Admittedly, many artists will tell you that “being nominated is already a lot.”
But few are the people who don’t light up with eyes sparkling when they finally lay a hand on the statuette!
We gathered, on the spot in the press room, a few reactions from the winners of the 40th Gemini Awards Gala, which Véronique Cloutier hosted on Sunday night. Here’s what those artists had to tell us.
(You can also view or rewatch our red-carpet photos here, see the winners here, and relive moments with Guy A. Lepage, here, and Ève-Marie Lortie, here!)
Florence Longpré and Suzie Bouchard – Best Writing: Drama Series (Le temps des framboises II)
S.B.: “We didn’t really have expectations. We’re happy, but we didn’t think we’d win! I hadn’t written for television when Florence invited me to join for season 1. We worked hard, did our research… It’s still incredibly special! Five or six years later, holding this Gemini is really cool!”
Sara Dufour – Gemini Audience Award / Discovery of the Year (Zénith)
“If the competition was stiff? You bet! I didn’t want to set my expectations, because—the people beside me, there are a lot of fans who follow them and stand behind them. This trophy represents, for me, the relationship I have with the audience. It’s a give-and-take, a sense of closeness. I think it’s beautiful!”
“I think what people took away from Zénith… Véronique had pointed out at the finale that I stood beside divas: Virginie Cummins, Rita Baga… People with powerful voices. I don’t necessarily describe myself that way. I went to Zénith to have fun, to get out of my comfort zone, and I think what came through is the joy I genuinely felt. Because I truly felt that joy! I really didn’t expect to win Zénith; it wasn’t why I agreed to participate. And here I am, with a Gemini, it’s wild!”
Pierre Hébert – Best Animation: Game Show or Reality (Les petits tannants)
“This is my first Gemini for Les petits tannants. It’s a project that came along during the pandemic, at a moment when things felt so dreary and discouraging! It’s a show that brings good humor and innocence, and I think it belongs on Friday nights for families. It’s a pat on the back for the whole team; every time someone tells me they watch Les petits tannants with their family, there’s a crew that spent six months beforehand finding the best kids, building the games, making sure everything works… I’m glad to accept this on behalf of the team.”
“When we talk about getting kids interested in television, I think it’s important that you see children on screen. I remember watching Watatatow and Le club des 100 Watts after school, seeing kids, and wanting to be there. To the kids, I say: do what you love. That’s the trick. If you end up working as a gardener or on TV, and it’s what you love, that’s perfect. Follow your heart, and you won’t go wrong.”
Charles-Aubey Houde – Best Lead Actor: Drama Series (La collecte)
“I’m more than honored! The actors nominated with me—and I’m lucky to be friends with most of them—I idolize them; they’re excellent. I’ve seen what they did to get nominated, and I’m still a little stunned to have won against these guys, because they’re impressive!”
“La collecte represents a very beautiful memory for me. It was my meeting with (the director) Podz, who is, to me, a terrific actor-director. Being able to push a character as interesting, as complex, as sensitive as my Kevin was a great pleasure. Add Claude Legault’s presence on set; we laughed from dawn ’til dusk. Working with them was easy; getting up in the morning was easy!”
Robin-Joël Cool – Best Lead Actor: Comedy or Comedy-Drama
“Winning an award alongside my mother, who’s from Moncton and is 80 years old… those moments with our moms are truly unexpected. And sharing it with her this year… Last year, she was sitting alone in her living room. This year I told her: ‘It’s crazy—come! We’ll organize something, we’ll find you a dress, and you’ll come!’ I was really proud. And this year has been big for the Acadians, with the passing of pioneers like Antonine Maillet and Viola Léger (in 2023). It’s always a lot of fun to follow in their footsteps.”
