'Trust is the key word'

Thessaloniki guest of honour Isabelle Huppert on working relationships and her career

by Amber Wilkinson

Isabelle Huppert at the Thessaloniki press conference
Isabelle Huppert at the Thessaloniki press conference Photo: Amber Wilkinson

Isabelle Huppert is being celebrated by this year's Thessaloniki Film Festival with a showcase of 15 of her films alongside a masterclass.

This morning she also took time to discuss her career with the press noting that when it comes to working with directors "trust is the key word".

She says: "The difficulty would be to work with something somebody that you don't really understand or someone you don't trust – it's the key word in the relationship between an actor and a director, and an actor and a film. If it doesn't rely on trust, it's very difficult."

Asked about the variety in her career, which includes everything from Michael Haneke's The Piano Teacher to Paul Verhoeven's Elle and Mia Hansen-Løve's Things To Come she acknowledged she may have been "privileged and lucky", but added: "I always try to do films with where the woman is not behind a man and is in the front place."

Isabelle Huppert: 'I'm maybe very unfaithful to the films and the worlds. The minute you do it, it's already behind you'
Isabelle Huppert: 'I'm maybe very unfaithful to the films and the worlds. The minute you do it, it's already behind you' Photo: Amber Wilkinson
Huppert also noted that the situation has improved from a female perspective, with more women taking on not only directorial roles but other crafts including cinematography.

She added: "Of course we improved, but we still have to improve. Of course, you can always do better."

In addition to a showcase of her previous work Huppert is also bringing her latest film The Richest Woman In The World to the festival. The film, directed by Thierry Klifa, is also screening at the French Film Festival UK and sees an elderly woman spark a scandal with a gift of millions to a young artist.

In terms of her own career, the star noted that an actor's life is one that lives in the moment.

"A movie is really something in the present time and, and once it's done, it's done and we forget about it very easily. I'm maybe very unfaithful to the films and the worlds. The minute you do it, it's already behind you. Of course you care and want the movie to be loved and liked and well received. But in terms of how you keep it, now, there is not enough space to keep all of them."

While refusing to be drawn on who she might like to work with in the present moment, Huppert said: "I would have loved to have worked with Alfred Hitchcock but he was already dead when I started being an actress." Quizzed further, she said she would have chosen Vertigo as the film to be in, adding: "All of them... but I don't think I was blonde enough for Hitchcock".

Huppert's masterclass at the festival is scheduled for tomorrow and the star will also present several of the films. Thessaloniki Film Festival runs until November 9.

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