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Written by Holraven
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Wednesday, 16 January 2008 |
Yes indeed, Maud has taken time to answer a few questions about herself, her new film Frontière(s) and a few other things. Read on!
Also check the image gallery (Photoshoots) for some new pictures!
 First of all, thank you for doing this interview! Many fans from around the world are sure to appreciate it!
From an international point of view, not much have happened since you appeared in "La vie promise" alongside Isabelle Huppert and Pascal Greggory. What on earth have you been up to?
Well, since "La vie promise" I have made few TV movies for French television, and then I went back to drama school to improve my acting, in order to become better at it and not rely on talent alone. I needed to find another way, another energy - and i needed to grow up. I also lent my voice to an animation movie - "U". My last project was a role in a major French movie called Frontière(s), to be released on January 23rd 2008.
Again from the international viewpoint, it's hard to get an impression of your stature in France. Have your later appearances caused any buzz in your home country?
It's hard to reply to this question, because I don't even know myself! (Laughing) I could say that people in the French film industry consider me a good actress, someone able of doing lots of different things in terms of acting. I think they have faith in me. As for the audience, when I walk in the streets it does happen that people recognize me because of my first movie, "Mauvaises fréquentations". This movie is still in people's memory, which is rather a good thing. They tell me they follow my carreer, they always watch the movies I do. I think I have people who are behind me and supporting me. I'm very touched by that, and proud!
You also appeared on stage in 2005?
Yes, "L'autre ou la jardin oublié" was a theater production I made with my friends in drama class. It was a fantastic experience, I learnt a lot about myself and my acting, and also about the differences between cinema and theater. The way you work is totally different. And wen you are on stage, the audience can be decieving. I mean, sometimes what you feel about the audience is not real. When you think they are bored, it can actually be completely the opposite, it may suggest that they listen very carefully what you enact.
Starring as Delphine in "Mauvaises fréquentations" is still concidered your biggest role. Taking into account her dramatic story and the fact that almost a decade has passed since the movie was released, and your natural evolvement as both a person and an actress - how do you feel about still being identified by that character?
I'm proud, and it's good because it was definitely one of the closest characters to myself I've portrayed. The director picked me out for who I was, I mean. I didn't need to be someone else or different. Actually, I hardly needed to act. All that she felt, I felt too.
A lot of your fans around the globe would want to get their hands on all the projects you have been working on, but information is often scarce. Which of your movies, apart from Mauvaises fréquentations and La vie promise are available for purchase on DVD or viewable online?
These 2 movies are available, yes. But you can also find, on the Internet, a short movie I made in 2006 called Fotografik. It is a part of a short movies collection called Sable Noir. The DVD is called Sable Noir as well. (Editorial note: The short film Comme une allumette is viewable on Maud's Myspace page.)
 On to your recent involvment in "Frontière(s)". What can you tell us about your character? And the film itself? It is quite a modest production, and having Luc Besson as one of the films co-producers really boosts expectations. Do you suppose, especially when thinking of Xavier Gens' international movie Hitman released last year, that the film will published internationally?
It is a very special movie - a horror movie. And I have a very particular part, I am one of the villains. I play a two sided character. I mean, she looks like an angel but you never know what she has in her spirit. She is psychotic. It was very interesting to play, because the director brough me in a special state, a violent way that I'm not used to portray. I lived something special. He said to me that my character embodied the humanity of the film. What he meant was that all that she feels, the audience needs to feel it too, because she is always present when there are difficult things happening, she just stares but can't do anything. Well, we suppose... (Laughing)
Frontière(s) is supported by Luc Besson, yes. But he is not the main producer. And you are right, Xavier is the director of Hitman, and this film will be released before Frontière(s) in France. We hope, of course, that HITMAN will succeed both in France and internationally, so we could use this to our advantage, because we don't really know if the French people will like this kind of movie!
(Editorial note: This interview was done before the Hitman's release. According to Wikipedia, Hitman has grossed almost $32 million, making it a financial sucess. It has however been porely recieved by critics.)
And Frontière(s) will be published internationally. Its rights have been bought by 140 countries around the world. It will be released in 2.000 cinemas in the US, which is rather rare for a French movie.
What can you reveal of your upcoming projects and future plans? Are there any more full-length movies coming up?
At the moment, there aren't any full-lenght movies coming up. I'm just waiting for the release of Frontière(s) and we'll see what happens. (Editorial note: The movie was presented at the Toronto Film Festival last year to generally positive reviews.)
Have you ever concidered attempting a career as an international actress, meaning UK or US films? If "Frontieres" should go on to be an international blockbuster, would you go on to auditioning for English speaking roles?
Of course, yes! I would go! (Laughing) They don't have the same way of working as us. I love the way they see the acting and what they do with it. American actors are models to me, big sources of inspiration.
 Where do you see yourself ten, twenty years from now? Do you think of yourself as a screen or a stage actor? Or have you ever concidered any other profession than acting?
Where I see myself? Well, I hope I will play in good movies, that I will be fulfillied in my work. I hope I will progress even more. I prefer acting for the screen, it has always been on my mind since I was little. This is the first thing that attracted me. When I watched the "making of" shows on TV, my eyes were wide open! And the first time I was on a set, I felt like a fish in the water. I place where I was secure, where I could really be myself, where I didn't have limits. This is why I've never considered anything else than acting. This is my life, I can't do anything else. I breathe cinema, I live cinema...
But you once said in an interview with Allocine that if you weren't an actor youd work in "import/export international". Not an option anymore?
Of course not! I couldn't do anything else now... Acting is in my blood!
That is sure to bring comfort to all your fans. Thanks again for doing this interview, it means a lot to us, and good luck with your future projects!
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 January 2008 )
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