THE NEW LOOK and THE TASTE OF THINGS star Juliette Binoche covers the March 2024 issue of Town & Country magazine photographed by Sebastian Kim and styled by Jonathan Huguet.
From her role as Coco Chanel in the thrilling new series THE NEW LOOK to her latest—rather complicated, très French— turn in international cinema sensation THE TASTE OF THINGS, bringing charisma to complexity is what Juliette Binoche does best, onscreen and off.
The Taste of Things Director Tran Anh Hung on Binoche’s reaction to her former flame Benoît Magimel being offered the co-starring role: “Juliette thought, because of their past, he would not accept the role. But when I showed him the script, he was immediately touched by the love story. They haven’t worked together for more than 20 years, and we aren’t used to seeing them onscreen, especially at this age.”
On how the way her The Taste of Things character Eugénie cooks is akin to how she views acting: “It’s more than the pleasure. It’s for oneself. The joy is something that opens yourself to the world, to others, and feels a sense of being useful to the world.”
On her offscreen relationship with ex Magimel: “We saw each other because we did quite a lot of interviews together, but having personal conversations, that’s another deal.”
On how her and Magimel’s daughter Hana reacted to the film: “I was surrounded by people who wanted to congratulate me, and at a certain point I couldn’t see Hana. Somebody said to me, ‘She’s quite overwhelmed. She’s downstairs in the restroom.’ So I went running to the restroom, and she was there. I could see that she was really touched. I had tears in my eyes and I took her in my arms, and we talked about it briefly. I wanted to give her time, so after two days I asked, ‘How did you feel about watching the film and seeing your parents play together again? Was it healing for you, do you think?’ And she said, ‘Absolutely.’”
Emily Mortimer, who plays socialite Elsa Lombardi in The New Look, on Binoche playing the role of Coco Chanel: “I remember Juliette coming in one morning saying she had dreamed she had been visited by Chanel. She felt the responsibility of taking on this part. She made Coco Chanel a very earthy human being: funny, sexy, earthbound. A woman with a will to survive.”
The New Look show creator Todd A. Kessler on Binoche’s preparation for the role: “Oftentimes research can constrict a performance but in the case of Juliette and her immense talent, it really freed the performance and provided access emotionally to Coco Chanel, who is a complicated individual faced with very challenging choices.”
On what motivated Chanel: “At the time, being a woman, you couldn’t just raise yourself to another rank in society. She had that energy of a survivor. And she wanted to be really in the cradle of creation. She wanted her freedom because she started from a very traumatic point. Yes, she is complex, but I think everybody’s complex.”
Ben Mendelsohn, who plays Christian Dior in The New Look, on Binoche’s Chanel: “Her Coco Chanel is powerful…She’s magnificent in this. I am a colossal fan, and just to see her come alive before you is stunning.”
The New Look Co-star Mortimer on working with Binoche: “You feel connected to the history of European movies with her. Sitting next to her in the makeup trailer, you’re next to Louis Malle, Jean-Luc Godard, Leos Carax, and Claire Denis, who I’ve admired all my life. She was the least disappointing huge star I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. You can smoke a cigarette in between scenes with her and laugh. She’s not at all grand.”
On Harvey Weinstein, who produced The English Patient (for which Binoche won an Oscar) and distributed many of her French-language films in the early Miramax days: “It’s always overwhelming. Because you don’t want people to suffer. You don’t take pleasure in the pain of people. But at the same time, the need to recognize what women are going through is very important.”
On turning 60 in March: “For my 50th birthday I did a big thing at my place. I don’t know. I don’t even know what I’m doing today. We might be at the Oscars ceremony the day after with a film. I’ll see how I feel. I’m not frightened of it.”
Town & Country’s March 2024 Issue Available Everywhere by February 27.
[Photo Credit: Sebastian Kim/Town & Country Magazine]
Previous post:
DUNE: PART TWO London Photocall Red Carpet Rundown Next Post:
Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman at the WICKED LITTLE LETTERS London Premiere
DUNE: PART TWO London Photocall Red Carpet Rundown Next Post:
Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman at the WICKED LITTLE LETTERS London Premiere
-
Sophia Bush is GLAMOUR’S April Cover Star!
-
Julia Fox on Dating Post-Kanye, Fashion with Law Roach, and Working It All Out for...
-
BRIDGERTON Star Nicola Coughlan for TEEN VOGUE Magazine
Please review our Community Guidelines before posting a comment. Thank you!