“I didn’t even know it was possible to win twice in a row! And, for me, it’s more meaningful to win an award for a second season than for a first. The first season wasn’t written for me. But this time, it’s the result of collaboration. François (Bellefeuille) knew who I was, and it’s as if a meeting happened. It’s an award that symbolizes collaboration, teamwork, and I’m really a team guy. I think it’s fun to recognize that.”
“Last year, my speech stirred the imagination a bit; I was wondering what I’d say this year! I wanted to talk about the people who came before us, about freedom… But I was focused on my mother!”
Chantal Lamarre – Gemini Audience Award / Non-fiction Show Contributor (Infoman)
(In tears): “This represents a kind of quiet perseverance. No pushing, just steady presence. It’s like a gift you don’t expect. That it’s given like this, freely, from the audience… I feel like Sally Field, who once said: ‘You Really Like Me!’ This is my Sally Field moment. You feel those things—the audience’s appreciation—but you don’t quite know them until they happen.”
“What would I tell a young person starting out in the business? I’d say: do everything you’re asked! Put yourself out there, seize every opportunity that comes your way. I’d never tell someone to give up their dream. Go for it—there will be a place for you!”
Pascale Renaud-Hébert – Lead Female Actress: Drama Series (Veille sur moi)
“Veille sur moi was truly magical as an experience for me. It feels like a beautiful way to cap off this journey. After earning my bachelor’s degree at UQAM, I decided I wanted to act. I studied at the Conservatory, and afterward, I couldn’t find work as an actress. So I started writing. Early in my career I wrote a lot, but part of me doubted I would ever act—some might say I didn’t believe it could happen.”
Geneviève Everell – Gemini Audience Award / Female Personality of the Year
“It’s completely wild! This award confirms that I should keep sharing my passion for sushi, my daily life with my kids, the illness… Hoping I won’t have it anymore! It shows that I’ve built a community, an audience that loves hearing what I have to say. They told me so tonight!”
“I think people see themselves in me. My daily life as a mom, an entrepreneur, a woman… Even the illness, I didn’t talk about it to seek pity; I did it because I couldn’t keep something from anyone. I just wanted to share. I love to chat; I chat when things are going well, and I chatter when things aren’t going so well!”
Éric Bruneau – Best Animation: Documentary or Public Affairs (Le printemps le plus long)
“I’m extremely, extremely happy! I take it as a pat on the back. It’s a kindness from the industry. I don’t know how to phrase it, but I’m very happy that people saw the quality. It was a risky project, and I think we found a way not to stumble! The documentary took two years of work, a year and a half to develop, then the filming…”
France Beaudoin
Gemini Audience Award / Show of the Year (Live from the Universe)
Gemini Audience Award / Favorite Show of the Last 40 Years (Live from the Universe)
“For the team, it’s a public connection, first and foremost. Longevity, that’s already huge; here, it’s still a privileged bond, to feel this gathering. It represents risk-taking… We really feel we can try new things! That people won’t hold it against us, that they won’t ‘flusher’ us, that they’ll understand everything… And when you look at the last 40 years, the ability to endure is extraordinary. It’s truly rare! We don’t take anything for granted. We go show by show, we don’t rest content and we try to go all the way. We are very aware that we could be unplugged soon…”
Dominic Anctil, Pascal Barriault, Sarah Dunlavey, Olivier Gaudet-Savard, Simon Lacroix, Marie-Hélène Lapierre, Simon Laroche, Louis-Philippe Rivard – Best Writing: Humor (Kamikazes!)
P.B.: “With Kamikazes!, I think we crafted something with the writers that carries a tone close to British humor—more deadpan, with absurdity, caustic wit. The actors play the situations in a way that often feels true. In Quebec sketch comedy, not that we hadn’t seen it before, perhaps we hadn’t seen it as much. Maybe that’s what drew the Academy’s eye!”
(Editor’s note: The Kamikazes! team also received trophies for Best Special or Series: Comedy, Best Performance: Comedy, Best Direction: Comedy, and Best Cinematography: Comedy across non-fiction categories.)
