Sophie Marceau. Out of the spotlights

French actress, director, writer, artist ... She will not give her a look for more than 25 years - short, fragile, with a school bang, an open smile and perky dimples on her cheeks. She is charming and modest. It seems that star disease is not peculiar to her. Meanwhile, Sophie Marceau - an icon of modern French cinema, has received international recognition.

She began her career in cinema at the age of 14 when she was chosen out of 1000 applicants for a role in the film “La Boum” (“Boom”) in 1980. Three years later, she received the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her debut role in the sequel “La Boum 2” (“Boom-2”). Since then, she has starred in more than 30 films, including: “And the World Is Not Enough” (about the adventures of James Bond, director Michael Epted, 1999), “Anna Karenina” (directed by Bernard Rose, 1996), “Braveheart” (directed by Mel Gibson, 1994 - 5 Oscars). Sophie Marceau's theatrical career began in the early 1990s, she played in the dramatic performances "Eurydice" and "Pygmalion", receiving for her roles "Moliere" - the highest theater award in France, as an actress with high expectations. Her book “La Menteuse” was published in 1996.

Sophie also tried herself as a director. Her debut film “Parlez-Moi d'Amour” (2001) received the award for best directing at the Montreal Film Festival. Of recent work, Sophie - screenwriting, directing and the main role in the film “La Disparue de Deauville” (2007). In addition, Sophie played in the films “Les Femmes de l'Ombre” directed by Jean-Paul Salom and “Do not Look Back”, directed by Marina de Van, where she worked with Monica Bellucci on the image of the same woman. In September 2007, she appeared on stage with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to recite excerpts from the monologues of St. Sebastian from the mystery of Claude Debussy's “Martyrdom of St. Sebastian” directed by Sir Simon Rattle. Sophie brings up two children and supports numerous charitable foundations. Under her patronage, the French Children's Fund “Arc en Ciel” operates, helping children realize their dreams.

Sophie Marceau arrived in Dubai at the invitation of the Chalhoub Group, as the “face” of the Chaumet jewelry brand. We were lucky to meet and chat with the actress.

Sophie, you are a pretty private person and rarely agree to participate in advertising campaigns. Usually, you say no, but House Chaumet is lucky, you agreed to become his “face”. Thierry Fitch, president of Chaumet, called it a "patient approach." Did you really agree to participate in this campaign “out of love” for Chaumet?

I have my own history with Chaumet House. There is a special connection between Chaumet and me. I think this is the best way to explain our relationship.

Many actresses are sponsored by famous jewelry houses, for example, at the time of their appearance on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival. Many years ago I was asked with whom I would like to work. Before giving an answer, I expressed a desire to browse all the catalogs of jewelry houses with Place Vendome. It struck me then how amazingly Chaumet combines elegance and fashion trends in its products. Chaumet has always stood out from the rest, and it’s a great pleasure to be able to admit to yourself that you are part of this success behind the scenes. Therefore, if you return to the patient approach, then this is true. My consent to cooperate was to be born out of my inner deep feelings and convictions. And this always requires patience, study and reflection. Perhaps the proportion of constraint is also, to some extent, an assessment of the desires of other people.

In my life, they made me a lot of offers, so even at a very young age I was able to appreciate the interest that others showed to me. And House Chaumet was looking for the actress to participate in his new advertising campaign. Chaumet's house with some other actress? Not with me? And I said to myself: "Never!"

You always worked on your image, not trying to change what nature has endowed you with. You have chosen a fashion house, which is also not indifferent to its own image and is not going to change it. Do you think you fit together?

Yes, I feel that Chaumet and I are perfect for each other. That long journey that we traveled together means a lot to me, and I like it.

You value realism in all aspects of your life. You always needed a real career, real roles, a real international reputation, even real risks, when you started to try yourself as a director. Now here is the real jewelry. You worship only that which is present and do not allow lies in your life. Where does this commitment come from?

For me, a real person is someone who does not try to please everyone. I am for justice. It’s like in music: only from simple and real sounds is a beautiful melody born. Have there been real risks in my career? Maybe yes. The profession of an actress is always criticism from someone's side. But I'm not afraid of criticism. For me, the real dangers are death, physical suffering, disability, loss of those you love. This is scary. Everything else can be dealt with. I can overcome a lot because I have always been loved. If the audience did not give me their love, I could not resist many troubles.

The photo session for the advertising campaign was held at the La RochefoucauldDoudeauville mansion in Paris, during which you put on the famous Bourbon Parme tiara. What are your impressions of this house and this unique piece of jewelry?

The photo session was very well organized and well organized. There was nothing complicated about her. Only two hairpins held the knot in the hair on my head, and by the way, this is one of my favorite photos - with a hidden profile. Yes, do you know that “hidden profile” is a cinematic term? It means a profile in which you see the whites of your eyes that sparkle, and some secret is hidden in it. Putting on a tiara, I felt that in all this there was some kind of grace and a special story, there was something arrogant in it. This is not emotion, this is not fire, this is time. And in this photo you can feel the breath of eternity. It contains everything connected with the faces of saints. So, in my opinion.

