The actress played Jasmine at a time when few black people were seen on screen, shaping Quebec's television history. After a 10-year absence from film sets, she returned last year Pearlswas then introduced into comedy breath in, breath out and these days she plays a mother who has rejected her son Innocence Project.
• Also read: Linda Malo is rediscovering her profession
• Also read: 8 stars who unexpectedly returned to television is looking forward to a well-deserved return…
Linda, how are you experiencing this return to the small screen?
It's such a great joy! The last time I was seen in roles with substance was in 2002 in Russian Dolls and then in 2013 in 30 Lives. I haven't played like that for 10 years.
We met you in 1996 when you played the lead role in the detective series Jasmine, directed by Jean-Claude Lord. It was your first role and this series left its mark in Quebec. Are we still talking to you about this?
Absolutely! The TVA channel and the director took a great opportunity to entrust me with this role. People didn't know me at all. I was working as a model at the time and it was the first time a black woman played the lead role in a series.
In fact, I don't think any black actor had played a lead role in a Quebec series at that time…
(She thinks) I think you're right. I remember it was a very big deal at the time. Especially since I also played a police officer. It was unknown and risky.
Did you feel pressured to experience something so important and meaningful?
Yes, the pressure was high! The title roles are often entrusted to experienced actors and actresses. Since I had never played in front of Jasmine and all that came with it, the pressure I felt was enormous. But I took lessons, I was trained, I prepared well. Furthermore, I was very open to taking on this big challenge. Deep down I had a certain naivety, and that's a good thing, otherwise I might have been afraid. (laughs)
Was it intimidating?
Such! Jacques Godin played my father, Denis Bernard played my friend, my police partner was played by Julien Poulin and talented actresses like Isabel Richer and Geneviève Brouillette made their debuts. Despite my lack of experience, they all made me feel like one of them. Jasmine was a great school that gave my career a big boost. To this day I am grateful that I had the chance to do this.
You then starred in, among others, Virginie, Diva, Russian Dolls, 30 Lives… So you worked as an actress for several years?
Yes, I had 15 great years of acting and animating in great projects after Jasmine. My roadmap was very beautiful and I always saw it as a beautiful gift of life. In all modesty, I was still very present on television during this time. I have to say that in life I am the person who always sees the glass half full. That's how I was made, so I was never bitter during the years I was away from TV.
Exactly, after 30 lives there was a break of several years during which we no longer saw you. Was it your decision?
No not at all! The truth is that at the time I had just separated and my son Édouard was my priority. Nothing was more important than him and I had to make sure he had a roof over his head and butter on his bread. When the phone stopped ringing, all I could do was accept the situation so that I had control over how to turn around. Since I had fewer professional offers, I decided to start producing corporate videos and made a good living, especially with the advent of social networks. The timing was very good.
On television you remained in a parallel universe.
Yes, because I had to stay creative, so I went behind the camera. But most importantly, I controlled my schedule because if I was offered a good job, I could accept and adjust my schedule accordingly. Throughout all these years, it remained a deep desire within me to play a character. Once an actress, always an actress! (laughs)
Does your son also have this artistic streak?
Quite. Edouard is now 23 years old and his passion is music. He is a songwriter and performer. In addition, last April, Le Journal de Montréal published the links to April's favorite songs, and Édouard was one of them with his track “Loin”, which he sings with his grandfather Yves Corbeil. I may not be objective, but he has a lot of talent…
Tell me, how did the role of Esther Jean in “The Pearls” come into your life?
It was Édith Côté-Demers, a casting agent, who thought of me. She called me and asked, “Linda, are you still interested in acting?” When she told me about the project, of course I answered with a big “yes”! So I auditioned and got the role. Edith was really the catalyst for my return to television and the other projects that followed.
Today you are experiencing a kind of television renaissance through great projects. Have you become more selective about what you want to play over the years?
Before I returned to The Pearls, I knew one thing: it was very important for me to return to the screen in the right project with the goal of furthering my acting. It was a sacrifice not to act at all. So now that I have the chance and opportunity to immerse myself in this beautiful profession again, I want to grow through the characters that I will play.
Exactly, with your character Sahara in “Inspirez Exhale” you dabbled in comedy. Was that new for you?
Yes, acting was a first in my career. I had so much fun with this set! I was surrounded by Sonia Cordeau, who wrote the series, Virginie Fortin, Katherine Levac, Édith Cochrane, Marc Labrèche, Steve Laplante and so on. I stumbled! It was the director Jean-François Chagnon who agreed to see me audition to find out what I would suggest as a character and, fortunately for me, he liked it. However, in everyday life the people close to me would tell me that I'm the one who makes the family laugh, I really have a little clown side!
One thing is certain: you are now taking your job carefully.
This is the wisdom of middle age. (laughs) When I look back on the job, I have a completely new perception of it. I took a beneficial step back from my career as an actress because I was of course able to fulfill myself in my role as a mother, but also in my production company. What I find fundamentally beautiful in life is that as you get older you have the idea that the wheel is turning. Today, my job as an actress and this industry that I love so much even requires me to play a role that I already play with my son, because I play the mother of teenagers or young adults. Thank you life!
Innocence Project, Tuesday 8 p.m., in Noovo. series Pearls is available on Club illico. breath in, breath out is featured on Crave. To listen to the song Farby Edouard with Yves Corbeil, we visit Edouard on Spotify.