28
The Oscar winner reflects on her painful 20s.
Looking back on her 20s, Juliette Binoche refers to the characters she played as the sorrowful sisters.
Her own life was quite painful at the time, she says.
Still, more than three decades later, her oeuvre is full of messy ladies.
But there have also been lighter turns, from 2000sChocolatto the heartwarming rom-comDan in Real Life.
But its true, I choose a lot of dramas because they were stories that touched me.
How were you feeling at the time?
It felt like forever.
I was able to play inThe Unbearable Lightness of Beingquite early on, when I was 22.
Take me back toThree Colors: Blue, which you began filming at 28.
What do you remember from that casting process?
When Kieslowski came back with [Blue], he thought I was too young for the part.
I thought, Maybe Ill give Kieslowski the same picture.
He said my eyes and my way of looking at the lens felt ageless.
Its interesting that looking ageless helped you.
How were you thinking about age and aging at the time?
I just thought of surviving and choosing what I wanted to give to the world.
It was all about exploring and growing.
It was not about the result to be in a successful film or to earn a lot of money.
That wasnt my purpose.
Its a turmoil of expectations.
You learn to lose, not be satisfied, and theres frustration as well as damage.
I suffered quite a lot while we were shootingLovers on the Bridge, becauseit was very long and painful.
But through suffering and losing, youre learning a lot about yourself.
I think my 20s were quite painful.
My 30s were better.
I was reading inEntertainment Weeklythat when you were filmingDamage, it was a difficult experience.
Can you tell me about that?
So I felt abandoned.
During this time, you were getting global attention.
Did you feel pressure to become a sex symbol?
I never felt like a sex symbol.
I played women who were strongly related to their sex power.
But its an image.
I was not aware of the power I had, and that probably kept me from danger.
When did you become aware of that power?
Much later, like 20 years afterward.
You said theres less suffering in your 30s.
What does it feel to be jealous, and how do you transform it?
Did you feel jealousy in your 20s?
Well, I had boyfriends.
I got very jealous when they were looking at or talking to another girl.
What about in your career?
I dont believe a role belongs to you.
Im chosen as much as Im choosing.
WithDamage, there were two other actresses, and finally I was chosen.
But forThe Piano, I spoke with Jane Campion at the time and wished I was doing it.
What advice would you give your 28-year-old self now?
I wouldnt give advice.
You have to live your life not listening to advice.
Too much advice is killing you, because then youre frightened of this and of that.
You have to go with your heart, and trust.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
