The new season 1 of the series Ericaunlike a series by Olivier Marchal according to Grégory Fitoussi, returns for a final investigation this Monday, January 20, 2025. The fiction in six episodes is carried by Julie de Bona (Erica), very attached to her audience and protective of her sister, and by Grégory Fitoussi (Patrick), two actors who have known each other for a long time. The series welcomed several guest stars throughout the storylines, including Julie Sassoust and Benjamin Douba Paris. Tonight it’s the turn of Catherine Benguigui (Mona in Tomorrow belongs to us) to arrive in the series and confide in Tele-Leisure.
Erica : “It allowed me to create a much more nuanced mother character“, explains Catherine Benguigui
Télé-Loisirs: What did you like about the role of Christine, Patrick’s mother in Erica ?
Catherine Benguigui : I liked the idea of being in a detective series and getting away from the role of Mona a little [dans Demain nous appartient, ndlr]. Even if there are similarities, it’s still a bit of a mother’s role.
How would you define the character of Christine compared to Mona?
Christine is much more classic, she is more rigid but it is not a strict education either. Mona is more into extremes, fantasy, she is a bit on her planet. Erica allowed me to create a much more nuanced mother character. I was able to come out with something a little more tender, maternal, less caricatured.
How was filming with Grégory Fitoussi, your fictional son?
He’s very natural, he’s a cool guy, there’s no problem. There was a connection between us straight away. Just like with Julie de Bona. I really felt confident, it was a pleasure.
Erica : “When I had this unleashed Julie in front of me…“, Catherine Benguigui is full of praise for Julie de Bona
You have several emotionally charged scenes with Julie de Bona, including one where Erica gets angry with Christine. How did they take place?
I would like to congratulate Julie, she is truly a great actress, we only did two takes of this scene. When I had this unleashed Julie in front of me, it obviously touched me, it broke down my barriers a little. My character is hurt and disconcerted. I congratulated Julie at the end by telling her “thank you for hating me so much“. In life, she is very nice, very lively.
Would you be up for starring in a season 2 ofErica ?
Yes of course, after that the role would have to be a little more developed and it would have to be compatible with the filming dates of Tomorrow belongs to us.
