INTERVIEW – Fascinated by Lee Miller, Man Ray’s muse and war photojournalist, the actress plays him in a biopic she is producing.
Kate Winslet’s fame is incomparable. he is said to be intelligent, caring, funny and a good listener. None of these qualifications are mastered. Fifteen minutes with him is worth more than an hour with some of his colleagues. He matures and develops each response, generously supporting a project that he has been carrying out for nine years; Lee Miller.
He produced and sublimated this film, playing the role of a photographer who was one of the first to cover the conflict zones and bear witness to the horrors of World War II. Focusing on this period, this biopic paints a portrait of an artist as liberated and fascinating as the actress who portrays him.
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Madame Figaro. – Why was it important to tell Lee Miller’s story? ?
Kate Winslet. – Because no one had done it before. Lee is known for being Man Ray’s prominent muse. But that was one small part of his life that he didn’t like. He aspired to something else, he wanted to become a photographer because he learned from his father at a young age. Although his photographs have entered the public domain and books have been written about him, his lifestyle, personality and the decade that best defined him (before, during and after the war) have never been told. With this film, I hope to let the public discover him. Maybe they know her photos, but they don’t know that they were taken by a woman in her forties who at the time worked in a profession reserved for men. I wanted to tell the story of his courage, how he documented the truth that the Nazi regime tried to hide, and the impact this period had on him and his life.
An object throughout her modeling career, Lee Miller has become a subject holding the camera. Is this what women aspired to then? ?
Yes, and still is. When I was a young actress, in my 20s or 30s, complex and imperfect female leads emerged, freeing us from the shackles of a mother or a concerned neighbor. Since MeToo, this trend has grown. For example, I was very lucky to cross paths with such a character Mare of Easttown. There is also greater solidarity among women, and we are thirsty for stories about powerful figures, especially those who have left their mark on History. Eighty years ago, Lee Miller was already redefining femininity, endurance, courage, altruism, truth. It symbolizes how we want to live our lives and raise our daughters, treat our friends and our sisters. Lee was a pioneer of change. Embodying it is a great responsibility and one of the great privileges of my life and career.
She has earned her place in a man’s world. Women in cinema have also struggled for existence, especially behind the camera…
Yes, and the reason is very simple. they were busy bringing children into the world, raising them in a society that assigned them a role at home. Like a movie Lee Miller, that’s nine weeks of shooting for an actor. For a female director, it is at least two years. it leaves little room for the rest. But the industry now has such an appetite for female-led stories, both in front of and behind the camera, that we have more confidence in ourselves to lead it all.
Eighty years ago Lee Miller was already redefining femininity, resilience, courage, altruism
Kate Winslet
What have you learned about yourself from Lee Miller? ?
I am like him. find it hard to accept when I am told no, I am impatient and decisive. I also realize that she needs to tell the truth and live her life on her own terms. In the last ten years I have succeeded, but fifteen or thirty years ago it was impossible. Fortunately, our environment has undergone profound changes. young women are making their voices heard more and standing up for themselves better. Women are also taking the reins of the entertainment industry and it’s not over yet… There will be more and more female leads, filmmakers, technicians, producers.
Lee Miller never gave up despite the risks and obstacles. Do you recognize yourself in his determination?
If I refused, this film would not exist. As Keith Solomon and my other colleagues joined me, I felt like I was the only one pushing the rock up the mountain. Sometimes I couldn’t see a way out. Then I thought of Anthony Penrose, Lee’s son, with whom I am close, and who opened all his archives to us; he waited forty years for this film about his mother. There have already been projects, but no one, according to him, has understood who Lee really is. I could not let him down.
You play alongside Marion Cotillard and Noemi Merlant in this film. Are you following this election? ?
Yes! I worked closely with the writers, and when we were revising scenes, we would say to ourselves: “It would be great if Marion played Solange.” It’s not a big role, but it’s essential. I also knew the work of Noemi, who has a superpower, her gaze. He conveys so much emotion by doing so little. We are so lucky to have them. They only shot for a few days, but I promised them that we would have fun and they would leave with great memories.
I wanted to tell the story of his courage, how he documented the truth that the Nazi regime tried to hide.
Kate Winslet
Like photography, is the role of cinema to capture truth?
Cinema is powerful when it tells stories that resonate with us and our times. In the case of this film, e. Lee’s photographs are a valuable tool for capturing the horrors of the Nazis, and it is important to expose them. Without Lee and those who came after him, we would not know what the victims of war go through. Their stories should not be forgotten, and cinema can capture them.
Lee MillerWith Ellen Kuras, Kate Winslet, Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgård… Released on October 9.
Source: Le Figaro
