Léa Seydoux returned to the set of The Life of AdeleAbdellatif Kechiche's film, which won the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, is a film that the French actress, who co-starred with Adèle Exarchopoulos, says was deeply affected by the experience. She is currently attending the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where she is notably promoting her work. The Unknown Woman by Arthur Harari and Gentle Monster Léa Seydoux spoke of a filming experience she described as traumatic, in Marie Kreutzer's film.
"Looks that make you uncomfortable"
Léa Seydoux initially locates the discomfort in the way she felt observed and directed on set. "Sometimes, there are looks that make you feel uncomfortable."she explains. Regarding The Life of AdeleShe adds: "It was a look, of course." For the actress, this look was one of the most distressing aspects of the shoot.
"It was a form of psychological harassment."
The actress goes further by clearly describing what she says she experienced. "He's manipulative; it was a form of psychological harassment.""That's what Léa Seydoux says. She specifies that the director's method was destructive."
Léa Seydoux acknowledges that directing actors inevitably involves a form of guidance. She points out that "All directors direct in a certain way to achieve something."But she believes that, in this specific case, the limit has been crossed. "It's extremely difficult to work with directors who are manipulative."she said, before adding: "But in this case, it was psychological harassment, and it was very difficult."
"I couldn't leave the film."
The actress also explained that she felt trapped in the project. According to her, the contractual obligation made it impossible for her to leave during filming. "I couldn't leave the film."she affirms. She elaborates: "Once you sign a contract and are committed to a film, you can't back out." This inability to leave would have reinforced the feeling of being trapped described by the actress.
A right of oversight imposed since then on nude scenes
Since filming this movie, Léa Seydoux says she has changed her approach to scenes involving her body. She explains that she now demands stricter control over sequences where she appears nude. "Ever since Abdellatif Kechiche's film, I want to have a say."she declares. She adds that she now accepts or refuses to have her body shown "In that way."
