Eva Green: “there is a barrier between the French cinema and me”

With his face to extreme pallor and her blue eyes huge as it chars, Eva Green has the Gothic beauty of the Symbolist paintings. Both quaint and androgynous, the Bond girl ex-James overflows of energy which is developing and is breaking, the image of his legs, that it braid while she tells. Go-getter, perfectionist, selective in the choice of roles, the daughter of Marlène Jobert like independent film, the characters in the Ivy charm. As the sapphic prof that it played in Cracks, Jordan Scott, or the witch seductive that it embodies in the new Tim Burton, Dark Shadows (exit planned may 9, 2012), alongside Johnny Depp. Bernardo Bertolucci has launched in innocent, in 2003, and has described “so beautiful that it is indecent”, is an anxious, hypertimide, constantly challenging his image in question. Afraid to be too smooth, sick of be seen as a femme fatale, she dreams of showing its steep side. The actress, although French, is installed in London six years and has virtually turned in English. Two years ago, she told the Times: “if only Tim Burton called…” Today, she confesses to Express Styles: “if Jacques Audiard had me sign… my heart beat would stop!”

In Perfect Sense, of British David Mackenzie, you are a scientist who attempts to stop a global epidemic. Is it that you have drawn in this scenario?

His message. Perfect Sense describes a sensory end of the world. Struck by a strange disease, people lose the use of their five senses: smell, and hearing, touch, taste and, finally, the view. They react by crises of anxiety, excess of rage. This film is a metaphor for our way of life, more and more disconnected from the real. We separated the intellect of our sensitivity, our analytical capacity of our perceptions. Perfect Sense shows what might happen if we were more able to feel. The finding is frightening. Sometimes funny: after they lost the taste, people eat anything! You see me being swallow flowers, red lipstick… This film is also a praise of love: as the world collapses, my character, Susan, a hardened woman, falls in love of a chef, played by Ewan McGregor… It’s going to sound cucul, but I assume: love is the answer.

You just turn Dark Shadows, Tim Burton. A dream realised?

Tim Burton is a filmmaker and painter that I worship. I went to see, I don’t know how many times, his exhibition at MoMa, New York. It will be soon in Paris. When he called me, I was at the height of the joy… But the next day, I started to put incredible pressure me. I am always anxious before a shoot. There, I was petrified. The first two weeks were very difficult. I was intimidated by Johnny Depp and, especially, by Michelle Pfeiffer, who plays my rival in the film. Tim believed in me and has been put me at ease. Finally, it was the most beautiful film of my life.

That tells Dark Shadows ?

This is a free adaptation of an American series of the 1960s. The story begins in the 18th century: I embodies Angelique Bouchard, a loving servant of his master, the rich and powerful seducer Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp). Angelique is the evil of history: witch, she made him a vampire then buried it living. Two hundred years later, in 1972, Barnabas is released from its tomb and he finds Angelique. Transformed, she became a formidable businesswoman. Platinum blond… A Barbie with a whip! I can not disclose the scenario, but the world of Tim Burton is always also fascinating: cruel and tender, macabre and poetic. I liked my meeting with Johnny Depp. Electric! We share a passion for the metamorphosis and the Killifish characters.

What are the Killifish characters that you have the most pronounced?

The first is The story of Adele H, interpreted by Isabelle Adjani. At the age of 14, dazzled by this powerful character sinking into madness, I decided to become an actress. Then, there is the clueless and spirited teenager that I’ve played in innocent, of Bertolucci, along with Louis Garrel. And then the character that I read in Cracks, Jordan Scott. For this role, I am inspired by Blanche DuBois (A streetcar named desire). It seems strong and perverse is sensitive and fragile. These characters live of impossible love. Their feelings make them nervous. And, I like the violent passions.

You are installed in London for six years. Why did you leave the France?

I had already taken courses of dramatic art in London at age 17, then everything is chained and James Bondmuch accelerated things. I love this city, its parks, I have plenty of friends. And I am there feel free. London, this is my city of adult. In Paris, I regresses. I reacting the daughter of…

What values passed you your mother, Marlène Jobert?

About my job, it took me to a UFO! She wondered why I do independent films that no one will see! [Laughs.] But she is proud of me. My mother sent me the taste of the true: I have difficulty to lie, pretend if I don’t like someone. I also inherited his sense of responsibility. As a child, I was very studious, square, a small soldier. I always wanted to be the first, I’d never… I remained the same: I think that should be thoroughly, to go to the end, in my job, my relationships. I put my heart on the table. Too much indeed! But I prefer it to a life in halftone.

You are therefore a begins…

Yes… Non. Finally, it is within me that everything goes. I am a pressure cooker that explodes ever. When I I get excited, it becomes rather: Eva against Eva! Sometimes, I would like to yell, but I’m there to film… My mother tells me that I have several personalities. And it’s true! I often have the impression to be cleared, hypertimide and, all of a sudden, I am able to say to children. It is quite incomprehensible, even to me… But as Patti Smith writes in his book Just Kids, “it is who you are.” “And then shit!”

What experiences have the most forged your personality?

One in particular. I was 16 years old, I lived in Paris in the 17th arrondissement, and I wanted more French school. My parents have registered me at the American school and it was the revolution: there was a such ease, the students could put their feet on the table, is dressed as we wanted. It has freed me. Every day, I was a parade. I was putting of the eyeshadow in agreement with my Gothic outfits. I wore rings with death heads. I am dyed my hair black-blue… Since then, I did not much changed. I do not like to be too visible. Except on the red carpets. There, I get the game: I want to glamour, of the theatrical rock!

Wishes?

I understand that it is established a barrier between the French cinema and me, and I regret. I would really like to turn France with filmmakers as Audiard, Giannoli, Desplechin… I would also like to get rid of this ice, sophisticated, image that sticks me to the skin. I would like to play a role of man. Indeed, all the female characters that I like are very masculine. As I read in the American series Camelot : I embodies Morgan, a warrior. It has the same charisma as that of a man. Almost more!