France Castel and Gilles Renaud remember Louisette Dussault

France Castel and Gilles Renaud remember Louisette Dussault

Louisette Dussault, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, experienced the last difficult years before her death last Monday at the age of 82. “I mourned Louisette for a while because we lost her quietly,” says her friend, actress France Castel.

• Also read: Actress Louisette Dussault has died at the age of 82

• Also read: Catherine Sénart and Luc Guérin: Family tribute to Louisette Dussault

Actress and singer France Castel has often shared the screen with Louisette Dussault, most notably in the series Les Super Mamies, Lise Payette’s soap opera, which aired in 2002 and 2003.

“We knew she was ill,” France Castel confirmed to the Journal on Tuesday morning when she heard the sad news. She was so alive, so powerful and talented! She was a life woman, so energetic and she loved life. She was also a wonderful lover – from what she told me about her love stories (laughs) – and she was elegant! »

Gilles Renaud

Photo archive, Agency QMI

Gilles Renaud

Friendship

For his part, Gilles Renaud, who was very close to Louisette Dussault, regretted the severity of the illness from which his great friend was suffering. “The last time I saw her, just before the pandemic, she didn’t recognize me,” explains the 78-year-old actor.

Both founded the theater of the same name in the 1970s (1968-1972) and shared the stage on many occasions.

“She was a real friend, an extraordinary actress and a fantastic musician who also came from a family of musicians,” he says. She was a complete artist who loved life and had a lighthearted sense of humor. In fact she was a bomb, she was so dynamic. We went on trips together and our children socialized as we were neighbors in the country. »

Their friendship goes back to the time of the Green Mouse, at the beginning of their respective careers. Gilles Renaud had played a few characters on the show, then the duo found themselves on the boards many times.

feminism

“She’s one of the first feminists in Quebec, especially when we think about her one-woman show Moman and the play Lesfairies ont soif, a great piece of the feminist movement. She raised her two daughters alone for a time. She was very loving, generous and helped me a lot during difficult years. »

For France Castel, 78, the increasing disappearances of work colleagues and friends are signs that life goes on.

“We lose it every day, so you want to become a better person, walk as you should,” she philosophizes. Today I’m going to think of Louisette and send her the best possible vibes. »