Jisca KALVANDA
Actress

Jisca received a grant to help her finance her studies at the Théâtre National de Strasbourg. 

What is your artistic background ?
I started theatre at the age of 12 with Professor Houda Benyamina in a small MJC (neighbourhood youth centre) in Viry-Châtillon, the town where I am from. At that time, I was carefree and very fulfilled, I liked doing what I was doing, as I am shy and reserved. I then joined the 1000 Visages association that was created with the aim of democratising cinema. I played in several short films and one feature film. The aim of the association was that every young person could discover every profession within cinema. So I went through all the different positions. But acting remains what I want to do. I have also directed a few short films, including one that was selected at the Génération Court Festival. Then in 2012, benefiting from the 1000 Visages network, I had a casting for 3x Manondirected by Jean-Xavier Delestrade. On this occasion I met the person who became my agent, Elise Fecamp at Adequat, with whom I still work today. It was a good start for me, I acted in a feature film in which I had one of the two main roles, with Camelia Pand'or. I also won the acting prize for that role at the Saint-Jean-de-Luz Festival. I had the chance to be on other projects such as Engrenages, Sage Femmeby Martin Provost or recently Divinesby Houda Benyamina. In spite of all these greatl projects, I find it necessary to have real training, to continue to learn, to be exposed to great texts, great authors. I decided therefore to try my hand at competitions for the ‘grandes écoles’ and I have been admitted to the Théâtre National de Strasbourg.. 

How do you see your profession today ?
For me, being an actress is not only being an actress. I experience all professions. Today I am a nurse, tomorrow a lawyer and the day after I am a housewife. For me it is the most beautiful job in the world and I live every moment of it. Every day is different, I couldn't have dreamed of anything better and to have this luxury you have to work, there are no secrets or magic potions, only work pays off. 

How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
In 5 or 10 years, I see myself living from my job, being fulfilled in what I do. 

This interview was conducted in 2017
Photo credit: Céline Anaya Gautier