“It’s fun to play the idiot” … Camille Combal plays an actor with a big ego in Need for love on OCS

Currently in the spotlight thanks to the show Mask Singer, whose 5th season airs every Friday night on TF1, One Camille Combal’s leading star has a double whammy as he plays a role in the comedy Need of love, available this Thursday, May 11 on OCS.

He had the opportunity to make his acting debut in the series, after starring in numerous sketches on television and experienced dubbing through several animated films, including Tous en scène 2, which was released in theaters in December 2021.

Created and directed by Frederic Hazan (Mike), Need for Love focuses on the daily life of Marco Delgado, a famous porn actor whose career seems to be coming to an end and who has been experiencing a strange discomfort for some time: he is falling apart. For yes or no, he falls down, as if he is about to hit the ground. After studying his brain, he was diagnosed with a very rare disease: Marco needs love. If he doesn’t find this love, if we don’t love him, one day he will collapse and never rise again.

In this romantic drama with a special rhythm and colorful characters, Camille Combal lends her qualities for a few sequences to Brian Colbert, an actor with a big ego who is collecting success in TV movies and social series as the big one. Chains love them. And who loves himself as much as a housewife adores him.

A few weeks ago in Lille, as part of the Seria Mania festival, where Need for Love was presented, Camille Combal talks to us about this first experience of the series, her character, which could become iconic, and her wishes. for fiction.

AlloCiné: How did you get into the Need for Love project?

Camille Combal : Fred Hazan is a famous author from Paris who has done many things be it movies, serials or shows. We have known each other for a long time, we worked together, and it turns out that he was organizing this project and thinking about me.

He wrote me this Brian Colbert character and we were able to fit it into my schedule so I was available to shoot for three or four days. I’m glad it could be done and I thank Fred for writing me this role.

What did you like about the character of this actor with a big ego? Did you want to go opposite yourself?

Anyway, I hope this character is the opposite of me because, really, he’s an idiot (laughs). But maybe people will tell me “We know you in character”Which would be very painful (laughs).

Brian Colbert has truly had an extraordinary career. He’s really like the guys we meet who, when you talk to them, you know they’re just looking for their reflection in your eyes, they love each other so much. So Brian Colbert is part of that layer, so you’ve definitely come across AlloCiné (laughs). You interviewed these guys! Those who are sure that they are the best, believe that they are great, and those who are insanely complacent. He’s convinced he’s the new Bradley Cooper when he’s not at all.

I’ve met a lot of Brian Colberts. In comedy, on television, but even outside. Not a social dinner is complete without at least two Brian Colberts around the table. The best thing is when the two Brian Colberts are next to each other at the table. There’s a Brian Colbert match, that’s what we love (laughs).

Fred came up with this character that I immediately liked and then we worked together to see what we could add to make it even more fun. And he left the real part to improvisation, I was able to suggest things and try things out, so the shoot was very good, it’s a very good memory.

After dubbing Tous en scène 2 and the many parodies or sketches you were able to do on television, was the next logical step to try your hand at feature comedy?

When I came to Paris, it was fiction. I did a lot with my friends who went on and who are now big actors. We made short films, a lot of things. I went to the base for it in Paris. And then, a little by chance, I found myself on the radio, on TV, which I also like very much.

But it was cool to go back to my first love, let’s just say I haven’t acted for a long time, except for sketches with wigs (laughs). It was great, I had a lot of fun.

Brian Colbert is a mediocre actor who thinks he’s great and is adored by a housewife. Is it hard to play a guy who plays poorly?

Considering my level of acting, it’s not that difficult to play an actor who is acting badly (laughs). No, seriously, it’s a lot of fun to play an actor who doesn’t act very well. I don’t have a lot of experience, but I know that every actor will be able to say that, it’s really nice to play an idiot.

Brian Colbert is just stupid in the end, he’s a little low ceilinged. He’s not bad, he’s not a bad guy either, but he’s a little goofy and sure he’s the best. We’re a little bit inspired by some acquaintances, like… No, I’m just kidding, I won’t name names (laughs).

What was it like filming with Fred Hazan?

It was cool. I was lucky enough to have very nice scenes to play, quite funny. We spent time laughing with Fred, whom I know very well.

But in this series, Freddy is the main actor, director and screenwriter. It takes crazy work. You should know that it even proves the knot of shoelaces (laughs). He goes to you and tells you “I don’t think shoelaces should be tied”. It’s overloaded and accurate to a pretty crazy level. With the budget constraints we have on series like this. You still have to get a lot of sequences in one day.

Need for Love was filmed at a very hectic pace, but in an atmosphere that was very cool and very studious. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the technical team who have been very good indeed. And we had a very good cream risotto in the caterer, you know, we had a great time (laughs).

You have a scene Gerard Juneau, who plays Marco Delgado’s agent. Was it impressive to give him a line?

Gerard is a really great person. This is also part of the fun of this job. Now off my list: Do something with Gerard Junior. It’s great, I’m very lucky.

Which Brian Colbert series do you think could see the light of day?

There are many who are quoted in the series: Deacon, “The Story of a Deconstructed Boy”color, “About tract cancer” If we take the words of Brian Vasek, “The story of two boys who meet on the day of their vasectomy, but beware, it’s a thriller”And of course PN, about the narcissistic pervert. I probably forgot one or two. But you see, Brian Colbert likes trouble. As soon as the disorder comes out, he makes series (laughs).

What really worries me is that I think there are one or two that aren’t safe from seeing the light of day in a few years. But if I had to choose one, I would say Vasek. I would love to do Vasek (laughs). Which is also a good inspector name. We can find it in the detective series Inspector Vasek. “Inspector Vasek, please leave the building immediately”.

Is there a scene or line from Brian that sticks in your memory?

“You know what they say in the jungle? If you’re looking for a chimpanzee, go to a crocodile, he’ll always know where he is”. It should be. I love it, it’s great Brian Colbert, always in big bad mode.

At one point, he finds himself with an actor, played by Jean-Baptiste Maunier, who is experiencing a bad buzz. Basically, Brian Colbert seems concerned, but he doesn’t let on. He says “No, stop using mobile phones, turn off mobile phones, I, for example, do not have a mobile phone, if you want to contact me, ask someone who knows, who knows me. you know what to do They say in the jungle? If you want to talk to a chimpanzee, ask a crocodile, he will always know where he is”. Which means nothing (laughs).

It’s like Brian Colbert’s philosophy, mixing animals into everything he says is clever when it’s not at all.

Fred’s specialty is writing good lyrics and lyrics that don’t look like the humor we’re used to seeing or hearing. This is humor with a special rhythm, a little about “awkwardness”. The series may surprise you. This is not a humor series with the rhythm we are used to finding. It’s something completely different, it’s 100% Fredo, which is a little different in life. And I find that we find his inconsistency in the series and in Brian Colbert.

Do you want to go more comedy from now on?

Obviously I don’t let TV and animation go, I’m still interested in Mask Singer or Dancing with the Stars. But I have many plans. Together with my teams we have created things, we are very much in demand. After that it takes time. I’m trying to spare some time and if I manage to do that then the idea would be to offer some fiction, yes that would be great.

Does TF1 offer scripts for TV series or TV movies?

It will be difficult to adjust I think. And then there are already on the channel who do it very well, like Jean-Luc Reichmann. I’d rather go for more personal stuff. Let’s see if it sees the light of day.