Kim Higel, The Granddaughter, and The Dazzling Discovery of Consent

He is only 22 years old, and already Letitia Casta predicts a “huge career” for him. In Consent – a feature film adapted from Vanessa Springora’s work of the same name, in theaters Wednesday, October 11, Kim Higuelin plays a younger version of the author who falls under the destructive influence of writer Gabriel Matzneuf (Jean-Paul Rouve). his youth. A performance worthy of this chilling story. When we meet the two actresses at a hotel in the 16th arrondissement on this sunny October morning, Letitia Casta, who plays the young woman’s mother in Vanessa Filho’s film, is full of praise for her co-star. He thus salutes the “strength and commitment” of Kim Higelin. “There aren’t many young actresses who could take on a role like this, so physically and mentally demanding,” the actress continues. He’s the one who carries the film.”

“The main thing for them was that I was free.”

A few hours before the premiere, Kim Higelin is still trying to believe it. “It’s the most beautiful feeling of my life,” Jacques Higuelin’s granddaughter confides. I understand that I am an actress.” A job he’s been aspiring to do since he was 4 years old. This is evidenced by a mission written at the time, in which she addressed her 18-year-old self and expressed her desire to become a “musical actress”, she says. The theater course, which “dazzled” him at the age of 8, strengthened this dream. The little girl begins to present the plays she has written in her childhood bedroom in front of her family.

During his journey, Kim Higuelin will be able to count on the unconditional support of his father, director Ken, the youngest child of Jacques Higuelin, born from the latter’s relationship with Cuelan Nguyen, as well as between his mother and his younger sister. “The main thing for them was that I was free,” sums up the young woman. The niece of Izya Higelin and Arthur H., however, wants to note. his last name has nothing to do with his career choice. “I kept my name because it represents all those who came before me and of whom I am proud,” he declared in the column. Paris game , in 2021. It is part of my will. I didn’t become an actress because I’m hygelian, but because it was ingrained in me.”

Plan B

As a teenager, he admired Barbra Streisand immensely. “He has the voice that upsets me the most in the world,” says Kim Higelin. In all his roles, there is a self-surpasser. funny girl is one of my favorite movies because it’s about a young girl who wants to pursue her dream despite these flaws that people keep pointing out to her. I identify with that a lot.” With a bachelor’s degree in literature, the young woman entered the acting school on the advice of her theater teacher. At the same time, she found a job as a waitress and continued to go to castings that she had found on filmmaker.org over the years. “I applied for extras, silhouettes, mini roles in short films… he says. That was my daily routine. I have sent hundreds of applications.”

An experience that is not the easiest. “You prepare for weeks and give everything you have to a 15-minute casting call because you like the character you want to play,” he analyzes. And when you don’t get the part, you have to say goodbye. It’s a very fleeting love.” In 2019, however, the young woman got her first roles in short films such as Snowflakes – the story of a young man who pretends to be a famous DJ in order to seduce a woman, or even Scarlett, which tells the story of the torment of three people who are completely opposite to each other. A year later, Kim Higelin appears on the small screen in the series Alexandra Ellethen in the TV movie Cleves, in 2021. And got his first leading role in the same year. In the miniseries Plan B, broadcast on TF1, she plays a suicidal teenager alongside Julie de Bona. On weekends, the young woman follows the technicians, from the boom operator to the stage manager, thus discovering the backstage of the cinema.

New courage

after Of honey and bloodAnother small screen project released in 2022, Kim Higelin enters the world of the seventh art. She will play Vanessa Springora in the feature film adaptation of the novel Consent, which caused an earthquake in the literary world and society in general. A big challenge, for which Kim Higelin is thoroughly preparing. He devours Vanessa Filho’s work and script so that the words stick to his skin. To get into the skin of her character, the actress “bends her head” to give the impression of a “restrained personality”, “bites her nails” and “lets her hair grow” to “fit the figure”; in the 1980s.” He’s also working on his outlook, embracing a “teenager still discovering” and changing the tone of his voice depending on who he’s talking to.

“When I was facing the character of Gabriel Matznef, I had to convey a form to the person I was talking to for a living,” he explains. When I met my character’s mother, I took on a much more raw and rough tone. Kim Higelin commits, moreover, to freeing herself from any “value judgment” in order to be “in a real and deep revelation of Vanessa Springora’s emotions.” A shot from which the young woman emerges transformed. “It grew on me, deeply and for life,” he says today. It changed my perception of respect. I feel more love for myself and pay more attention to the love others show me.”

Asked how Vanessa Springora reacted to the revelation of her performance, Twenty One modestly declines to reveal what kind of praise the author has offered. He hardly admits that the writer complimented him on the accuracy of his performance. Speaking about the author, Kim Higelin also describes a “brilliant woman with tremendous strength, courage and intelligence.” And declares his desire to see this friendship beyond the cinema. “He is someone I love very much. I hope to see him again for the rest of my life,” he concludes, assuring that he has kept in touch with the writer.