INTERVIEW. Valérie Bègue (Mask Singer): “My daughter knows how much singing in public paralyzes me”

TV Star: What a voice!

Valerie Begue: Oh ! I’m not going to assume these post-Mask Singer. It’s weird to talk about that when I never talk about it.

You even moved the investigators to tears, especially during your performance on hurt by Christina Aguilera

I was not expecting it at all. I love to sing so much but I’m so modest that I can’t do it in public or else it has to be in the evening after two drinks, and then I manage to let go a little (laughs). But it’s still so rare. I’m glad I managed to let go and experience that. It was really liberating. I loved doing it and surprising my daughter [Jazz, dix ans, ndlr]. It was the surprise I wanted to give him so I’m glad it worked out. She was overjoyed. It is my greatest pride.

Did your daughter recognize you quickly?

Immediately, she had doubts. From the first performance, she looked at me and said “It’s weird, this Banana, she has the same voice as you”. My daughter is the only one who hears me sing on a regular basis. We sing together all the time. Never with my companion. “Really she has your voice but it would be known if you had the same legs”, she told me. From week to week, she had doubts. With his father [l’ancien nageur Camille Lacourt, ndlr], we always managed to create confusion. She no longer knew who to believe and what to believe. I think she deeply hoped that it was me, while being afraid of being disappointed. It was quite curious.

Valérie Bègue, blocked by “the fear of judgment”

How did she feel during your unmasking this Friday?

It was liberating. It was really funny. She was very happy and very moved. To see me go this far and also because she knows how difficult it is for me to sing. I’m not lying when I say it’s something that paralyzes me. I love it but I don’t know… Maybe fear of judgment. She knows I did it for her. She loved this Banana character. She was too cute.

How is it that singing in public is such an ordeal when you are used to going on stage?

When I’m on stage, I embody a character. Whether it was the Banana or when I participated in An air of stars where I was disguised, it was each time a character. There, to be, me, all alone, in front of people… no. I still have some therapy to do on this.

What about your relatives? Did they unmask you?

My mother, instantly. She wasn’t watching the show and at the third prime, I advised her to watch. Without telling him anything other than “It’s not bad”. But she understood the double meaning and the next day she called me to ask me: “But why didn’t you tell me earlier?”. To which I replied that I couldn’t tell him anything. It was funny. My family quickly understood, but it’s true that around me, no. I managed to keep the secret – I’m proud of myself, because it wasn’t easy. Every week, I received messages urging me to confess. I replied: “But I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Every year you do the same thing to me. Are you going to do this to me every time?”. Because every year I have friends who assume it’s me. It really helped me drown the fish.

This “almost annoying” fact felt by Valérie Bègue because of Alessandra Sublet and Jarry

Nevertheless, you were not disappointed not to have won?

No, there is nothing at stake except to go as far as possible. That’s what I did so I’m happy. To have gone so far and without being unmasked almost, I have already won everything. I am happy to have managed to keep the mystery as long as possible with the investigators and the public.

You are indeed the one who gave the investigators the most trouble. You even fooled Alessandra Sublet and Jarry, whom you know very well for having worked with them on Europe 1…

It was almost annoying (laughs)! The one who was absolutely sure was Anggun, whom I don’t know. But it was funny. Like what, when you only have the ear and not the visual, it redistributes the cards and it changes everything. I’m really happy to have managed to lose them. I thought the clues were sometimes obvious but ultimately not. I’m glad I took this Banana this far. He was such a funny character. I wanted a very energetic Banana, which jumps everywhere. To make children laugh.

During this final, you sang a duet with Daniel Lévi. Was it extra pressure?

If I could have chosen only one character, it would have been him. I’m so lucky. I was so happy when they told me I was going to sing with him. He is an extraordinary man. He has a voice to die for. I don’t know him personally but we all know the ordeal he is going through, seeing him take it upon himself and give of his energy and his time, it was great. I felt really privileged.

This participation in Mask Singer and the compliments received at each of your performances, did it give you any ideas?

It would be funny, but I’m under no illusions. If I had to make a career out of it, I would have done it sooner. Maybe it’ll disinhibit me and I’ll have more fun singing with my loved ones.

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