Thierry Fitch, president of Chaumet, is convinced that “an artist cannot be forced,” and you also seem to share this view. And it seems that it was freedom that united you with the Chaumet house, which seems paradoxical a priori?

Thierry is absolutely right. If you force an artist, you take away part of his talent from him. I am convinced of this. I am for freedom, in all its manifestations.

You are incredibly popular in Russia, where the audience simply adores you. And it seems that you, too, are ready to absorb Russian culture and traditions. What drives your interest? Why do you love Russia so much?

For her literature, her art, as well as for the Slavic soul, which is so close to us, the French. In the eyes of Russian people we are restrained, elegant, endowed with a certain chic. On the other hand, you Russians have an amazing way of always doing “more, more, more,” and this is very well seen in your art. Russia is an extraordinary, amazing country. Your writers are close to me, I even painted in oil a portrait of Leo Tolstoy. It seems to me that our love with Russia is mutual.

Which Chaumet jewelry do you like most? Or not, which of the jewelry "chose" you?

My jewelry is a pink gold Liens watch on a gray satin strap. I just love them. As for the latest collection, called “Grand Frisson”, I like the manner in which it uses “baguette” cut stones. All the stones of this cut in the jewelry of the collection are laid out in the form of daisy flowers, and I see something Russian in them, "a la" Malevich. They shine that way! (Sophie opens her right palm like a flower - approx. Ed.). I really like these jewelry, they are really beautiful.

Can the purity of diamonds, combined with the complexity of the product, tell you something more?

Nothing in the world sparkles like diamonds. Diamonds are absolutely clean and transparent, I like the lack of color in them, which evokes a variety of dreams and dreams. Colors usually express the mood, mindset or emotions of a person. I love red, so I like rubies, as well as many other colored gems that can be seen in Chaumet collections: blue sapphires, lilac tanzanites, tangerines ...

It seems that you are very restrained in your desires. What is more important in jewelry for you - hidden in meaning or their value?

Just like painting, jewelry can stir up certain emotions and feelings in me, for example, make me fall in love. All real works of art influence me like that.

Chaumet House was created in 1780. Later, in his collections traced the times of Napoleon and his beloved Josephine. All this is France and its history. Are you flattered that you are French and are somehow connected with this story?

These are very conflicting feelings. I feel that I belong to history, but at the same time, I am very far from it. I feel like I'm going nowhere to nowhere, but some things and events hold on to me. Moreover, with firm confidence that I can unexpectedly and radically devote all of myself to them. I try to keep everything that helps me shape and build myself, moving away from everything else. This is what it means to me to be free - to be able to throw off the shackles that pull down. I do not like revolutions; I prefer experience and action. House Chaumet is firmly connected with its past, and I believe, subconsciously, that history is somehow driving me.

You are an actress who is liked by both men and women. Are you close to the feminine and masculine features of the Dandy collection, in the advertising campaign of which you took part?

I like feminine women and courageous men - this is a natural balance. This duality is very important for people to understand each other, and not just to live together under one roof, whereas, each one is still hidden in his own world.

Do you remember what your first Chaumet jewelry was?

It was a ring. From the collection of Lien. Chaumet and I have been engaged for a long time (laughs). What kind of jewelry would you give as a souvenir to your loved one? I would rather give not one piece of jewelry, but a whole box of jewelry. My mother never wore jewelry, she simply could not afford them. But she had a small box. In it lay a leopard claw, a ring and some trinkets that I no longer remember. This box simply fascinated me as a child. Today I carefully lay out the little things that people often send me with letters in two caskets, and my children spend hours in front of them, dreaming of something of their own, as I once did, as a very little girl.

Was there anything in your life that caused you the same excitement as the Chaumet Grand Frisson collection? A film, a book, or maybe a culinary masterpiece?

My most vivid impression is the film "Aggire - the Wrath of God" directed by Werner Herzog (1972), I also just love the cartoon "Wall-I". I know that there’s a whole world between Herzog and Pixar, but it’s so cool! Another of my favorite films is the painting "Devil's Games" (2007) directed by Sidney Lumet, who is over eighty years old! If we talk about literature, then I hadn’t read anything from Patrick Modiano, so I started with the book “In the cafe where youth passed”, and then read his “Genealogy”. Liked. Recently, I also read “My First Sony” by Benny Barbasha and Lovecraft's Phantasmagoric Tales. Wow! And I always enjoy the books of Andrei Makin.

As for my gastronomic preferences, the further I get, the more I enjoy the simplest and most unpretentious dishes. Fragrances. Homemade stewed young potatoes. Tomato salad. Some basic things.

Sophie, you are a certain image of France and Parisian elegance. What does French chic mean for you and is it possible to work it out in yourself?

In my opinion, French chic is to be elegant without showing that you are trying to be so. This attention to details, at first glance unimportant. In my life I can always be different. I don’t have one style, I have forty of them. When I do not need to represent someone or something, I try to be elegant and dress according to certain situations or circumstances. I change my outfits, as well as the roles: mother, actress, director and so on ...

Thanks for the conversation, Sophie. Until we meet again.

Watch the video: Sophie Marceau BRAVEHEART BABE (March 2024).