Spanish actress Carmen Maura, one of the famous faces of director Pedro Almodovar, is back on stage in Paris after 30 years of absence, in a play she performs in French, a "
terrifying
" challenge.
"
It was a crazy idea that I had and I did not realize how terrifying it would be ," the 76-year-old actress, who plays in
L'Hirondelle
, told AFP
(
La golondrina
) at the Hébertot Theater from Wednesday for sixty performances.
Read alsoThe Carmen Maura phenomenon
"
I had everything in mind ... but in Spanish
," she adds over the phone. Due to the health situation, Carmen Maura indicated that she only went out for rehearsals.
L'Hirondelle
, by Catalan author Guillem Clua, tells the story of a mother singing teacher who has just lost her son and a young man (Grégori Baquet) who knew him. He's going to tell her things that she wished she hadn't known. The play was a great success in Madrid with Carmen Maura already on the bill. The director Anne Bouvier "
understood my problem of suddenly playing French
", underlined the actress. "
I discovered the character she wanted and who was very different from the one I played in Spain, but that I really liked
”.
"
Difficult to conquer
"
Carmen Maura learned French at school and even started off as a translator. The last time she was on stage in Paris, she played in
Cirque à deux
, in 1994, at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal. Like her compatriot Victoria Abril, she was able to make her way in France, winning a César for the best actress in a supporting role in 2012 for
The women of the 6th floor
by Philippe Le Guay (and the Medal of the city from Paris, which she says she loves). “
France is a difficult country to conquer but when they accept you, it is a very loyal country. I feel very recognized.
"
After making her debut in amateur theater in the mid-1970s, she became famous thanks to the most international of Spanish directors, becoming one of the “chicas Almodovar”, this group of filmmaker's favorite actresses. She plays, among others, in
Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown
,
What did I do to deserve this?
and
The Law of Desire
.
Her career then took a turn that took her to Latin America, before Pedro Almodovar called upon her twenty years later, for
Volver
(2006).
After this film, she recognizes that their paths have separated again.
“
We have no contact;
he does his things and I do mine
”.
“
When I look back, I only remember the good times
,” says the actress, one of the most awarded in Spain.
"
I had wonderful moments with him and he gave me wonderful characters
."
L'Hirondelle
from January 12 to March 20, Théâtre Hébertot, 78 bis boulevard des Batignolles, 75017 Paris
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