Lightning in a bottle… with a twist of lime. Emmanuelle Vaugier really should have a drink named after her. If bar owners in Vancouver knew what she’d been up to throughout her career, they’d be bursting with pride for this Canadian sweetheart and I guarantee the Emmanuelle would be a hit at every watering hole, much like the Burt Reynolds. Perhaps I’m missing my local pub and social gatherings like everyone else but I also believe great talent deserves to be recognized and celebrated.
Emmanuelle Vaugier is living the dream because she’s worked hard and dedicated a large part of herself to film and television. She may be best known for her popular role as Charlie Sheen’s ex-fiancée, Mia on the award-winning CBS comedy ‘Two and a Half Men’ or the three seasons she played Detective Jessica Angell on ‘CSI: NY’, Evony in Lost Girl, Major Anne Frost in the McGyver TV series or ADA Regan Faulkner in the TV series, Rogue. There’s also her character, Addison on Saw II and IV. Most recently Emmanuelle starred in the Lifetime movie, Dying for Motherhood and has had guest roles on Magnum P. I. Emmanuelle has accumulated 110 acting credits on Imdb alone and now makes her home in LA.
I caught up to her using telepathy but then woke up only to realize it was a weird dream. We did connect through a phone call and I really had a difficult time hanging up. She has the sweetest laugh, her candor is comparable to the setting sun and I felt like we might be exchanging cooking recipes by the end of the call. She is the girl next door that makes you blush when she says ‘hello’ and she is also the one that stops on the highway to help you change your flat tire; Emmanuelle is still Canadian at heart after all. She started acting in grade school and became a model in her late teen years that took her to Japan for 3 years. She resumed her acting career when she moved back to Vancouver in 1995.
I had reached Emmanuelle from her home in LA. She stables her horse Bunny, that she absolutely adores 20 mins away from her home because of seasonal forest fires and the Equestrian horse has become her friend, her Zen and they’ve competed at events together. Some people have dogs or cats and others have horses. My dad had a horse that could count with its hoof and would nod yes and no to your questions. They are beautiful animals and I understand the strong bond that evolves over time.
“Given the current Covid-19 situation, how has that impacted your life and work?”
“Other than not being able to go to the gym and spend time with my friends, go to dinner and the social aspect of it, that has changed. For the most part, my fiancé and I spend most our time home together with the dogs, usually cooking or I’ll go to the barn and come home. That part hasn’t changed but there are new restrictions you have to follow at the barn on how things are conducted and what areas you’re allowed into. What I’ve really enjoyed is having the time to spend on things that I’ve put on the backburner in order to focus on XY and Z. This has really pushed me to be more creative in my day to day life outside of auditions and work.”
“Are you still able to audition for roles?”
“Absolutely, in recent years taped auditions have become part of the norm and that hasn’t changed, but there is less volume because nobody really knows when we can start up again. I have a handful of projects that say, ‘shooting late summer, 2020’. That’s the new timeline now (laughing).”
“I have heard through the wire that scripts will be stripped down to only a few lead characters once productions start back up. Have you heard anything?”
“I know that there was something circulating that indicated much the same; fewer characters with extras and day players being filled by the crew. I’ve heard there will be social distancing in scenes, which could make intimacy awkward because they also want to eliminate kissing and love scenes. There is talk of three different sets/pods where only certain people/actors are allowed to cross from one set to another. It was very in depth and complicated and in Australia’s show, Neighbours they’ve figured it out somehow. It’s going to take time to move forward and put something into action with everyone abiding by the rules to maintain safety.”
“You have friends in the industry that are also impacted by the virus. How are they coping and how are their spirits?”
“Some of my friends have been working non-stop and are excited that they’re forced into staying home to focus on themselves and regroup. For me, I can go ride my horse when I want and I love that, but I also have friends and single moms that have kids/toddlers that can’t go anywhere because they’re caring for the children 24/7. That’s tough cause there’s no nanny, there’s no daycare or assistance at this point. Everyone is in a different position in that sense and so it really depends on your finances. I believe it’s hard on everyone for different reasons and we all have to work together to make it through this.”
