Sakis 1000% sexy!

There's an exception to every rule.

And "Madame Figaro" this August decides to prove this, publishing its first male cover. Reason? Sakis Rouvas. The ultimate greek star. Any objections?

The delightful breeze of Cyclades and our impatience for a shooting with Sakis Rouvas, made that Saturday morning in July one of the most magical of the summer for all of us.

Our appointment was set at 1 o'clock, noon. "We'll tell him at 1.00, so we can get startedat around 3.00", he had all agreed in a conspiratory mood the night before, in Sea Satin. "We're in Mykonos, Sakis is a superstar, surely he'll be late." But, to our surprise, at 1 o'clock sharp we saw him coming up the road to the house of stone, inside the Parenthesis block, in Kapari - a house of fairy-tales, with a magical view, huge space, literally carved in the rock, white antique furniture, amazing flora, and unique energy.

Preparations began at once. Sakis, smiling, calm, down to earth - nothing like the distant, glass image of a plastic hunk presented by the media - had brought 3 things with him: his favourite CDs, his new camera, which he picked up on any opportunity to shoot whatever impressed him, and his astounding aura, which made all of us gather around (when he wasn't looking) to comment: "He's not only godlike handsome, he's also incredibly charming!"

Every shot was a revelation. Sexy Sakis, childlike Sakis, thoughtful Sakis, Sakis laughing to tears. The conclusion? Sakis is an outstanding professional. And a terrific guy.

Sakis, accept a big "thank you" from all of us in "Madame Figaro", because by what you send out you overthrow the malicious clichθs that often accompany the stars of your size.

Sakis!

1. Because he is the ultimate greek star.

1. Because he is the man we all love.

1. Because Melina Adamopoulou met him in Mykonos and fell victim of his simplicity, his politeness and his spontaneity.

1. Because, exclusively for the "Madame Figaro" readers, Sakis Rouvas uncovered the most intimate sides of his life.

I had decided to be very constrained with him.

Not to be blinded by his shine. Neither get carried away by his plainness, his kindness, his gaze, his smile, his modesty, his spontaneity. Anyway, I had decided not to allow myself to fall for the charm of "the ultimate greek star". To take a "critical" stand towards the "Rouvas phenomenon". I was so wrong about all this.

This boy (man, child, call him what you like) is unique. Because he is entirely real. He is himself. He doesn't pretend to be anything. And he is everything. Gorgeous (but not a narcissus), friendly, tender, generous, plain, approachable. He stands well on his feet (but he's also half a metre above the earth), he doesn't set limits for himself (but he also believes in the value of discipline), he's not afraid to expose himself (but he knows how to protect his own moments).

Where do you come from? I asked him (seriously) when he entered the studio. "From Corfu", he replied with a huge smile. And from this very first moment (incredible) I felt like he was a friend of mine, one of my kind, someone from next door. So, this is Sakis Rouvas. The one who makes a whole Greece delirious in (just) hearing "Shake it", who is able to monopolize the TV news for days, who achieves the highest TV rates ever, and manages to gain the (undisputed) admiration of all Greeks. From the Mayor of Athens to little Tasos Tsiartas.

Sakis comes (indeed) from Corfu. He was born there, raised there, all (beloved) he remembers is there. "The beaches where I used to speed with my bicycle, the olive trees, the pines, the red houses, the philharmonic groups, my friends, my parents, my brothers". Four boys in the family. The big brother, Sakis.

Were you a star since you were a child?

"No, I never was the centre of attention. I didn't care to be." He has been singing since he was little, but he had never thought of becoming a singer. "I wanted to be an astronaut. And later an athlete. I certainly used to sing at parties. I also used to write songs. My friends and I had made a band. Two untuned guitars and cardboard boxes for drums. And we played the Beatles! And my songs too!"

When did you leave Corfu?

"At eighteen. Until then I had done a hundred jobs. Garage, bar, metalworks. In summer I used to sing in a nightclub. Many people saw and heard me. They told me "come to Athens". And so I came."

What did you bring with you?

"Myself. Along with the colours, the images and the experiences of the land where I was born."

He doesn't have a fetish. He never had. He doesn't get bonded to things. "Only to people."

How entrapped do you feel in this thing you live now?

"What do I live in?"

Ultimate glory.

"Is this your way of defining "ultimate glory"? To me what I live in is pure delight. And, far from making me suffocate, it offers me the chance to express myself. It liberates me."

It may sound odd, but Sakis is the solitary type.

"I like spending some hours on my own. When I'm alone I get to know myself in a different way. That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy being with company too."

What should someone have in order to become your friend?

"Positive energy."

What about a woman? What makes her lovable?

"It's not just one thing that can make a woman lovable. There are many. Her aura, her energy, her chemistry with me, things missing from inside of me which I can find in her."

He drinks tea with milk and honey, "but also without milk and honey." He eats sea-urchins and clams "and all seafood". He listens to the Beatles, Queen, Elvis Presley, the Platters, Little Richard, "60's in general and a lot of rock."

Yes, he is romantic. "Is it a bad thing?" His favourite song is Bohemian Rhapsody. "I can listen to it all the time." He doesn't have any idols. "I never had. I had people whom I admired." His favourite athlete is Sergei Bubka. "One hell of a man!" His favourite movie is Moulin Rouge. He's certainly thinking about playing in the cinema. "Until now I've said no. But I think I will finally say yes. I like the idea very much."

He admires the Beatles. "Since I was a child." And he would love to have a song written for him by John Lennon, "if he was alive".

What is it that leaves you with the most bitter taste?

"The news on TV."

And the sweetest?

"The children's and my friends' laughter."

Suppose you're leaving for a long journey. What person, what object and what music would you take with you?

He's laughing. "What kind of journey? Far away? Why am I leaving? How long will I be gone? With just one person? With an object and one kind of music only? Impossible. Give me more options please. Unless..."

Unless?

"Unless this one person is the perfect human being. In this case it's different. Then I'll leave with her."

Have you found this person?

"No. I'm looking for her."

What kind of music would you listen to?

"It's impossible to be just one. Music reflects our mood. And our mood changes. There's not only one, there are many. That's why there must be many kinds of music. I don't like being restricted. Life has offered me so many, and I get to keep just one?"

I don't insist. I change the subject. I talk about Shake it (and he laughs), about the delirium he has caused, about his success in the Eurovision.

"Eurovision was to me like a wide open door" he says. "And a great experience. And also the greatest joy. It's amazing to be seen and heard by 700 million people. To communicate with so many people." That's it, so simple, so modest, so down to earth. While he is talking his eyes are shining. Energy flows from everywhere. I know he works hard. Tirelessly. He hasn't come up to here by chance. "Here? Where?" he asks.

To success.

"All right, I work. I may be a perfectionist. However, success comes mainly out of our relation to ourselves. Work sure helps. Our relations to other people also help and confirm us. But what really advances us is the good relation to ourselves."

He refuses to talk about either his "good" or his "bad" sides. "You mean merits and flaws?" he asks. "My friends can tell you about them, not me."

Will you at least tell me what is your wildest dream?

"I won't tell. I'll let you watch it come true."

I turn off the recorder and I look at him.

"Would you like us to talk some more?" he asks me (yes, he's still talking to me in the polite plural). "I have a rehearsal to do. And I'm late..."

Magazine: Madame Figaro, August 2004