His age, his life in the South, his children, Here It All Begins… Confidences (EXCLUDED)

Vanessa Demouy, who plays the character of Rose Latour in Here it all begins for several years, has continued filming the successful TF1 series and is leading the dolce vita in the South, where she has lived for several years, far from the tumult of Paris. The 51-year-old actress spoke about her journey, her daily life in Sète, her difficult beginnings, her children…

Le Journal des Femmes: You have been playing the character of Rose Latour since 2018. Are you still as enthusiastic after so many years?
Vanessa Demouy: Rose was a priceless gift. I’ve been playing this character for years, but she has so many facets that it’s like I’m playing ten! I’m not tired at all.

Do you have anything in common with your character?
Fewer dramas happen to me than to her and fortunately! We have in common this thirst for life, this ability to be able to get back up even after 70 falls. Afterwards, she’s very optimistic and that’s clearly not something we have in common (laughs)! I’m pretty down to earth, sometimes too much so.

What story arcs do you want to explore with the character of Rose?
Already, this new motherhood for her is very interesting to approach. It was a bit of a gray area in her life and there, Rose discovered that she was the mother of a young adult! Her relationship with Carla is full of modesty and unsaid things but, little by little, they manage to talk to each other, to communicate, to say things to each other.

Isn’t the format of a series restrictive on a daily basis?
It’s clear, I often compare us to high-level athletes. But thanks to this, we pay attention to our sleep, our diet and this requires a real healthy lifestyle which forces us to maintain a framework… It’s not bad, I think!

How do you view your journey?
I look back on my journey full of tenderness. I had a very difficult twenties. At an age where we are still developing, we are asked to know everything about everything when we already know nothing about ourselves. It was terrible. In addition, I was over-publicized at that time, it was a disaster! But as the years go by and with experience, when I look back, I say to this young woman full of doubts and anguish that I was: ‘well done, you did it’!

“In the South, we handle problems differently”

What do you say to yourself when you rewatch extracts from “Classe Mannequin” (the sitcom in which she starred in 1993, editor’s note)?
My kids watched this not too long ago on their computer. They were dying of laughter! But in the end, I find it light and fresh. It’s quite crazy to see these images again and say to yourself: ‘Ah, but it’s true that I did that, it was my life…’ When you’re caught in a whirlwind, the brain is well made, he tends to disconnect, to forget. But I don’t regret this period of my life.

The filming of “Ici Tout Commence” takes place in Aigue-Mortes in the South and you have lived in Sète for several years. Were you tired of everyday Parisian life?
In the South, we don’t have fewer problems, but we manage them differently! It is certain that the light, the heat, the blue sky influence our morale. The way of living is different, but I think it’s pretty much the same for all the provinces, everything that isn’t Paris in fact (laughs)! I have the impression that here we take the time to live. There is less stress than in big cities. Life is prettier!

Do you manage to combine your daily life as a mother with your career as an actress?
I’ve never had too much trouble in this regard. When I had my first child (Solal, born in 2003 from her love with the actor Philippe Lellouche, editor’s note), I was already an actress. It’s all a question of organization. And now my children are grown up. My eldest son has left the nest and lives in his little apartment now. As for my daughter, (Charlie, 13 years old, editor’s note) she is a teenager now.

If your children told you they wanted to pursue a career in comedy, how would you react?
Is this what I want for my children? Absolutely not. But, I know that between what I would like and what they do, there is a difference! Whatever they decide, even if it’s not what we would have liked for them, we must support them and not pass on our anxieties to them: they have enough to do with theirs.

“I don’t want to look like I’m 20.”

You are sometimes the subject of inappropriate comments on the networks. Do they reach you and how do you deal with them?
Most of the time, I don’t suffer from it. But I’m not someone who gives in, so I answer them. If someone spoke to me like that in real life, it would be crazy! Already, people wouldn’t even dare. Internet users allow themselves to say incredible things through screens when it wouldn’t even occur to them to say it to me in the supermarket. With my friend Veronika Loubry, we say that our networks are an open door to us. However, when I invite people to my home, I expect respect. And if it doesn’t suit me, I’ll fire them! I accept being criticized for my work, but not for my appearance. I know I don’t look 20 anymore. And still happy, I’m 50, so that would be weird! I definitely don’t want to look like I’m 20 years old.

What is your relationship with age?
I had a complicated twenties but I have a wonderful fifties! I feel good in my sneakers. It’s as if suddenly, what I vibrate and what I think is in line with my age. I finally feel good about my age. What worries me more is body pain. But the fact of getting wrinkles doesn’t scare me, I find that getting older is an opportunity. I feel so good in my body! So yes, it’s more flabby, less firm, less smooth… But it doesn’t matter, I’m fine with it!

Has public recognition helped you gain self-confidence?
This love and kindness from the public helped me get through dark times. Despite everything, this image of a popular actress that I have was quite complicated to assume at the start of my career. Today, it’s something I cherish. What is quite strange is that I have always had the recognition of the public, but it is that of the profession which has lasted longer!

Is there a dream you want to accomplish in the near future?
I would really like to write. I already do it quite regularly, but between writing for leisure and writing a screenplay with a beginning, a middle and an end, I still have some room!

Exclusive interview which cannot be repeated without mention of the Women’s Journal.