As a movie buff who’s had the pleasure of witnessing the magic of cinema unfold over the years, I must say that Vanessa Paradis is undeniably one of the most captivating figures to grace the silver screen. Her life experience, rich with collaborations with legends and forays into diverse genres, makes her a truly extraordinary artist.
French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis, widely recognized in her home country, enthralled attendees as she shared intimate and captivating insights about her versatile career during a seminar at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon.
When questioned on collaborating with cinematic icons Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Patrice Leconte’s 1998 action comedy “Half a Chance,” she was straightforward in her response.
Jean-Paul Belmondo was often in the company of others, bringing plenty of laughter. On the contrary, Alain Delon was usually solitary, sharing his time with his beloved dogs. However, when these two actors met up, their affection for each other was evident. They seemed genuinely pleased to collaborate on this movie.
Paradis acknowledged the special opportunity of working alongside such renowned personalities. “I was aware of my good fortune at the time,” she admitted, “but looking back now, I appreciate it even more.” She continued with a chuckle, “I had the pleasure of spending four months in their company, and they actually argued over me!
The story ‘Half a Chance’ revolves around a young lady who finds out that either of two ex-convicts might be her father. As she unwittingly gets entangled in a perilous dispute with the Russian mob, she turns to these men for aid.
Instead of following the path taken by Marilyn Monroe, one of her admired role models, Paradis opted against building a career in Hollywood, where she resided for multiple years alongside her ex-partner Johnny Depp and their children. It wasn’t until 2013 that she landed her initial English-speaking part, portraying an Orthodox Jewish widow in John Turturro’s independent comedy “Fading Gigolo,” which also featured Woody Allen and Sharon Stone.
For the first time, I filmed using English, with Woody Allen as my primary co-star. He’s always improvising. At one point, he said, ‘Is that okay?’ and I replied, ‘Not at all…’, but it was Woody Allen! It wasn’t easy to get a chance to speak.” She chuckled. “It was challenging to get my words in.
She shared details about her initial day working on location, an experience that presented unforeseen difficulties as she portrayed the role of a ‘nit picker’ – a woman tasked with combing lice out of children’s hair.
Here I was, armed with my comb, facing a child with wild hair – I was anxious about causing him harm – and then Woody stepped in, improvising on top of it all! To top it off, I had to wear a turban. It was quite the challenge for my first day!” She chuckled deeply, winning over the Lyon crowd.
Despite these obstacles, Paradis found the work process to be reminiscent of a smaller-scale French production rather than a big-budget Hollywood venture.
Upon being questioned about her preferred movie, she promptly responded, “My favorite is ‘Singing in the Rain.’ It’s just so uplifting, yet it always brings tears to my eyes. It gives me chills every time I watch it. I adore it and know it like the back of my hand.
In her chat with French movie journalist Virginie Apiou, Paradis discussed the diverse scope of her acting career that encompasses comedy, drama, and more, yet has never ventured into musicals. “It’s been a long-held aspiration of mine; I can’t quite figure out why I haven’t tried a musical role yet,” she mused. “I’ve crooned in a few films, but imagine the thrill of singing, dancing, and acting all together in one film! I should seize the opportunity before my joints start giving me trouble,” she quipped humorously.
In addition, Paradis wanted to delve into her part in the 2011 film “Café de Flore,” directed by Jean-Marc Vallée from Quebec, where she portrayed a mother who was single and had a son with Down syndrome.
In 2021, the valley – where “Dallas Buyers Club” propelled Matthew McConaughey to win an Oscar for Best Actor – sadly said goodbye. Paradise often reminisced about his invaluable guidance during her acting process.
She shared that the position demanded a specific air of authority and masculinity which she found challenging. By collaborating with Jean-Marc on the script, she began mimicking his rich voice, excluding the Quebec accent. This helped her to minimize some of her natural softness in speech. Additionally, Jean-Marc dyed her hair dark and discouraged makeup to make the character more intense.
Eager for fresh experiences, Paradis dared to step onto the stage in 2021 with “Maman,” a play penned by her spouse, actor-director Samuel Benchetrit. Not only did he direct the performance, but he also took on a role within it.
As for what’s next, Paradis is currently working on her eighth album due out in 2025.
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2024-10-15 14:47