What if… The roles they didn’t get | Nothing happens for nothing

In this series, actors talk about a role they didn’t get and imagine how this commitment would have changed their career and their lives

Nothing happens for nothing. Cynics will say that it is a ready-made expression that we like to repeat to maintain hope when we are going through an ordeal. But Marie-Chantal Perron believes in it. Really. She also has quite a story to justify her conviction.

Thanks to a role that she did not obtain, she landed the one with which several generations of Quebecers identify her: Mademoiselle C.

We are in 1999. Marie-Chantal Perron “convert” on 24 poses, a play by Serge Boucher, directed by René Richard Cyr, which she saw at the Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui. She envy her actors to participate, including Adèle Reinhardt, Guylaine Tremblay, Hugo Dubé, Louison Danis and Sylvain Bélanger.

Two years later, when she was celebrating her 35th birthday, the actress learned that a revival would be produced, and for some reason, Guylaine Tremblay would miss the adventure. Against all expectations, the Jean Duceppe company called her to replace the actress. As a good Quebecer, Marie-Chantal Perron “hood”.

“I’m crazy, crazy with joy! Because for me, it’s a chance to join Duceppe, a chance to be part of an important theater family that plays to full houses. »

So far, everything is going well. The first rehearsals are approaching… but there is a turnaround (or twist of events, to respect the theme): Guylaine Tremblay can take the necklace again.

“Everyone is really nice to me, but my heart is broken,” says Marie-Chantal Perron in an interview. I’m super sad. I am very, very sad. »

The news is difficult to digest. For three weeks, the actress sinks… until she receives an audition invitation for the film adaptation of a series of novels by Dominique Demers about a substitute teacher with unorthodox teaching techniques.

Everyone (or almost) knows what happens next: Marie-Chantal Perron wins the bet, and will play the strange but touching heroine in two successful films directed by Richard Ciupka, the first (The mysterious Miss C) in 2002, the second (The incomparable Mademoiselle C) in 2004.

Two decades later, the actress still hears from the teacher. And not just because Crave relays feature films. The character still resonates as much because he conveys current values, such as uniqueness and kindness, believes his interpreter.

“If I had played in 24 posesI could never have done Miss C. He was a lead in a movie. I was filming every day, from morning until evening. »

Managing sluggish periods

Marie-Chantal Perron has often told this anecdote to the young actors and actresses she meets, particularly when they have just learned bad news professionally. “Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine, but the tide can turn very, very quickly,” she insists.

Like her colleagues, the actress has suffered several refusals since her debut in 1992. Some hurt more than others, she explains. Those that occur in the middle of a slack period particularly shock us. “The pill goes better when you work a lot, let’s say. »

“There are slumps in our profession,” she continues. They are sometimes difficult to manage. It requires having strong backs, good friends, and above all, enormous self-confidence. »

Over the years, Marie-Chantal Perron has learned to navigate between the reefs. His experience now helps him deal with tough times. “The human is so well made. We bounce back quickly. When you hear bad news, there are maybe two or three more difficult days, where you just want to drink shots and be like: “This is crap!” It’s correct. But you need to quickly focus on something else. Otherwise, it’s too painful. It does not make sense. You can’t do this job by counting the times you’ve been told no. Unless you use it as fuel, like, “Just because a door closed doesn’t mean I’m going to stop.” »

The “sparkling”

A term inevitably comes up when we ask ordinary people to describe Marie-Chantal Perron: sparkling. The actress is especially so in interviews. His vivacity is as contagious as it is undeniable, from the first “Hello! » right down to the usual greetings.

In recent years, Marie-Chantal Perron has played several dramatic roles on the small screen, notably in Alerts, Red bracelets, With a beating heart And Cerebrum. But for a long time, her image of a jovial and lively girl confined her to certain types of roles.

“In my thirties, I acted in a lot of comedies. Because I have sparkle [étincelle]I have quite a crazy energy…”

“Sometimes I wanted to say: “I’ve done it a hundred times!” But I still went to the auditions, out of humility, and because I might meet someone who would eventually offer me the chance to do something else. »

For Marie-Chantal Perron, the tide began to turn in the mid-2000s, when she was called to the auditions of Our summers, a historical series broadcast on TVA. His audition for Unit 9, in 2015, also proved decisive. Initially, the actress was surprised to be tested to play Madeleine Tessier, a very strict prison guard.

“I was like, ‘I can’t do a madam who looks super severe! I look like Mickey Mouse next to her!” But I auditioned. Because it’s really cool to be called for something new. It’s fun coming out of left field. »