Clémence DesRochers

Clémence DesRochers, the daughter of the great Alfred DesRochers, was born in Sherbrooke in 1933 and grew up wanting to be a teacher, influenced perhaps by her father who was the highly respected poet. After graduating from a teacher’s training college, she taught elementary school for a brief period before enrolling at Montreal’s Conservatoire d’art dramatique. She also was given a chance to join Paul Buissonneau’s theatre on wheels, La Roulotte, as a mime. Comfortable in many different areas, it all comes down to her passion for words. As an actress, monologist, singer, songwriter, or artist, she has won acclaim in every field. Her 1980 production, Retrouvailles de Clémence won two Félix Awards that year. One for best show of the year and the other for best writer. In 1983, she launched Plus folle que jamais which enjoyed a five-week run before going on tour. She won the Jacques-Blanchet medal for that production. Ten years later she took her then new show on the road. Between 1993 and 1994 her eager fans turned out in droves and it is estimated that she ultimately performed for more than 100,000 with De retour après la ménopause. While no stranger to television or the big screen, her appearances have been few and far between. However her role in La Grande Séduction brought a Jutra Award for best supporting actress. In 1994, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sherbrooke and the Hommage Rideau Award. Named Chevalière de l’Ordre national du Québec, Officer of the Order of Canada, she has received the Prix Denise-Pelletier for her body of work, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Prix Excellence from SOCAN for her entire career, as well as Félix awards from the ADISQ.

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