The comedian embodies a teacher martyred by his students in the comedy La Très Très Grande Classe, released in theaters on August 10. She talks about her school career.
How did it feel to go back to school, on the other side of the fence?
MELHA BEDIA: It was fun to stand behind the desk and ask for silence! I was inspired by teachers who were introduced to me and who told me about their daily lives. They arrive with lots of good intentions, a desire to transmit and, often, it’s a big disappointment. I don’t think it’s the students fault. The whole system has jammed. We don’t talk about what the teachers are going through. Like caregivers, they are very poorly paid when they should be pampered.
Which student were you?
I was a very good student! My older brother, Ramzy, took my education very seriously. On the weekends, he made me work like crazy. He had great ambitions for me: HEC preparation was his dream! And since I was pretty good at literature, he was aiming for hypokhâgne, then Sciences Po… in short, he wanted me to do everything! I got my baccalaureate at 16, way too early. At the time, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. I did three days in English at the Sorbonne before my friend Diam’s took me on her tour as a stylist. When she told me “you’re going to play my first part”, I went for it!
Stand-up, have you been thinking about it for a while?
It was a secret buried inside me. I dared not admit it to my brother for fear that he would take it badly. It was! He was afraid for me. He was overprotective! So he didn’t talk to me for two years. Worse, he put a spoke in my wheels! Finally, it was a blessing in disguise because it gave me the niaque!
Was your humor born at school?
In my Catholic establishment, I was very shy. And I had a click. I got into football and humor. At football, to flirt with the mistress’s son. I took a wind but thanks to him I became a great footballer! As for humor, it has become my defense mechanism against the cruelty of other children. Humor allowed me to overcome my complexes. If I didn’t have it, I would be depressed. People think that I forged myself a shell, but I love my shell! I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world!
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