« I need to hurry up and act in a musical comedy, before I get arthritis! »
 

PostED ON 14.10.2024

The actress and singer revisits her fondest memories of filming.

© Sandrine Thesillat - JL Mège Photographies

HER FAVOURITE FILM

Singing in the Rain was the first movie I loved, and it remains my favourite to this day. I know it by heart! It's a happy film, and yet when I see it, I can cry from emotion. In fact, I've always dreamt of performing in a musical comedy film. Singing, dancing and acting in a beautiful film would be an absolute dream. I've got to hurry up and do it before I get arthritis!

CAFÉ DE FLORE (2011)

I was so happy to work for Jean-Marc Vallée, who is now gone, which makes me very sad. We had met and talked. It was a particular day: I was late because one of my children was sick. Jean-Marc Vallée was annoyed, and I didn't make much of an effort. But it still worked... perhaps thanks to my child’s vomit! My co-star, Marin Gerrier, a child with Down syndrome, was extraordinary.

© Sandrine Thesillat - JL Mège Photographies

GIRL ON THE BRIDGE (1999)

Each time I see the monologue that opens the film, something chemical happens inside me that makes me cry. It was a very long scene, eight pages of text. I immersed myself in the script for a year, so by the time we were shooting, I knew it by heart! We filmed the monologue relatively early, during the second week. Patrice Leconte, who seems to be a very classic director on the surface, actually has a craziness and wonderful poetry.

HOUSE IN BRITTANY (2012)

I really enjoyed getting to know Anne Le Ny, as well as our preparation, which involved many readings. She's the director I've done the most takes with. She pushes you very far and that reassured me, because sometimes the director is satisfied with a single take, but you want to try something else. 

© Sandrine Thesillat - JL Mège Photographies

THE ROLE(S) OF WOMEN IN CINEMA

There's obviously a difference between working with a male director or a female director, but I wouldn’t really know how it explain it. For a few years now, we're all about female empowerment, which is all for the better. On the set of House in Brittany, I was happy to see women in major positions, because it was rarer at the time. Now it's more widespread, not only thanks to new laws, but also thanks to talent.

 Interviewed by Fanny Bellocq