While Carla and Bérénice have just exchanged their first real kiss in Here it all begins, Bérénice Tannenberg confides in Télé Star about the formation of this unexpected couple, already a fan favorite.
Télé Star: When you arrived at the casting, did you know that Carla and Bérénice were destined to be together?
Bérénice Tannenberg: Absolutely not ! With Aaricia (Aaricia Lemairethe interpreter of Carla editor’s note), we found out about it a month or a month and a half before receiving the script. We really learned it along the way.
How did you and Aaricia react when you discovered the screenwriters’ intentions?
Alright ! It was a surprise, but not that much. Bérénice and Carla were already very close friends and it seemed like the logical next step.
What do you think of their rapprochement?
What I like about this arch is that the subject is not homosexuality. Bérénice has no problem with her sexuality. Constance knows, her whole family knows. What we’re talking about is not his sexuality but justa girl who develops romantic feelings in a friendly relationship. She gets lost in there, she no longer has her bearings since she falls in love with Carla who is her best friend, her confidante. The subject is how to manage this love with the fear of destroying a friendship.
After this kiss, what can we expect?
Bérénice and Carla are inseparable characters. In love as in friendship, they will continue to maintain a link even if other adventures await them! They are very complementary in their personalities so whatever happens, they will always stay together.
What duo do you form with Aaricia? What is the dynamic between you?
We work very well together! We are both very diligent and it’s nice to be able to work opposite someone as passionate as you. More generally, things are going well with all the actors. Everyone is very caring, motivated, there is really a very inspiring atmosphere on set.
Bérénice and Carla have been through a lot since their arrival at the Institute, both personally and as a duo. Are we still going to see much of them in future arches?
Yes of course ! We will continue to see them, even if it will be a little less than in January.
You inherit the torch of representation in Here it all begins, long run by Nicolas Anselmo and Mikaël Mittelstadt. What are your feelings?
I’m really happy with how this story is going, to see that people are so happy and invested. It’s really nice. I didn’t realize the impact it would have on the public. Some fans send us messages telling us that they recognize themselves in our characters, and it’s very nice to see that. During filming, I believed very strongly in this story but I am very happy to see that the public is so receptive.
What aspects of your latest arches have been the most exciting for you?
At the beginning, Bérénice was completely withdrawn into herself. She didn’t dare open her mouth, she apologized for existing and suffered what was happening around her. Seeing it finally recognized for its true value, I find it a beautiful message of hope. A shy and reserved person has as much capacity as anyone else, even if they have more difficulty making their voice heard, and this is what we show with Bérénice. Then, I really like the love story of Bérénice and Carla. It is also a beautiful message of hope and I’m happy to learn a little more about Béréniceto see her flourish in that direction.
School phobia is a subject that is rarely addressed in fiction, both on television and in the cinema. How did you approach this theme?
I have never suffered from school phobia personally but I have heard some reports from those around me. It is a phobia that manifests itself very differently depending on the person, everyone experiences it in their own way. It’s above all linked to an extreme lack of self-confidence which means that talking with others becomes really complicated, so I tried to bring this very shy and reserved side to the character. Afterwards, I didn’t want to make him a weak and fatalistic character. It’s a very hard test of life, It’s something very complicated to go through but we can get through it if you are surrounded by the right people. Bérénice has Constance and Carla and she manages to get by thanks to them. I really wanted to show that it’s possible and besides, the character was written like that.