Juliette Binoche is one of the most accomplished actors working today. She’s won an Oscar for “The English Patient” and has starred in numerous acclaimed films. However, very rarely does she work on high-profile blockbusters such as her role in “Ghost in the Shell.” That doesn’t mean Binoche is anti-blockbuster and refuses to do more commercial films. She’s just a little pickier. That said, if Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese give her a call, she’ll answer.
Speaking to Variety, while promoting her recent film, “Both Sides of the Blade,” Juliette Binoche talked about her career and recalled three separate times that she has been offered roles in Steven Spielberg films but had to turn them down. She also explained why she doesn’t necessarily go out of her way to star in larger blockbuster-type films.
“The first time was for ‘Indiana Jones 3’ because I was doing ‘The Lovers on the Bridge’ with Leos Carax,” said Binoche. “The second time, for ‘Schindler’s List,’ I was pregnant, and then for the dinosaurs (‘Jurassic Park’), I had already committed to ‘Three Colors: Blue’ (Krzysztof Kieslowski’s film). It would have been amusing to do ‘Jurassic Park’ to see how (Spielberg) makes the film, but at the same time, Spielberg is more of a men’s director, like Scorsese actually.”
It’s clear from that recollection that Binoche doesn’t immediately see the appeal of starring in major Hollywood productions. And she explained her hesitancy for starring in films by legendary filmmakers such as Spielberg and Scorsese. But again, if one of them calls her, she definitely would be interested.
“Of course, I would!” she said. “Even if I find their approach to cinema to be very commercial, they have a fabulous technique which they own completely, and there’re storytellers. But their films lack women.”
If Spielberg or Scorsese are interested in working with Binoche, she’s going to have to squeeze them into her busy schedule. Not only does she star in Claire Denis’ ‘Blade,’ but she has a number of projects in development now, including a role in the highly-anticipated series, “The New Look,” where she’s expected to play Coco Chanel.
“Both Sides of the Blade” is in select theaters now.