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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

Belgian Actress Danni Heylen Bids Farewell to Iconic 'F.C. De Kampioenen' Character

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Belgian actress Danni Heylen is definitively retiring her iconic character Pascale De Backer from 'F.C. De Kampioenen'.
  • Heylen expressed that she will not miss the character, as she is currently focused on theater work.
  • She also emphasized the importance of preserving traditional "brown cafes" (pubs), drawing on her own youthful experiences.

Actress Danni Heylen, known for her role as Pascale De Backer in the long-running Belgian series 'F.C. De Kampioenen,' has announced she is definitively moving on from the character. Heylen, 75, stated she will not miss playing Pascale, explaining her current focus is on theater, which she finds immensely fulfilling.

I'm not going to miss Pascalleke; I'm busy with theater now, and it's so nice.

— Danni HeylenDanni Heylen announced her definitive departure from the character Pascale De Backer.

"I'm not going to miss Pascalleke; I'm busy with theater now, and it's so nice," Heylen said. She reflected on her extensive television career with gratitude but indicated a lack of time for further reprises of the role. "I started in theater, then I had an incredibly good time on television with all my colleagues. I am very grateful for that, but I no longer have time for it. People will have to understand that."

I started in theater, then I had an incredibly good time on television with all my colleagues. I am very grateful for that, but I no longer have time for it. People will have to understand that.

— Danni HeylenHeylen explained her reasons for retiring the character.

Heylen made these remarks while promoting National Cafe Day, an initiative to support traditional Belgian pubs, often referred to as "brown cafes." She passionately advocates for their preservation, recalling her own youth spent frequenting such establishments in Antwerp. "I think you learn a lot in a pub. You met so many diverse people. You got a little drunk sometimes, talked about heartbreak. Those pubs should not disappear."

I think you learn a lot in a pub. You met so many diverse people. You got a little drunk sometimes, talked about heartbreak. Those pubs should not disappear.

— Danni HeylenHeylen spoke about the importance of preserving traditional 'brown cafes'.

She described the profession of a barkeeper as an art and a talent, requiring the ability to handle all types of people while maintaining discretion. "You have to be able to deal with all kinds of people, and then there's 'hear, see, and keep quiet.' That means: everything I hear and see, stays with me," Heylen explained.

You have to be able to deal with all kinds of people, and then there's 'hear, see, and keep quiet.' That means: everything I hear and see, stays with me.

— Danni HeylenHeylen described the skills required to be a successful barkeeper.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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