We met Julie Ringuette and Pascal Morrissette with their daughters Sam and Eva in front of the beautiful backdrop of the Christmas market at the Laval Nature Center. Exciting professional projects have been lining up for some time now for the two lovers, who are preparing to spend the holidays with their family.
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You organized the Santa Claus parade together and today we meet you at the wonderful Christmas market in Laval. So tell me, how will you celebrate the holidays?
Julia: I think it will happen at home, with the family, and we will stay pretty calm. We planned to travel south, but we realized that if we left with the girls we would come back even more tired. (laughs) And financially, let's be honest, it's pretty expensive for the whole family. That's why we'll celebrate differently.
Pascal: And we enjoy chatting with our close family at home. We invest a lot of energy in creating a beautiful atmosphere.
J.: Since Eva was born on November 20th, there was no trace of Christmas before her birthday. But the next day, November 21st, watch out, it was gone! (laughs) We decorated the house with the girls and made the tree, the elf Paillette appeared in the house with his mischievous tricks. We also love Damien Robitaille's Christmas album, it's our big musical favorite. Pascal is also building a huge ice rink in the backyard; It's really magical.
Photo: ANDRE PICHETTE / Echos Vedettes
Pascal, are you doing this yourself?
P.: Yes, I did that last year and I will do it again this year. The rink is 30 x 50 feet, everything is decorated with lights, there is even a projector with a screen. It is so much fun! I think we started a tradition so we want to use it…and our girls love it so much!
J.: He even builds a slide. I keep telling our friends that Village Valcartier is in our backyard! (laughs)
You're hosting winter games on your property after a busy fall…
P.: Exactly! I host on WKND radio, I started the game Devinaigrette, Julie took part in Masquerade Singers and we will soon see her in Portrait-Robot, Waitress and Zénith. We have also started a large real estate project. It is certain that this quiet time with the family while playing in the garden will do us good. (laughs)
Julien Faugere
Julie, you were incredible on Masked Singers. We finally found out that you have a great voice and more musical projects with Waitress and Zénith are coming.
J.: Honestly, I can't stop crying with joy. I was trained in musical theater. I've been waiting for roles like this for 18 years. I sing and dance, I'm trained in classical ballet, jazz and tap, but people don't know that side of me. I'm really excited to finally be able to demonstrate my know-how. I feel like I'm revealing the real Julie Ringuette to everyone.
Do you know why it took so long for you to be offered this type of role?
J.: When I left theater school in 2005, this type of role was particularly attributed to those who had attended the Star Académie or La Voix. Otherwise they were entrusted to stars or well-known people. Since I wasn't known at the time, I had to settle for being the mascot at La Ronde for seven years. (laughs) After that I was considered a variety artist and wasn't really taken seriously. I worked as an actress, presenter, columnist… It seemed like I was good at everything, but I didn't excel at anything in particular.
But your career took a big turn a few years ago, right?
J.: Yes, really. A chance because I was thinking about giving up everything. In 2019, I played a pretty dedicated beautician in A Family Link, a series directed by Sophie Lorain. This small role caused a reaction. When the Mégantic project came, Sophie and Alexis Durand-Brault thought that I should play the policewoman. It is thanks to this role that I became famous. Wait until you see me in the new season of Portrait-Robot. I play a dominant sadomasochistic junkie. It's really quite a character, I'm unrecognizable! Sophie and Alexis trust me with incredible roles, their trust in me is invaluable. I am very grateful to them.
Julien Faugere
Pascal, you have worked intensively on children's programs and won several awards for them. Do you miss this universe?
P.: Honestly, yes. I want to get back into it. I love presenting on radio, I have a lot of fun and enjoy it, but I think I'm really better at children's shows, I think that's where I have the most fun. So it could well come true again.
J.: I wouldn't be surprised if he created his own youth show, because Pascal likes to develop projects.
P.: There, Julie's career is on the rise. I'm so happy for her! So it's not up to me to take care of the house for a while and that's perfect. (laughs)
Julien Faugere
Julie, do you feel like you have the wind in your sails?
J.: Yes and no, because in May, June and July I filmed Masked Singers and Portrait-Robot. I will star in “Waitress” but we won’t start rehearsals until May 2024 and Zénith will be live from January. All of these projects I'm participating in or have participated in took place in the same week, so I was still at home in my slippers doing the dishes peacefully for three months. (laughs) But I think it's cool to pursue my dreams, and I still have a few more ahead of me. Our job is nice, I love it, but sometimes it is insecure.
Pascal, you mentioned a real estate project. What is it exactly?
P.: Since we both work in an uncertain environment, we entered the real estate industry. It was a few friends who approached us because they had found an opportunity to buy and resell 18 plots of land in Chertsey, the Natural Habitat project. Originally, Julie and I just wanted to buy two properties to build a rental chalet. But in the end we decided to do it. So we learn: local politics, the Department of Wildlife, road management and a lot of details that we didn't know at all… Obviously it's very challenging and stimulating.
J.: It really is a great retirement plan. We need some form of financial security because if tomorrow morning things don't go well professionally and there are no more contracts, we have that safety net. With the recent media cuts, we all feel like we're in an ejector seat. Now I'm impressing my mother because even if I get far in Masked Singers, she's more upset about me interacting with the mayor of Chertsey. She's on my business wife's side. (laughs)
Was it your decision to leave Montreal and move to the suburbs that got you into the world of real estate?
P.: Yes, totally! I never thought I would leave the big city one day. We spent a long time in Montreal, but in Mascouche we lead a completely different life. Julie and I love nature and a walk in the forest with our daughters is always a great little moment. Now we value family, health, the great outdoors and nature. We even convinced our mothers to leave town and settle near us, in Mascouche.
Julien Faugere
Have you convinced her to change her life?
J.: Yes, and they did it! They have no regrets and now both live five minutes from our house. It helps us a lot, including with our daughters.
P.: I had even convinced my mother to quit her job a year before she retired and hired her as the girls' full-time nanny due to our busy work lives. We loved it! Well, sometimes they show up at home without warning and we would like a more intimate cocoon, otherwise everything is perfect. (Pascal and Julie burst out laughing.)
They worked together on the series Here's to us 2 Canada!. And recently at the Santa Claus parade. Is work going well with your significant other?
J.: Yes, you really shouldn't take other people's comments personally. What I like about working with my friend is that we know each other very well. We have the same sense of humor, to the point that we can finish each other's sentences. (laughs)
P.: This is true. But we wouldn't do such an intense travel show again, especially since Sam was there and she was only two months old. The show was good, but the experience itself was too tiring. We'll probably do it again later. I am very proud to be doing a project with Julie.
Julien Faugere
I have the impression that this beautiful bond between you two exists mainly because you are best friends. I was wrong?
P.: It's true that we are best friends, even after 17 years together we still make each other laugh every day and that confirms to me that it really works for both of us.
J.: If one day we didn't get along anymore, we wouldn't want to drag this out for nothing. But after 17 years with Pascal, I feel how strong we are in our relationship and in our family life, despite the little storms we have been through. I have the impression that I am firmly connected to Pascal at his side.
Pascal Morrissette hosts WKND and his game Puzzle is now on offer. Julie Ringuette will be there soon Robot portrait in the Club Ilco, in the theater in WaitressIn Zenith from January on Radio-Canada and she continues the tour with Ladies night. Further information about your real estate project: www.habitatnaturel.net
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