hearts: love, diversity, togetherness, fantasy, imagination, art, and a sense of community. Boldness and audacity protect creativity against fear. This conviction is what guides me, and I hope it guides you too, as we need that strength of conviction.”
