If you’ve seen the movie Two Women in Gold — which is still playing in theaters — you probably noticed the striking presence of Claude Bégin on the screen…
Of course, we won’t spoil anything about the role the singer plays in Chloé Robichaud’s film. However, if you’re familiar with the story of the erotic comedy originally crafted by the late Claude Fournier and Marie-José Raymond in 1970, and then given a modern twist by writer Catherine Léger, you already have an idea of the overall theme. The film features two contemporary women (played here by Karine Gonthier-Hyndman and Laurence Leboeuf) who are bored with their monotonous routines. They find a form of escape through sexuality, inviting passing men — whether they are delivery workers, plumbers, or exterminators — into their lives for casual encounters.
A cast including Sam Breton, Maxime Le Flaguais, Patrick Emmanuel Abellard, Fabien Cloutier, Arnaud Soly, and Claude Legault brings to life the one-time lovers of the two neighbors. These women might glimpse a brighter future, shaking off their dull existence and breaking free from their routine trance.
And honestly, you would almost expect Claude Bégin himself to be one of these troubled souls!
He, however, takes this with a broad smile, entirely unfazed.
“In a way, I’m playing the role people expect me to play,” he jokes in an interview, clearly comfortable embracing his reputation as a sex-symbol.
Claude Bégin had already dipped his toes into acting before, notably appearing in the series Cheval-Serpent — which aired in 2018 and 2019 on Radio-Canada — set in a strip club filled with nude dancers, where he also showcased his striking looks.
He has also appeared in shows like District 31, Virage, and Sans Rendez-vous.
The artist isn’t closing the door to more acting gigs, whether on TV or in film. Currently, however, it seems like Bégin’s professional pursuits are pretty scattered — a bit of this, a bit of that.
“When people ask me what I’m working on, I joke that I’m going through a midlife crisis,” he admits spontaneously when asked about his current projects.
“I do a lot of chores — cleaning and whatnot… (laughs) I’m not making music right now, but I probably should. I even asked my accountant, ‘How is it that I seem to be managing to get by?’ It’s all a bit confusing — a little bit of this, a little bit of that,” he explains frankly.
Is he reconsidering his musical career?
“Somewhat,” he confesses, though not with full conviction.
“I’m supposed to put out an album. I will make an album! I want to challenge myself — I keep telling myself I will. It’s already underway. But sitting in front of a computer… that adrenaline, the challenge, the ego — I’m less and less engaged with that,” he admits.
His previous albums, Les Magiciens and Bleu Nuit, were released in 2015 and 2018 respectively. He clearly distinguishes his solo work from his involvement with Alaclair Ensemble — the collective which released their latest album, Lait Paternel, in 2023 and continues to perform live through the end of the year — emphasizing that he remains committed to his group but finds the path of a solo artist more challenging given the current state of the music industry.
“With my group, it just feels like it makes more sense. The connection isn’t quite the same. So, we’re just moving forward quietly,” he shares.
Thankfully, Claude Bégin’s personal life is going smoothly. He and partner Lysandre Nadeau are expecting their baby on September 11th. Their young son, Blaise, who is two, and Romain, Claude’s 16-year-old son from a previous relationship, are doing well. The couple openly shares moments from their family life on social media and in the press, and they’re very candid about their relationship. They’re not worried about keeping everything private.
“This is just part of our life,” says Claude.
“We’re just taking our time to see how things evolve or if they change. For now, we don’t see any problems. And if someday there are, we’ll deal with it,” Lysandre adds thoughtfully.
Additionally, Claude and Lysandre co-host the podcast Parenthèse. Lysandre also runs the popular podcast Oral Sex with Joanie Grenier, which has been running for nearly four years. She is also a part-owner of the non-alcoholic beverage company Statera.
Finally, if you noticed that Claude Bégin recently sold his condo in Montreal’s Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood, as well as his luxurious home in Lévis, take comfort in knowing that these transactions have nothing to do with his relationship with Lysandre.
There are no plans for moves or breakups. Everything remains stable in his personal life.
