Jeanne Moreau

Jeanne Moreau, French actress

Biography

Jeanne Moreau was born in Paris in 1928. Her mother was English and her father was French. She graduated from the Paris Conservatory of Dramatic Art and made both her stage and screen debuts in 1948. Her stage career did well, but it was not until Louis Malle launched her into stardom with Ascenseur pour l'Echafaud (Frantic) in 1957 that she gained international screen recognition. She is considered one of France's most respected stars who incarnates femininity and intelligence, strength and vulnerability in a wide range of roles. She has appeared in more than one hundred films, notably La Notte by Antonioni, Jules and Jim by Truffaut, The Trial by Welles and Until the End of the World by Wenders. In 1976, she made her debut as a director with the film La Lumière in which she also starred, as well as wrote the script.

Questions and Answers

Jeanne Moreau was the honored guest Thursday, April 2. She arrived a bit late and explained that she had met Pierre Cardin backstage and paid homage to the finesse of his clothing designs that she wore on more than one occasion in the films she made.

On making films
You must pay attention to the financial state of the world when in cinema.

On Jean Gabin
I began my career in the 50's and there I was opposite Gabin. Growing up, I was not allowed to go to the cinema. And there I was in the midst of the glamour of cinema. It was in Grisbi that I met Gabin for the first time. He called me the "môme" (the kid). He was cool and the boss on the set.

On Jules and Jim and sexual liberation
I wouldn't call it sexual liberation. I would call it the liberty to love (libération amoureuse).
If I was a heroine at the time, I was not aware of it. I didn't plan my future. I just had a certain openness of spirit that allowed me to take roles that others didn't want. I was greatly marked by the Nouvelle Vague in France and in Italy. I even took a role that was offered by a director who had only shot fish (Louis Malle).

On favorite film
My favorite film is always the one I'm going to make. Each film is an intimate part of my life.

On Orson Welles
I met Welles at the Comédie Française and appeared in four of his films: Othello, The Trial, Chimes at Midnight, and The Immortal Story. There was one more called The Deep that was shot in Yugoslavia but the film disappeared.
He was the force of nature combined with extreme fragility. Force and vulnerability. He did everything possible to not arrive at the end of a film because he was always afraid it would not turn out to be all that he had expected.

On performing
Cinema is a collective work. Concentration is exerted at each minute and as the Americans say Time is Money. When you hear action, you yourself are spurred into action.
Orson once said, 'One cannot lie in front of a camera. It reveals everything.'

On her career as an actress
It's an advantage. I was able to do what I aspired to do, to become. I don't have a lot of money, but I'm happy to have followed my desires. Films were an opening to the rest of the world for me, from physics to science.

On the organization Equinoxe
Equinoxe was started by Noelle DesChamps. There is a spring and a fall equinox. They are the symbol of harmony. Our objective is to review 1000 scripts each year and to choose 10. Then, we help them find financial backing. We help them to find the harmonious form for their films. We supported one of the films showing at this festival, Serial Lover.

On Japan
Japan fascinates me. The first time I went was with Truffaut, thirty years ago. I hope to make a film there soon with a Japanese director.

Difference between director and actor
The actor is doing their work. They have no decisions to make. A director is also doing his work but has all the decisions to make.

Words of advice
Take note of your own originality. Get the most you can from yourself. Pay attention.

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