“I had read that you’ve been getting very creative in your spare time and have begun to pursue the Ellen Degeneres show to be one of her guests?”
“Oh Yeahh… I’ve always loved her show, it’s super entertaining, she’s great, she’s charismatic, she’s funny, she’s super talented. If I ever had the opportunity to pick a talk show to go on, her show would be at the top. I love her show and I love her, I think she’s great! When the idea came to me, I thought I’d have a little fun with it and it’s evolved into shooting bits and pieces, to now shooting my third episode. I’m considering how often to release the next one and what’s my next production timeline. It’s suppose to fun and not stressful, so I’ve decided to put one out every two weeks. I’m just taking care of a tweak to the second one and should be putting it out today or in the morning, which lends itself to the two week timeline.”
You can see the hilarious videos on Instagram TV, Facebook and her Youtube channel, https://youtu.be/BO-fAMM6Og8 .
“Can you talk me through what an episode might look like?”
“The first episode is about colouring the grey out of your hair at a time when salons are closed and you don’t know what to do. I had a company offer me their product to try. It’s ammonia free, peroxide free and my hair stylist/make-up artist walks me through on how to use the product. It’s a fun tutorial that I cut together and I wrapped it up at the end. The second episode is on growing vegetables; we have a large garden and my fiancé grows vegetables while I watch and admire him (laughing). It’s about me helping out and there’s also a small tutorial at the end on how to grow a radish from a seed. I remember an episode on Ellen where she was talking about people starting their own garden. I could talk about that (laughing) or she could ask me about it. That’s basically the jest of it.”
Emmanuelle goes onto say that her fiancé is as passionate about gardening as she is about horses.
“When did you get the acting bug?”
“I got the acting bug when I was in second grade doing a school play, I just loved it. It was fun, I enjoyed performing and it scared me a little bit, but it was also thrilling to me. I started taking acting classes and workshops after school. I started modeling in grade 11 and was travelling back and forth from Japan on 2 – 3 month contracts. After a few years of that I came home and began pursuing acting. Things really started happening in Vancouver, there were lots of productions going on back then so it was really great.”
“Where did you work in 2019, prior to the pandemic?”
“I worked in Miami for a bit and then Atlanta. I probably haven’t worked in Vancouver or Canada for work in a couple of years. Everything has been Hawaii, Miami, Atlanta and LA, which is odd because I used to be up in Canada constantly. I really can’t complain about shooting on South Beach or Waikiki, it’s not such a horrible situation. Most times when you’re working out of town you don’t have an opportunity to enjoy the location but when I was in Atlanta, I was able to take my dog to the park and get to know the area and the city; I really enjoyed Atlanta. I do love the travel aspect of work but sometimes it’s ‘ughh’ because I have my horse here now and even though I can bring my dogs, the horse is a little more complicated to bring along depending on where I’m going (laughing). Sometimes, I’m questioning when I can go home and ride but it’s the work that pays for my hobby that I love so much, so I try to focus on that.”
Did I mention how candid and genuine Emmanuelle Vaugier is? You can take a Canadian out of Canada but you can’t take the Canada out of the Canadian.
“Do you sometimes find it difficult to maintain a balance?”
“I used to have a lot more trouble with it, where the work would take over my life but now both are equally important to me and I don’t believe either works well if there’s no balance. Your relationship and home life can’t be fulfilling if you’re not doing things that aren’t fulfilling to you outside of work. If I’m riding my horse, going to the gym or doing other activities outside of pursuing my career, then I’m in a much better headspace. In return, I can go back to work with more creativity and have that much more to offer. I didn’t do that before; it was always work, work, work, let’s keep the train moving. You experience a lot but you miss out on a lot too.”
