A former AFP federal agent, whose core values for 17 years were integrity and trust, has been cast in reality TV show about deception – The Traitors – and whether or not you’re a reality TV fan, her psychological conflict is fascinating.

Canberra resident Camille has worked with the FBI and Scotland Yard and spent her entire career being honest, but she is about to deceive and betray on national television. It makes for riveting viewing.

“Here is my life, I’ve always been honest, the core values of federal police is integrity, trust – all the things that The Traitors isn’t,” Camille says. “Here I have permission to betray or deceive or lie.”

For the uninitiated, The Traitors is a game where some contestants are “traitors” who try and eliminate the rest while others are “faithfuls” and tasked to banish the traitors. Camille is sworn to secrecy and can’t divulge her status – or if she won the $250,000 prize.

The game not only tested her loyalties as a former federal agent – someone who has worked in counter terrorism, drug smuggling and fraud – but also saw Camille mimic the very criminals she locked up.

“I was a federal agent, locking up those who lie, cheat and betray and commit crime, and the skills I learnt from the criminals I applied when I was on the show,” Camille says. 

“You learn about reading people’s body language, the indicators of lying such as excessive fidgeting and sweating. Their face, where their eyes look, not being open, your arms, legs and feet. I definitely had moments in the show where I went ‘oh my god, you are lying. You are lying through your teeth.’ It’s so obvious to me. Because I wasn’t 100 per cent truthful about everything about me, I would make sure that I always had a right balance about my arms not being crossed and making eye contact when you’re saying something.”

If you’re wondering why a former federal agent would apply to go on a reality TV show, Camille says after being a stay-at-home mum for 10 years, she wanted to know “have I still got it?”

“There was an ad on TV that they were casting for season two and my kids were like ‘Mum, you should do that, you were a federal agent, you’d be great at it’,” Camille says.

“You know how you’re an armchair expert when you watch something on TV and you’re like, ‘yeah, I know what to do, I could work that out’. When I applied for the show, I said I’m a former federal agent and I always got results. We talk about in the feds – fighting crime and winning – and I was just all about that.”

As a mum of 10-year-old twins and a six-year-old, it could also be said that Camille is excellent under pressure. The federal agent background helps, too.

“If f was accused of something in the show, which I may have been, I was always calm under that pressure,” Camille says. “You have to de-escalate the situation, it only makes it worse, even in life. The biggest weapon for me in the AFP was being able to talk to people. Words are mightier than the sword.”

When I interviewed Camille for this article, it was like walking on broken glass because Camille could not divulge any TV spoilers and was also guarded about her federal agent past. It was a challenging but tantalising conversation to get answers.

After a while, it was hard to know what was true and what wasn’t, especially when Camille tells me; “I didn’t need to lie, backstab or betray that much, I played with as much integrity as possible in a game about deceit”.

She was really messing with my head and that’s what this entire game is about. The undisputed truth, however, is that Camille has had a fascinating career in law enforcement.

“I did a lot in the feds for different client types, so whether it was drug importation, major fraud, counter terrorism, a variety of things,” Camille says. “The most satisfying for me was investigating sexual servitude and crimes against primarily kids online. That was super satisfying for me because I really felt like I was getting real baddies off the street.”

Camille was also a body guard for members of parliament and foreign dignitaries. Her latest role, however, could win her an acting award because Camille’s competitors had no idea she was once a federal agent.

“I didn’t want the potential traitors to think that I would be a threat like a gun investigator,” she says. “For that reason, I didn’t tell them. My whole strategy was to be a little bit boring. I dressed down, I just wore jeans and trainers – mum outfits. I didn’t want to stand out.” And the Oscar goes to …

By the end of the wayward interview, I still have no idea whether Camille is a traitor or a faithful, or if she even won the game. I do know that although The Traitors is about befriending people and betraying them, Camille actually made mates out of the social experiment.

“I have actually made some friends in a place where you really couldn’t trust anyone,” she says. “You’ve got to have a bit of crazy to go on a reality TV show.”

Camille says she’s not motivated by money (I detect a lie), saying “I just wanted to go as far as I could in the show”. Sounds like a script from Channel 10. 

Camille leaves us with this ambiguity: “Whichever team I’m on, I’m loyal to that team. I’m like a secret weapon in their back pocket”.

The Traitors screens on Channel 10 on 13 August. Follow Camille on Instagram @camille.chiche