Jade LABESTE
Actress

Jade received a grant to help her finance her studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique de Paris. 

What is your artistic background ?
For me, it all started with the discovery and practice of dance at the age of 14. The first foot on the stage was a revelation but very quickly the expression through the body seemed somehow restrictive. I had to add the verb, the word. Theatre became obvious. I moved to Paris and went to the École du Jeu (a theatrical training course focused on body work). I then had the opportunity to play in two feature films: Volontaireby Hélène Fillières and Nos Vies Formidablesby Fabienne Godet. I then took the competitive examination at the Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique de Paris, where I returned in September 2017. I am currently undertaking a three-year intensive training programme there.  

How do you see your profession today ?
Whether yesterday or today, I think that being an actor is above all a vocation. To be the bearer/messenger of a word and to convey it in the best possible way. Tackling other dimensions, other realities is also one of the greatest riches of this profession.  Louis Jouvet said: “The actor's body becomes a receptacle for the spirit through sensation, for the spirit of another, of a soul other than his own.” To have the opportunity to live a life that we have not lived and that we may not be able to live... it is beautiful. The actor can represent all of humanity and sometimes even beyond. 

How do you see yourself in five years ? In 10 years ?
I hope to have the chance to be able to practice and live from this wonderful profession in a strong and healthy way. To have the opportunity to make artistic choices, to work on projects that are spiritually and humanly enriching. Going through the Comédie-Française, which remains a great institution, would also be a great opportunity. 

This interview was conducted in 2019
Photo credit: Amandine Besacier