“You seem to be comfortable in horror, comedy and a wide variety of other roles. Do you have a preference when it comes to a specific genre of film to be involved in?”
“I love that I’ve had the opportunity for such variety in my career and that I haven’t been pigeonholed into a type. Having said that, I really enjoy comedy and would love to do a sitcom and laugh all day… but I also love action. I love superhero movies, action and thrillers; I like the physical aspect of it. A perfect example would be a film like Salt and Angelina Jolie’s character; that really appeals to me.”
“Have you seen stronger roles for women coming out of the industry?”
“I have, it’s slowly changing and I am seeing more roles for women that empower them rather than objectify them.”
“I really enjoyed the film Red Sparrow. There were so many layers to Jennifer Lawrence’s character. Have you played a multi-layered character like that in the past?”
“I’ve had the opportunity to play some fun and strong female roles, such as on Lost Girl. My character was manipulative and evil, you might say. There was a vulnerability and a strength to her underneath all that. I was able to bring that to the character at times where it was appropriate; she was very layered. I don’t come off as light and airy and my physic lends itself more to strong characters, visually.”
“When it comes to the subject of death in a film, is it difficult to go deep into the pain and tears of a character?
“For me it’s part of my job and requires a different focus and a different mindset. Those are all tools you use to bring that depth to a character but I also think that some of that is life experience and some of it is tapping into the vulnerable side of yourself to access it. That’s something that has never been too difficult for me, especially if the writing is really good and you have a great scene partner. There’s a lot of satisfaction in that and going deep and diving into that dark place, depending on where they’re going with it but it’s not a place I’d love to live for months at a time.”
“Do you have a preference between movies or TV?”
“I enjoy both. With film, you get to dive into X amount of months and create a character and once you’re done, that’s it. You leave it behind and you move onto something else. In a television series, that develops over time or whether you’re doing network or cable with 6 mth’s/9 mth’s of work, season after season, you go deeper into the character and that can be a lot of fun too. It becomes a part of your being, over the long term. It stays with you for the duration of the show and hopefully you have a family for five or six years if the show is a success. There’s more time to develop your character over the length of the season.”
“I don’t want to make you blush… but I read that you were voted Fifth Sexiest Woman in the World according to Femme Fatale Magazine. When you heard that, did you feel added pressure to start living at the gym?”
“(Laughing) It was flattering and I live at the gym anyways, fitness is a big part of my life, however all that stuff is flattering and cool. I didn’t feel embarrassed by it or feel any pressure, I started looking at the other women on the list and they were all very gorgeous. I was happy to be amongst that kind of company on the list and it told me all that hard work at the gym has paid off (laughing).
In talking to Emmanuelle, I really get the impression that she is ‘the girl next door’ with a really terrific and highly interesting job. If you want to know, brew up a pot of tea and just ask. If she were a body of water, I think there’d be an easy calm on the surface with many undiscovered treasures below.
“How important is image and do you always have to maintain it?”
“Some people create an image for the public that doesn’t reflect who they really are but I’ve always been true to myself. I try to put the best version of myself out there while holding true to my values, my morals and being integral about the things that I do. I feel it’s important to be who I am and not try to pretend to be someone I’m not because ultimately, people can tell (laughing). There are some really good fakers out there but eventually it comes out. Just be who you are and if people like it, they like it; if they don’t like it… well I can’t please everybody.”
“When you were cast on Two and a Half Men, how did that role change your life?”
“For one, people were looking at me for sitcoms, before that they were saying I wasn’t a sitcom girl and she doesn’t do comedy. In truth, I just never had the opportunity to do it, it’s not like I can’t do it. Suddenly the industry is saying, ‘oh yeah, of course she does comedy, she’s so great; let’s bring her in for this or that.’ It was so funny because nothing had changed and maybe I’ve gotten a little better at it because I’m doing it on a consistent basis but it was amazing to me how the industry had changed their perception of me. It definitely opened the door for more comedy roles/roles in general and put me on the map. People are paying attention and I have more visibility, which helps more, workwise.”
