What is the best thing that I love about my work?

I love a lot of things with my work but the thing I love the most I think it’s connections. As an actress I love feeling connected with myself and my emotions, with the persons I work with and to the environment that surrounds me.

 I love the power of art for the sensation of mind’s freedom it gives, by expressing somethings we feel. I love it for the transmission to others, of values, emotions, its cathartic power. Art can be a real massage of the soul and it’s making me feel more alive.

What is my idea of happiness?

For me happiness is about perception, choices and accepting that we can’t be happy all the time. Life is about balance.

But more specifically, I feel happy when I’m living in the present, surrounded by people I love or by the beautiful nature our earth offers us.

What is my greatest fear?

My greatest fear is that our planet dies…

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

My anxiety. When I can’t live in the present and let myself filled of nostalgia of the past or fear for the future. I’ve been living with anxiety due to the climate change and the state of the Earth, to the inhumanity of certain people,  I try everyday to fight against it and transform it as a force.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?

So many people! But if I had to choose right now I would say Meryl Streep : She’s such an incredible actress and  improviser !

Emma Watson,  I admire her incredible acting, I recognize myself a lot in her idea of the feminism as an equality between people (whatever their origins, gender, or sexuality). I also like the notion of “self-partnered” she declared about being single not as a transition or a “waiting phase”.

I love aswell Leonardo DiCaprio, a great actor whom I admire a lot, particularly for his commitment to ecology.

What is my greatest extravagance?

My laugh!

On what occasion would I lie?

I wouldn’t say that I lie but more that I consciously omit some information sometimes. In my personal life, to don’t hurt people for free when I consider they don’t need to know something, that it wouldn’t change their life but it’s just going hurt them.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

The clichés, the quotas, the discriminations. And that almost everything happen in Paris while there’re so many great actor.resses all around France

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

When I feel fully myself and laugh a lot! The last time was for the two shoots of the 48 Hours Film Project I did last year. There aren’t the English subtitles yet but I’ll see with the director to put them as soon as possible.

(1)    LA TENEUR EN COOL – 48HFP MONTPELLIER 2021 – YouTube

(2)    (1) FROOTZ – 48HFP TOURS 2021 – YouTube

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I would take off a little bit of insecurity and add a little bit of confidence.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

My greatest achievement until now is to have not given up while it’s not easy every day to live of one’s passion !

Where would I most like to live?

I would love to be a nomad, crossing the world with people I love, living of my acting and getting more involve in protecting the environment, that would be incredibly dream !

What is my most treasured possession?

The love I have for people and nature. No one would never be able to take that off me.

What is my most marked characteristic?

My laugh still … Cause it is pretty loud!

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

In front of the sea. It could be anywhere there’s a sea or the ocean.  This is where I feel the most free and serene in my mind.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?

Anywhere as soon as I’m with people I love!

 But in Montpellier I love taking a drink at The Triskell, Le Petit Comptoir or Les Halles Tropisme and I love to eat a picnic anywhere in nature around Montpellier.  

What books influenced my life and how?

I grew up with the books of Roald Dahl. In my memory, it seems to me that it was the first time I had the impression of leading another life,  in my mind. I opened the door to many worlds and stories with this feeling that they only belonged to me. It was my secret place. I love finding in a book this feeling of being carried away, of plunging into a new world.

I also read all the books of Joël Dicker and Joël Pommerat with whom I find the same power to get carried away in a story.

The book “Small Country” written by Gaël Faye, moved me a lot, I’ve read it several times. A story filled with poetry, where the author raises questions of belonging to a country, a culture, through the eyes of a child who had to grow up too quickly. A masterpiece in my opinion.

And so many others !

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

The type of music I listen depends on my mood, today I cannot choose between “Pyramids” from MB14 or “Tadow” from FKJ and Masego.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

Dory in Nemo! I love this character, she is full of optimism, generosity, altruism, empathy, she is super funny but also full of flaws and permanent doubts. I love her sensitivity and the fact that she is always in the present.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

All of my friends and family are my heroes or heroines. They’re all courageous and do as they can in their life.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?

This question is so complicated … I think I would say “Princess Mononoke” from Hayao Miyazaki A sensitive painting of the conflict between the growth and development of humanity and the need for the preservation of nature. A masterpiece to me.

What role play stories in my life and work?

I had two imaginary friends when I was a kid and I think I’ve never stop telling myself stories.

I stay connected to my inner child while keeping my feet on the ground.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?

It means that I have all powers ! I am the author, the narrator, and the main character of my own story.  While being aware that everything that can happen to me isn’t my only responsibility but every of my choices belong to me.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

Although I deeply love the people in my life ( I think you’ve noticed it if you’ve read my answers so far…) I would say proudly: myself !

I’m still working on it everyday cause it’s crazy how it’s way easier to love others than loving ourselves. But it’s with me that I’m going to spend my life so I better be my best partner in crime !

Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2022?

I don’t know if one day my life path will cross theirs, but I’m very sensitive to the work of :

Ariane Mnouchkine and La Cartoucherie from the “Théâtre du Soleil » , Alain Chabat, Leïla Bekhti, Geraldine Nakache, Xavier Dolan, Vincent Lindon, Cédric Klapish, Coline Serreau

What project, in 2022, am I looking forward to work on?

I’m going to do improvisation once a month from September at the “Théâtre de la Plume” in Montpellier with the “Improvizart” from the Company “Je pars à Zart”. I’m still training myself and I can’t wait to let go and feel fully confident with myself on it !

Where can you see me or my work in 2022?

We’re not halfway through the year yet, anything can still happen !

I have a french demo tape : https://youtu.be/O2vtxZOY6kw (I really have to put those English subtitles once and for all)

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

According to me, passion is about instinctive attraction to something, it’s chemical ! This is what making us feeling more alive by leading our guts !

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?

Lise-Delhia Chemsseddoha

Angela Marie LeBlanc

How can you contact me?

By email : maelle.arsant@gmail.com