For her interpretation of Edith Piaf in “La Môme”, Marion Cotillard won a César, an Oscar and a plethora of other awards. A role that marks a turning point in her career and for which she has transformed. A metamorphosis that left him after-effects.
The kid : in the memories of Edith Piaf
While he has been thinking for a long time about making a film on the functioning of an artist, Olivier Dahan suddenly thinks of Edith Piaf. It is by falling on a photo of the singer’s youth in a Parisian street that the director understands that she will be the object of his project. Released in 2007, the biopic The kid takes the audience into the memories of the performer of theOde to love.
From his mother’s abandonment to his final concert at the Olympia, through his childhood in a brothel, his debut in Montmartre, his decisive meeting with Louis Leplée or his love at first sight for the boxer Marcel Cerdan, along -movie adopts non-linear storytelling and navigate between the milestones of Edith Piaf’s life.
A celebrity embodied by Marion Cotillard, transformed. Clotilde Courau, Emmanuelle Seigner, Jean-Paul Rouve, Gérard Depardieu, Pascal Greggory, Sylvie Testud, Jean-Pierre Martins and Catherine Allégret complete the impressive cast.
The film is a real success, which brings together more than five million spectators in French theaters. He also won five Césars, including that of Best Actress, as well as two Oscars, including one which also goes to Marion Cotillard.
A turning point for Marion Cotillard
The kid marks a real evolution in the career of the actress. Yet the producers him originally prefer Audrey Tautou, the other actress approached to lend her features to Edith Piaf. They believe that Marion Cotillard is not sufficiently bankable.
The latter however contributed to the success of the saga Taxi. She was also awarded the César for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in A long engagement Sunday, where she precisely gives the reply to Audrey Tautou. Finally, his international career is on the right track, in particular thanks to his participation in Big fish by Tim Burton.
Olivier Dahan insists, convinced by the seriousness of Marion Cotillard’s gaze, and ends up winning the case. The actress transforms, adopts another posture, another speech, another timbre and is forced to five hours of makeup every day of shooting (which will earn the feature film its second Oscar). A meticulous preparation and a lived interpretation which earned him a consecration. Collaborations with Christopher Nolan, Jacques Audiard, Woody Allen, James Gray or even Robert Zemeckis and Xavier Dolan will follow.
Carried away by the role
Questioned by the Guardian in 2012, Marion Cotillard confided that she had been possessed for a long time by Edith Piaf. For eight months, the actress felt haunted by the singer, sometimes going so far as to resume his voice. To get out of the role for good, she resorted to surprisingly surprising methods. The actress claims to have “tried everything”, explaining on this subject:
I did exorcisms with salt and fire. I traveled to Bora Bora to escape him. I went to Peru, to Machu Picchu and I followed ancient shaman ceremonies to purify myself.
The star thinks she understands why Edith Piaf has followed her for so long. She thus adds:
(Edith Piaf) had been abandoned as a child. Being all alone was her biggest fear.