“When you’re not acting, you are giving back with your yearly Fluffball, which raises money for the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation. Did you create that fundraiser on your own or did the idea come from a group of friends?”
“It was an idea that I started on my own and I believe I threw the first fundraiser at my house in 2010. It was basically a cocktail party with a caterer that donated all the great eats, Grey Goose Vodka came and ran the bar, it was fun. We raised between 8 and 9 thousand dollars, which wasn’t too bad considering it was only 80ish people/friends of mine. After that, it really began to grow and every year I would find a venue or someone’s home to throw the event. In the last couple of years we’ve been focusing the event online, due to people having babies, busy careers and others getting married within the board. We were moving forward with this year’s event in January but then Covid-19 happened and we’ve had to refocus our efforts away from holding a social event, because it’s no longer possible, so we’re managing to raise money in other ways.”
Emmanuelle has also raised thousands more for wildfire relief back in January. In addition she has been sewing masks for the elderly in her neighbourhood, as well as making a few available online to raise money for Feeding America. She always finds a way to give back to the community and get behind issues she’s passionate about.
“In terms of actors, who do you look up to for inspiration?”
“I’ve always loved Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep of course but everyone does, she’s fantastic. I’ve been watching Ozark and Laura Linney (Wendy) is so amazing and fantastic in that role. She’s incredible, I love watching her and it’s another example of a strong female role. She executes it so well, I love that show.”
“I’d like to ask you a couple of fun questions if it’s okay.”
“Sure.”
“If you were in a hot air balloon, what area would you want to float over?”
“I’d have to say places in Italy, like the Coliseum and the canals in Venice. I’ve never been there, but I’ve been to Milan. I’ve also never been to Rome or Sicily and right now I’ve heard the canals are so clear because nothings getting stirred up and nobody’s on the street. From the footage I’ve seen, it looks so clean.”
Emmanuelle and I dove into more discussions about the impact of Covid-19 and she divulged that she’s had to call off her wedding that was planned for July. She is not disheartened though, she knows how difficult it would’ve been to accommodate guests safely and she and her fiancé are more than happy to wait for their special day because it won’t change anything. She said she wants to wait until everyone can enjoy it without feeling like they’re putting themselves at risk.
“If you could travel to the bottom of the ocean in a submarine or travel outside the earths orbit for a day, where would you choose to go?”
“I think I’d go to the deepest part of the ocean. Most people might say floating around the earth but I think it would be so fascinating to see all the life and whatever else is down there, like the Titanic. James Cameron ruined it for everyone (laughing) that wanted to do it themselves. I think that would be super cool.”
“Have you tried surfing since living in LA?”
“I haven’t tried surfing in LA. I did do a little surfing lesson when I was working in Hawaii and it was fun but I’m not a huge fan of water. I enjoy looking at it and being on a boat but as far as water sports, I’ve never been a big advocate.”
“When you’re having a bad day and need to de-stress, what do you do or where do you go?”
“I go to the barn. When I’m around the horses, petting and riding my horse or anything else that places me in that environment, everything melts away. I come back a different person and it’s why I miss it so much when I don’t get to do it on a consistent basis. It has an impact on my mental health, my quality of life and everyday functions.”
Emmanuelle’s horse Bunny has had 8 babies and was 2 – 300 pounds overweight when she found her in BC, Canada. She’s a Hunter Champion but hadn’t been ridden in 10 years when she adopted her. Once she was able to ride her, she was so easy to control, she was a happy girl and willing to do whatever Emmanuelle wished. The bond between animal and owner has always piqued my fascination. It can be magical and very fulfilling.
It was such a delight to speak with Emmanuelle Vaugier. She’s inspirational, she’s humble and she is the girl next door with the amazing horse!