In the second season of Classé Secret, Madeleine Péloquin takes on her role as Valérie, a neurodivergent spy. Having dedicated 10 years of her life to martial arts and holding a brown belt in karate, the actress enjoys this type of physical challenge. Today she still practices martial arts, which gives her self-confidence, determination and endurance.
Madeleine, you’re back Secret secret. What does your character have in store for us?
Valérie is a tough person, a secret weapon because she doesn’t appear in any registers. He’s a great character. She represents neurodivergent people. She has no emotions, does not decipher those of others, has great resistance to pain and does not perceive danger. These are the reasons why she is so effective in her work. She is used a lot and I like that because I “come from combat.” I had to overcome very physical challenges this season. I play with Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and a team that is really pleasant to work with.
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Why do you say you’re from the fight?
When I was young, my sport was karate. Every time I had to play physical roles, I enjoyed it. I like the close combat that this universe brings. It allows me to rediscover the joy I have had all these years. I practiced martial arts from the ages of 10 to 20. I then attended theater school.
Did you get your black belt?
I wear a brown belt and stopped shortly before I got my black belt. When I was accepted into the National Theater School, I had to make a decision. Owning a black belt required a lot of investment and time; The same applies to my studies at the National School. Getting my black belt is a project I would like to accomplish. Today I still enjoy training for fighting, be it through boxing or Muay Thai.
Has martial arts given you some confidence?
This is how I built myself up. It gave me a lot of confidence and determination. I also tamed the relationship with effort and perseverance. I was in a dojo where they didn’t give us our belts because we completed a certain number of hours, but when we were ready to take the exam. It gives things value. Nothing is given, you have to work to get what you want. In martial arts you have to constantly get back to work. This is related to the profession of acting, where the exploration is endless. I quickly realized that I enjoyed the moment when I won a fight, but after receiving my medal, I had to focus on the next fight.
Do you think defeat can be a good lesson?
Yes, and I think that’s important in my job. Today we no longer take risks, we take the safest path. Many doors remain closed. I work in coaching and I insist on accepting that you are less good before you get better because it allows you to leave familiar paths and open new doors. That’s what I find pleasant about getting older, in life but also in work: you gain self-confidence, you know what you can do. We can therefore accept detours. In my work I can stretch myself to see what arises from the imbalance. It remains dangerous but fully alive. In my job I like to flirt with danger.
Her speech goes against the grain of speech, which is characterized by the search for lightness. How do you manage to convey the joy of deployment to your daughters?
I remember my childhood: I preferred to choose the easier path. Over time, I learned to aim for the long term, with music, karate, academic progress and adversity. Jean-François and I offer things to our daughters, we support them as best we can and it’s not always easy, but that’s life. There is no role model: you have to practice what you preach. My daughters see that I’m not always 100%, that I make mistakes, that I go back on track, but that I remain confident even when it’s not perfect. I believe that, above all, we need to stop aiming for 100%. Personally, I’m no longer interested. This is not life. We waste a lot of energy striving for perfection and in the end we lose ourselves.
Do you think that as we mature we become more lenient towards ourselves?
Yes. I’m no longer looking for it, I’m no longer interested in it. I don’t care, neither for myself nor for others. In images of perfection we see fraud. We know this is not reality. It’s like aging on screen. Of course we as actors are confronted with this. It’s not always easy to see your age on the screen. I can’t say I like everything I see, and that’s okay. But I also like what it creates, what the wrinkles, the dark circles, the tiredness say about the game. It tells something, and that’s my job: to tell a story. It can be confrontational at times. I try to make sure my thoughts are not rigid.
Do you have other plans?
Yes, I’m currently rehearsing for Seeker, a piece we performed during the Corona period. It’s like science fiction: David Boutin and I are in the near future. There is a piece for everyone. It’s a pleasant experience. And at the moment I’m also shooting “The Emperor 2”. The first season was well received. It is a series about current issues we are facing. In Season 2, we explore the limits of our justice system as these major investigations unfold.
Photo: Bertrand Calmeau /
In this series you play with your lover Jean-François Nadeau. Do you like going on tour together?
Yes that is great! This is the second time this has happened as part of a Michelle Allen project. In the series “For Sarah” we played a couple. In The Emperor it’s nice to find my friend, but also partners that I know well. We can move on, we have faith. No need for explanation. We know what each other needs. And specifically: It’s nice to drive to work together in the same car in the morning… (laughs) There’s also the IXE 13 series. I’m so happy to find myself in a historical series. We are in the post-war period, in Red Light Montreal. My character, Elizabeth, is the villain. I love playing naughty! I’m really physically changed. I am also a part of the film “Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicide” which is winning major awards worldwide.
Photo: Bruno Petrozza / TVA Pu
Follow Classé Secret on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ADDIK.
Seeker will be performed at the Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui from October 30th to November 25th.