Since her film debut at age 18 in Luis Bunuel’s surreal
That Obscure
Object of Desire (1977), Carole Bouquet has become French acting
royalty. She won a Cesar for the 1989
Too Beautiful for You opposite
Gerard Depardieu (her onetime fiancé), tested the Hollywood waters as a
Bond girl in
For Your Eyes Only and has even taken time from her
career to buy a vineyard in Pantelleria, where she lives and produces
wine.
This week, the actress stars in veteran director Andre Techine’s latest
movie
Unforgivable set in Venice and its nearby island Sant’Erasmo.
Bouquet is Judith, a real estate agent and the younger, seductive wife
to Francis (Andre Dussolier), a famous French novelist whose rebellious
daughter (played by Melanie Thierry) goes missing. Obsessed with finding
her, he soon starts to harp on the other source of mystery in his life,
namely, Judith’s rich amorous past which has him convinced she’s being
unfaithful.
Bouquet, a former face of Chanel No. 5, sat down with us to discuss the
pain of love, maturing as an actress and the burdens—and blessings—of
winning the genetic lottery.
Carole Bouquet
How would you characterize Judith’s trajectory over the course of her
life and the course of the film?
I think she is, I don’t know how to say in English,
une amoreuse, a
lover. Her life is dedicated to love, obviously, because that’s what
she’s been doing. She’s ready, she’s open to life, to accidents in life,
she’s still very open which is nice because she is 50, I’m 50 in the
movie. Because when you’ve been hurt…you know when you’re young you
think that when you grow old you’re going to get better and that the
skin is going to be thicker and you’ll get stronger. That’s exactly the
other way around, by the way, that I discovered…
Uh oh.
In fact, yes, I have bad news for you because you’re young. That’s
the opposite. You become more fragile. Because yes, in fact, you had
pain and that doesn’t make you stronger. When you’re young, all the
accidents, all the pain you take them, but at least you’re very strong.
In fact through time, it’s just adding more and more pain, more and more
loss and it makes you more fragile.
Do you think Judith has felt burdened by her own physical effect on
other people?
I think she didn’t like it. We could guess from the character and
what Andre did and what we did together that she wanted to put that
aside. Can it not be the point? And then she arrives at 50 where it
shouldn’t be part of her life, it’s like, Let’s talk about something
else. Of course it comes back and it comes back and it comes back. Which
is normal. It’s part of her. It’s part of you.
Bouquet in Unforgivable
And what about you, personally, as an actress? You became a beauty icon
in France at such a young age and later on the face of Chanel No. 5. As
you’ve matured do you find it’s been easier to leave that aspect behind?
It’s like a jigsaw, there’s a piece of the puzzle at the beginning
and it’s the only one and of course it had a lot to do with the way you
look. And then you have to have the time to add pieces of the jigsaw.
And I was lucky enough to be able to do comedies, dramas, completely
different parts. At the beginning when you start you have a fantasy that
you could be somebody else. Which is absurd. That’s part of being an
actor. It’s your voice, it’s the way you move, it’s your body, even if
you transform it, you play with it. And you play with something that
already exists. You can’t completely erase it. And that would be stupid,
by the way. After a while, you have to understand it’s even better if
you use it. So now, yes, anyway I have no choice anymore I’m 54. I love
that English expression, Been there, done that.
On a totally embarrassing personal note, I grew up with my mother
telling me since I was about seven years old that you were the most
beautiful actress in the world. Not in anyway to diminish your acting
ability!
When I was younger, I wouldn’t take that as a compliment. Now that
I’m 54, I really love when people say that. Not that I take it for
granted, it’s just very pleasant. It’s like a gift whoever gave it to
me, besides my genes and now I love it when people say, God you’re
beautiful. I say, Great! Keeps on going a little bit (knocks the wooden
table). So thanks to your mom. Tell her I thank her a lot.
Bouquet: Getty Images
I had so much fun with my friends at the Black Alumni of Pratt event last week, where they featured my work in a viewfinder for all the guests. This is Stefano, Grace [Coddington] and me looking at the images. xoxo—Edward Enninful
From left: Grace Coddington, Edward Enninful and Stefano Tonchi
Marijke Koger-Dunham
Marijke Koger-Dunham with John Lennon
Apple Boutique
How crazy is this? My nails are velvet! It’s called the Velvet Manicure, and it’s Ciate’s latest at-home kit—and Sephora’s selling it starting next month.
This Coach shoulder bag—they call it their Legacy Duffle (above)—is essential to
my summer wardrobe. The creamy tan leather and classic Coach silhouette
makes it the perfect go-to for weekends running around the city. ($348,
coach.com)
Eugenio Amos and Margherita Maccapani Missoni at their wedding in Brunello, Italy 
From left: Monique Lhuillier Bridal Spring 2012; Carolina Herrera Bridal Spring 2013
Clockwise from top: No Cheering In The Press Box, Please Kill Me and The Secret of Evil
Attachment, 2006
Nearly a Woman, 2012
Eve's Kingdom, 2009
Learning a Lesson, 2009
Paths, 2007
Superga 2750 Cotu Flag Sneaker, $300 at Superga, 78 Crosby Street, New
York, 212.625.8290
