Christmas with the family… A joy for some, a challenge for others. Especially when it comes time to choose a gift. Raphaële Moussafir and Christophe Offenstein offer us a moment of laughter, joy and cacophony around the tree, carried by a succulent, hypochondriac and neurotic cast: Chantal Lauby, Mélanie Doutey, Vanessa Guide, Gringe, Max Boublil, and even Tom Leeb. Giftsin theaters Wednesday December 25, 2024, is an choral film that questions family ties, friendships and love. A perfect mix to welcome the end of year celebrations with humor. And for the promotion of this film, Camille Lellouche, who plays Charlotte, agreed to answer a few questions from Tele-Leisure.
Camille Lellouche: “Knowing how to please is one thing, but knowing how to give gifts is another”
Télé-Loisirs: How did you get involved with this project?
Camille Lellouche: They told me about the film, the casting and I thought everyone was so cool! The idea of talking about Christmas presents was interesting. It's true that it's always a subject, debates, low masses. I found it very interesting, especially in a comedy.
In the film, you were born around Christmas time and particularly hate parties and gifts. Is this true in your real life?
In real life, I'm someone who knows how to give gifts. But when I receive them I have more often been… not disappointed, but not surprised. I think it's a question of sensitivity. Knowing how to please is one thing, but knowing how to give gifts is another.
Have you ever thought of making lists?
No, I find it super embarrassing. Several times I have been asked to make a list of what I want, for my birthday or Christmas. I find it a little out of place, a little weird. For example, my daughter, for her second birthday, I was told to make a list. I don't know, buy things that are informative, that are useful. Everyone does what they want, but I don't dare say: “I want to have that”. Every time I tell them to do what they want, what makes them happy. When it pleases people, obviously we receive it with that affection.
Besides, what is the worst gift you have ever received?
[Rires]. It's not the worst, but receiving a blanket… It's really when you don't know what to give. Like gift cards. You force me to choose my own gift. After a blanket it's great, but two blankets in one evening, or the sweater, the scarf, it's the gift that says: “I didn’t know what to get you.”.
And offered?
Frankly, without any pretension, I am quite efficient. So, I have faults, but not in gifts! All the people I love and give gifts to, I usually have heard or seen things while being with them. For example, if we pass a store, and it says: “Ah I love that little thing”, “Ah the pair of sneakers, I really like it”okay, it's noted. I observe a lot of the people I meet so I know if they like jewelry, shoes, clothes, or books. In general I manage pretty well!
Camille Lellouche: “It’s the first time I’ve experienced true love.”
Do you consider becoming a mother a beautiful gift that life has given you?
It's more than a nice gift. I am very religious, so I prayed for a long time to have this little girl. I wonder, it's a bit cliché but, what did I do before? I was very happy at a very young age, then not much for a few years. Since she's here I'm happy again. It's very nice to be able to say that we are happy, especially thanks to a little being. Besides, she really is — well, obviously I have no objectivity — but she is insane! She's funny, she's smart. She is two years old, and you can have a conversation with her as if she were 4 or 5. She speaks very well, she is hyper alert. She sings, she makes up songs, she has a little piano. She has something, I don't know if it's fortunately or unfortunately, artistic. It's great to have it. I am relieved to know that I will have at least one child. Two, I don't know. It takes time. I was told I couldn't have one. Apparently so, like what! Whatever happens, I always put things into perspective. What I couldn't do before because I missed my daughter, and knowing love. To be with someone who loves you deeply, not for what you reflect but for who you are as a human being. Not the artist or the famous girl. It's something very reassuring, pleasant. This is healthy love. I have no objectivity again, but I think this is the first time I've experienced true love. Telling me that I am respected and loved is a lot.
Do you live it hidden to protect it?
I assume that I do this job, so the notoriety goes with it. But my husband is someone very, even more modest than me, even more discreet. My daughter is my daughter. It's not mean, but I don't do reality TV, I'm not an influencer, so I don't have to show that. That we hear his voice from time to time in a video… it's part of my daily life, it's normal. It leaves room for people to imagine what it could be like. But it's important to preserve that, it's my cocoon, it's my life.
