Comedian, actor, presenter, notably as master of ceremonies of the “NRJ Music Awards” for six years on TF1.
Anthony Kavanagh is this Sunday March 24 on France 2 in “A Sunday in the Country”, with Macha Méril and Olivia Ruiz.
He offers the show hosted by Frédéric Lopez a particularly moving sequence as he talks about his mother in the barn of the house suitable for confessions.
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After fleeing Haiti in 1964, his parents settled for a time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country was still called Belgian Congo at the time.
Quebec needs French-speaking teachers and Anthony Kavanagh's parents are seizing the opportunity.
“It’s a culture shock.
My parents also have Haitian friends, so inside it's 40 degrees while outside it's -40 degrees.
It’s as if the Creole Company were doing a concert at Picard
,” the artist laughs.
How lucky I was to have known this wonderful woman for 26 years.
Anthony Kavanagh
Anthony Kavanagh calls his father a
"bon vivant"
, who does not really provide for his family.
Her mother decides to resume her studies while working to compensate for this lack.
She first became a nurse and then rose through the ranks.
She became the first black woman in Quebec to become director of a hospital.
“I always see my mother strong, I am proud of her.
She had an extraordinary laugh and so..."
Anthony Kavanagh stops, overcome with emotion.
Tears flow.
The comedian takes a few minutes before being able to resume his story:
“As soon as I say that… I didn’t want to do that.”
The evocation of his mother's laughter is what
"pains him the most"
.
“It’s been a long time since I cried for my mother
,” he confides before remembering a discussion that constitutes the man he has become as an adult.
Also read: Frédéric Lopez takes us behind the scenes of “A Sunday in the Country”
“She was an extraordinary woman, but I see my mother who is angry with my father and I tell her, mom, I won’t be like that
,” he says.
He will always be
“the good boy, gentleman”
.
“I looked at her, I found that she wasn't enjoying life enough.
She died at 51, she didn’t enjoy life enough
,” he remembers.
“She worked a lot, she was in her books and she took care of us.
She had her goal.
She achieved it so I’m super proud
,” he concludes before adding:
“How lucky I was to have known this wonderful woman for 26 years
. ”
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