Caterina Valente

What sort of work did your parents do? What sort of act?

Ah, well, my mother was a comedian. You see, she she was the act, actually. And the artist family goes from her side of the family. My father was a… musician, he was actually the first one to play classical music on an accordion. But uh the act was a very funny one.

When did you start to work in the family act?

Oh, a long time ago. Ah, when I was five. Five? Yes, I was the one that always made so much noise backstage that my mother said, All right, if you want to be on stage, you're gonna be on stage. And I started at five and uh I have never stopped since.

What did you do in the act at five?

Oh, I danced. I danced a gavot and I sang, of course. I I sang. I was I little when I was a boy.

How many languages did you grow up to speak?