Marion Cotillard.

If Marion Cotillard’s nose were short, would the whole face of cinema change? After Elizabeth Taylor (among others), Marion Cotillard offers herself the symbolic pleasure of portraying Egypt’s most famous queen. Asterix and Obelix. Middle Kingdom, family blockbuster. the inimitable Cleopatra in marital crisis with Julius Caesar (Vincent Cassel). The film was signed by Guillaume Canet, who, after Small handkerchiefsRock and roll, we’ll show up together Again offers a comedy tailored to his mother of two, a fantastic register well suited to Marion Cotillard, who is however known for her dramatic roles.

In the video, Asterix and Obelix. Middle Kingdomthe teaser

A new nuance that adds to the limitless palette of this demanding actress, who twice had a caesarean section and famously won an Oscar in 2008 for her inhabited incarnation of Edith Piaf. The child, by Olivier Dahan. Since then, as an international star, adopted by the Americans, he seduced their great directors (Christopher Nolan, Steven Soderbergh or James Grey) while pursuing an auteur career in France (Leos Carax, Jacques Audiard or Arnaud Despleches).

A committed environmentalist, he has worked alongside Greenpeace since its inception and is increasingly involved in production, particularly humanist documentaries. The woman of her time, the muse of the house of Chanel, has invaded the star system. On the other side of the lark’s mirror, Marion Cotillard cultivates her personal happiness by avoiding family exposure and other intimate confidences. A reserved woman who is on fire when it comes to bringing out her passion for film or the work of others. Meeting.

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Madame Figaro.–Which female characters inspired you as a child?
marionCotillard. – I didn’t really have historical references like Cleopatra. It was the great Hollywood actresses like Greta Garbo or the French actresses like Catherine Deneuve who made me dream and inspired me.

How did you enjoy interpreting Cleopatra, a historical figure?
What I really liked about the project, apart from playing a legendary character, was that it had a comedic tone. I don’t draw too many of them, although I love looking at them. And playing Cleopatra in comic mode was very gratifying. Also, knowing that my favorite Asterix and Obelix album was just that Asterix and Cleopatra… The challenge for me in comedy is finding a happy medium, not doing too much, but also not doing too little.

What are your cult comedies?
American comedies are similar Brothers regardless of themselves. I love movies by Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Judd Apatow or Adam McKay. (Marion Cotillard made a cameo Living legendsBy Adam McKay, alongside Jim Carrey in 2013, Ed). In France, I love Quentin Dupierre, especially his film steak, or recently Unbelievable, but true and: Smoking causes cough. I laughed a lot watching it too The villains By Mulud Achour and Dominique Baumar.

The challenge for me in comedy is finding a happy medium

Marion Cotillard

The character of Cleopatra in the comedy seems to offer a great opportunity for creativity…
The pitch was very inspiring indeed. Costume designer Madeleine Fontaine, who I had already collaborated with Long Engagement Sunday, By Jean-Pierre Jeunet, has so much talent. We had a lot of fun creating Cleopatra’s physical appearance, makeup, hairstyles, costumes. And it’s nice to see such inspired people working. The universe of the film has a very comic side but also a very realistic side and the entire creative team has come up with a mix that works perfectly on screen.

In Asterix and Obelix. middle kingdomwe also find you in another character…
Did you recognize me? It makes me a little nervous. (Is laughing.) I had a lot of fun creating this character and I was lucky that Guillaume gave me carte blanche.

Does shooting for Guillaume Canet give you more freedom?
Guillaume distills something deeply human in the way he approaches stories. He allows his actors to invent, he is very dedicated to the creation of each role. He will always strive to revisit each character’s emotional journey. Psychology is his priority even in comedy.

“Guillaume showed himself to this huge project”

Having followed him since his debut as a director, how do you see his development?
I found him very relaxed on set“Asterix and Obelix, as he embarked on a giant machine and had to brave a myriad of challenges, including the weather. Guillaume had a lot of confidence and came up with this huge project, he had a great command of his kit and knew exactly what he was doing. In the end, he masterfully managed to make a very lively popular family film.

What memories will you keep from this extraordinary shoot?
There was a lot of fun for us actors to be on the set of such a big production with so many costumes, huge sets… It was a dream come true. Everyone worked hand in hand to make the best film and this symbiosis carried us through.

We think of you as a ‘girl of the group’, what brings you to the collective?
I was very lonely as a teenager, and still am sometimes, but I can no longer imagine life without this wonderful bond that is friendship. I am lucky that I have old friends, I share many things with them, follow their development. At the same time, they witness mine. Friendship is fundamental to my happiness. To love each other, inspire each other, support each other and laugh together. I’m lucky to have a lot of fun friends. I remember every laugh I had and the connection it made with the people I shared it with.

I’m lucky to have a lot of fun friends.

Marion Cotillard

Is it a way to stay a little connected with childhood, to preserve it? Besides, what is left of your childhood?
I still have everything from my childhood, I don’t have to make an effort to maintain it, even in some situations it will be difficult to act like an adult… But I learned to manage it.

Which of your personality traits comes first when you’re in a group?
Nobody. I feel free, balanced, not judged, which allows me to be fully myself.

After a career spanning over twenty years, what do you enjoy most about your profession?
On the tray, clearly. And also in the preparation stage. When I go to meet a character and create an interior space to greet them. Character understanding is a fundamental driver for me.

Do you make films for the same reasons you started?
Yes, completely. It is my fascination with human beings, my desire and need to study them that drives me. As a child and teenager, I was interested in and sometimes even destabilized the relationships between beings. Unconsciously, I chose cinema in order to try to understand the human soul. I just turned 47, my vision has expanded over time, I judge less and less, and my love for people only grows.

Have the characters you’ve played shaped the woman you are today?
I feel like I am the sum of all the roles I have played, fortunately I would say… However, my beliefs lead me to think that we carry all beings within us. My roles did not make me, but a facet of each of them is present in me today. I separate my personal career from my acting career, but meeting these characters must have brought something to the woman I am today.

“Kate Winslet, one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met”

What do you produce as a producer?
I am very interested in documentaries because they allow an infinite field of research. It’s a way to tell countless and important stories that I’m particularly excited about. I just took part in a very special documentary, this time as an actress. This is a hybrid project called little blue girl directed by Mona Achache. He tells the story of his mother’s life, and he asked actors to play the real people whose stories he is studying. It was creative and breathtaking.

What does 2023 hold for you?
I shot an episode of a series for Apple TV+ called Extrapolations. It’s a dystopian series created by Scott Burns, who is notably a screenwriter for Steven Soderbergh and a person who is very committed to environmental issues. like BlackMirror, Each episode of this series is independent from the others. Credits include Meryl Streep and Tahar Rahim, among others. I worked with screenwriter and director Nicole Holofsener for my film. This episode is on comedy and rather on the forbidden genre. I have a share too Lee, The film about Lee Miller’s life, produced and starring Kate Winslet. I fulfilled a dream to film with this great actress, who is one of the most amazing women I have ever met in my life.

Chanel exhibition in video: Marion Cotillard and Carole Bouquet at the microphone Madame Figaro