Do you know an actress? Do you know what his daily work looks like? We explore this profession with Carmen Ferlan, actress and singer since 1980, who lives between Montreal and Paris.
How did you choose your profession?
I sing and play since my early childhood in my head. Yet I never imagined that one day I would practice this profession professionally. It was only after winning a few amateur competitions here and there and receiving encouragement to develop the artistic potential that I projected myself into the profession. I started first as a singer and later came to me the taste of playing characters. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I made my first attempts at the cinema. I started at the bottom of the ladder, first as an extra in films, then in silent roles, and finally stammering my first lines of dialogue. It was learning the trade “on the job” to use a common expression. Today I still sing, I play at the cinema, in television, in theater, and in musicals. It’s happiness!
What does your typical day at work look like?
My work is defined rather in terms of steps to follow. Working on a character, whether for the stage or the screen, there is a whole physical, psychological and emotional preparation to be done before the day of shooting or the show. After reading the script I should already start my research; find the colors of the character, see its nuances, distinguish its weaknesses and its strengths, its tastes. Of course, all of this is done in close collaboration with the director or producer. On the day of shooting is the character who works, my job is to focus only on him and on the characters with whom he is in contact.
What excites you and makes you proud to practice this profession?
All. I love this profession passionately. He makes me live several lives at the same time. It is sometimes difficult to renew yourself and I like the challenge represented by the characters of composition, the more they are foreign to me the more I have fun. It’s a privilege to be able to express yourself so much and touch people’s hearts. You know there are several actresses who, through their interpretations, have soothed my sufferings of the moment or encouraged my hopes, so if I can do it myself, yes that makes me proud.
What don’t people know or suspect about your job?
Unexpected. You can never predict success, a career, security… There are many few chosen ones and only the love of the job is a guarantee of success.
What would you like people to know about your work?
Discipline, discipline, and discipline.
What advice would you give to people who want to do the same job as you?
Not to try to be someone else… the role is already distributed!
If you also want to tell us about your job, write to us!