Coming back to the film, you share the bill with Tom Leeb as well as Gringe, Mélanie Doutey, Vanessa Guide and Chantal Lauby. What was the atmosphere like on set?
It was so good! Gringe, we toured together in Damien wants to change the world a few years ago. It was a great movie where I played a lawyer and Gringe in it was a childhood friend. He was a bit in love with me, it was very funny, I kept failing him all the time. He's a great actor, a great singer, rapper. It's nice to play with people who have the intelligence of the work, the profession, and who are humble, in the service of their character. We were a great team! I never felt an ego. We were really a troop, it was nice.
Camille Lellouche on her film roles: “I never really liked kissing scenes”
You share the bill, in particular, with Tom Leeb. How did this collaboration go?
It went really well. We already knew each other. During Covid, we talked a lot because he makes music. From a distance, we sent each other a lot of the songs we made. We have a great rapport so it was super fluid, super natural, especially during moments that could be embarrassing in the film, notably the striptease scene. I am very modest. As I knew him, and we were in a character – who was also uncomfortable so that helped – we were immediately very comfortable. He told me: “Don't worry. I'm not going to touch you. Is it okay if I walk behind you?” He is extremely well mannered and respectful. It was very easy.
He plays a man paid to get you out of a form of emotional and sexual precariousness. As a couple and a mother, did you find it funny to play the opposite way?
The luck I had was that my character is very uncomfortable! He doesn't like surprises or gifts. Charlotte doesn't like not being in control, especially when it comes to romantic or sexual relationships. She has a bit of a rejection and fear of commitment. I never really liked kissing scenes, love scenes, etc. There are plenty of actresses who do it very, very well. It's not my thing. And there even less. So we suggested it more than anything else. Even in scenes where we think we're naked, I actually have a towel. He was shirtless, but I wasn't looking. It doesn't seem like it, but I'm rather modest. I can't do everything either! [Rires]
Another big news for you, you have just released your second album, II. What motivates you more: cinema or song?
There is humor too! If I had to make a choice, if someone threatened me with a gun, I would choose music. It was the first thing that brought me back from a lot of trauma, it was my therapy. I have always saved myself with this art. And the scene, obviously. But I really love all three to the fullest. There are periods when I will be much more of an actress, more of a singer or more of a comedian. For example, I'm releasing my second album, I'm already writing my second comedy show because it's been four years since I've been on stage. I feel like I miss it. I need to make people laugh, find that energy again. I never go where I'm expected in the sense that normally, when you do a successful show, you have to follow through. I was at the height of humor with my show and I decided to go and make an album. I said to myself: “I’ve been waiting for 20 years, let’s make this album now”. I wasn't going to do it at 45. It was a little late, I've been singing since I was 4 years old. And the second one, there will perhaps be a third, but not right away. It depends on my energy.
Camille Lellouche: “I lost a friend in July”
You have also been coach for The Voice and for Dream Team. Would you have imagined this when you started in music?
No not at all. Already being able to succeed in this area I told myself that it was going to take a long time. It was. Then give me this responsibility. There's the show, then there's real life. Besides, there are some talents of The Voice who send me messages, including Shanys who I took to the final in the side show. We talk often. It's hard afterwards. They have the craze, they have the notoriety suddenly, then nothing. You have to come back, it doesn't work right away for everyone. I think I have a responsibility to do what I can to reassure them, to help however I can. But it's true that I don't have this absolute power to be able to ensure that everyone succeeds, not yet.
The year is coming to an end, it will have been rich for you. What is the best gift she gave you?
Honestly, it's about being healthy, having my whole family healthy. I lost a friend in July, I was making my album with him. His name was Nino Vella, he was 31 years old. It was very intense. We are going through a difficult year, with everything that is happening in the world. We are in a very anxious climate and it's sad that we are all like this. Health, we forget all the time, it's a real gift. It is a luxury today to be in good health. You have money problems, personal worries, so you neglect being healthy. It’s when you lose people around you that you say to yourself: “Ah yes anyway, we’re doing well actually.”
