Member of the jury of the TV Fiction Festival, which is currently being held in La Rochelle, Constance Labbé talks to us about her relationship with television, her tastes in fiction, and her upcoming role in “Cat’s Eyes”.
After Piste Noire and the final season of Balthazar, Constance Labbé will soon be starring in Cat’s Eyes, the next TF1 event series, which will adapt the famous cult cartoon from the 80s.
While filming should begin very soon, the actress is currently a member of the jury for the La Rochelle Fiction Festival which takes place from September 12 to 17. On this occasion, Allociné met her to learn more about her vision of television, her role as a juror, but also her preparation for Cat’s Eyes.
Allociné: What do you like best about being a member of the jury of the La Rochelle Fiction Festival? Is this an offer you can’t refuse?
Constance Labbé : I was very happy. I didn’t even ask myself if I was going to accept or refuse. I’ve been coming for a long time, and I love this festival. There are festivals that are easier than others, more stressful than others, more stuffy than others, but I think this one is really cool. I was delighted.
Does television have a big place in your life? Do you watch a lot of fiction?
Yes, more and more. Before, I didn’t watch too much. But with the emergence of platforms, which has had a direct impact on the quality of series, I watch more. The platforms have indeed made it possible to have much more mixing. So now I watch a lot of series.
The selection of the festival is, like every year, very rich. Do you have any favorite genres?
As a spectator, yes. But when you think about it, not really (laughter). I was going to say that I didn’t like thrillers but in reality there are thrillers that are great. So, no, I don’t have a favorite genre.
How will you judge the works in competition?
I asked myself this question before I started looking at all these works. And to be honest, I don’t have any criteria. At first I thought about how I was going to judge, then I let it go. I figured I’d just watch them and see what happens.
It’s ultimately something very natural. When it’s good, and when I feel emotions thanks to the actors, the production or the music, I note it. The important thing is when you have a memory. The memory remains. We tell ourselves that we will forget because there are a lot of fictions in competition, but in fact not at all. We don’t forget when we’re touched.
Do you already have fiction that stands out?
Yes, I already have favorites. I even dream about it at night.
Over the last ten years, French fiction has experienced a boom in terms of quality and audacity. Do you feel it in all the projects that are proposed to you?
Yes. I even got an offer for horror fiction. I see a diversity that wasn’t there before. As an actress, we don’t necessarily have access to everything because we are thought of in a certain type of role.
At the start of a career, we often have the same type of role that recurs. It’s then up to us to try to diversify. But in genres, and in the ways of treating subjects, there is indeed more and more difference and diversification.
During her interviews as part of the festival, Audrey Fleurot stressed that women were having more and more major roles in fiction. Is this something that you have also noticed?
Downright ! I even experienced it since in my last three series, I played the main role and I led men. It’s great, and that’s good.
Filming of Cat’s Eyes, the next TF1 event series, will begin in a few weeks. What attracted you to the project?
Many things. I think it’s very cool to have a collaboration between TF1 and Amazon. The fact that they are joining forces opens up a lot of possibilities. The role also convinced me to join the series. I found it interesting to play a sister who becomes a thief.
Working with Alexandre Laurent (the director, editor’s note) also pushed me to accept. I had never worked with him. I haven’t worked with him yet, I’m going to do so in a few weeks. And finally, the fact of filming in Paris, I find it great. We will film in the Louvre and on the Eiffel Tower. This is exceptional.
Did you watch the anime?
No, I wasn’t watching Cat’s Eyes, but I was watching Nicky Larson which has the same creator. So I knew a little about the universe. Since accepting the role of Sylia, I have watched the anime. The TF1 version is an adaptation. It won’t be the same story as the cartoon. In the series, we’re really going to do the genesis of Cat’s Eyes. So I don’t mind watching the anime.
You will play a thief, so there will probably be stunts. Are you going to have physical preparation?
I started aikido lessons with a great teacher. And all three of us are also going to have climbing training. And then we will also have physical preparation on the side. It’s a very sporting project.
Camille Lou And Claire Romain play your sisters in Cat’s Eyes. What did you think of these choices?
At first I didn’t really know. And the first time we met with Alexandre, production, Claire and Camille, there was an immediate click between the three of us. And I told myself that the casting was well done. I believe it. We had a way of speaking and a common energy and it was great.
AlloCiné revealed exclusively on Tuesday that Simon Ehrlacher, seen in Plus belle la vie, was going to play your companion in the series. Are you looking forward to working with him? Especially since he played with your brother, Guillaume Labbéin the series Escort Boys…
I am glad. I do not know him. I never worked with him. But it is validated by Guillaume, so it’s already a great point ahead. We’ve worked with a lot of people in common, so I know he’s a great comrade. I’m excited to play with him.
Balthazar ended in February 2023 on TF1. Since then, rumors have been circulating about a possible spin-off centered on the hero’s daughter. Have you heard of it ? Could you make an appearance there?
I am not aware of this project. But if it’s about Balthazar’s daughter, a priori, no, since she would be an adult, and it would take a lot of makeup work to integrate me into the series (laughter).
What are your next projects, apart from Cat’s Eyes?
Nothing is confirmed yet so I don’t want to talk about it so as not to attract attention. I am also a screenwriter, and I am currently writing a film for France Télévisions, as well as a series. The film will be a psychological drama, but I can’t say more about it at the moment.