She holds two records this Friday evening: that of being the youngest guest of the Césars accompanied by her mother and the youngest of the winners.
Fathia Youssouf, 14, was the first to be awarded this Friday evening at the 46th ceremony.
“Best female hope”, for “Mignonnes” by Maïmouna Doucouré, at the same age as Charlotte Gainsbourg distinguished for “L'effrontée” in 1986.
“I don't know anyone who has been to the Caesars,” Fathia told us softly on her mother's cellphone this week.
The path that led this Parisian suburb to the Olympia has in store for her some surprises, from her casting for "Mignonnes" to her nomination.
It was via a friend of her mother's, who spotted a casting announcement on Facebook for Maïmouna Doucouré's film, that Fathia Youssouf met in 2018 the director whose film "Maman (s)" won the César for best short- footage.
“I did not think of making films, assures this daughter of engineers.
But the role corresponded to my age group and you had to like dancing… ”Maïmouna Doucouré, she remembers crying when she discovered Fathia after having auditioned some 700 little girls.
“It was magical: I saw her spontaneity, her presence, her little facial expressions, her understanding of the game. It was as if I had written this role for her.
"
"Precise and in the emotion at the same time"
This role is that of Amy, a 12 year old child who tries to build her femininity between a religious family culture and the "cuties", this group of girlfriends who dance in a suggestive way.
Fathia Youssouf had never taken theater lessons before arriving on the set of Maïmouna Doucouré in September 2018, but "it's as if she had done that all her life", recalls the filmmaker.
“She was never disturbed by a technical indication.
She was precise and emotional at the same time, ”adds the director.
The teenager speaks of a "happy experience": "Maïmouna put me completely at ease".
After filming, Fathia returned to her 5th year classes and waited almost two years before the film, postponed due to Covid-19, was released in theaters on August 19.
“I wanted my friends to finally see my work,” she says.
When she saw the posters of "Mignonnes" in the street, the teenager found it "impressive" ... And savored the school holidays, which allowed her to enjoy this outing, while "taking it all with ease. recoil ”.
It is with this same "hindsight", she swears, that Fathia Youssouf experienced the controversy surrounding the release of "Mignonnes" on Netflix in the United States a few days later.
While thousands of subscribers have criticized a "hypersexualization" of teenage girls in the film, calls to boycott the platform have been launched, notably by some American politicians.
“It didn't affect me,” says Fathia.
I thought that these people had not understood the message of the film, which says that you have to grow up with your age, not too quickly, and do what you like without relying on the eyes of others ”.
At that time, Maïmouna Doucouré advises the teenager and other actresses of “Mignonnes” to “cut themselves off from social networks”.
Fortunately, Fathia's comrades congratulated her on the film.
And at that age, what's important is what we say at school, ”says the director.
Among the 20 comedians of 2020, according to New York Times
At the end of November, a new adventure: Fathia Youssouf is not selected among the “revelations” of the Césars, that is to say the twenty-four young actresses and actors that the Academy preselects for the best hope.
"The Academy told me that it no longer selected minors, while last year again, there was a 12-year-old actress and a 14-year-old actor among the revelations", annoys Maïmouna Doucouré.
But two weeks later, Fathia is cited by the New York Times in the list of "20 comedians of 2020" and the director of "Mignonnes" sends emails to many voters of the Caesars to remind them that they can all the same designate Fathia.
The “campaign” is bearing fruit: on February 10, Maïmouna Doucouré learns that “Mignonnes” is nominated in the “best first film” category and that her young actress is one of the five actresses in the running for the César for best female hope.
“She called me right away.
I think she was the most excited of the two of us, ”smiles Fathia Youssouf.
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Today, she receives proposals for films and brands, which are "filtered" by Anna Évents, a manager hired by her parents.
"I serve as a protective barrier between these requests and Fathia," explains the latter.
The idea is that she takes the time to see what she really wants to do.
“For now, the teenager has not passed another casting.
“I am concentrating on school,” assures this good 3rd year student.
I will see later if I want to make other films.
Perhaps his Caesar will change his program.