Catherine Deneuve Discusses Family and New Film Role

French actress Catherine Deneuve has spoken about her upbringing and her role in the upcoming drama Gentle Monster. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the 82 year old actress praised her mother for fostering an open household where topics such as pregnancy and birth were discussed without taboo. Deneuve noted that this openness extended to family secrets, stating that the fact that her oldest sister had a different father was simply a part of their family life. She credited her parents with maintaining a certain distance from things and a sense of humor, which helped her develop clear ideas about how she wanted to live and what she would not accept. Deneuve mentioned that she wanted a child at a young age but did not view marriage as a necessity at that time.

In the film Gentle Monster, directed by Marie Kreutzer, Deneuve plays the mother of a woman played by Léa Seydoux. The plot follows a couple and their son who move to the countryside, only for the husband to become the subject of an investigation regarding child pornography. Deneuve stated that she accepted the role due to her admiration for Kreutzer and the quality of the script. She noted that she recognized the intimate bond between the mother and daughter in the film, comparing it to the close relationship she shares with her own daughter, Chiara.

While both reports cover the same interview, they emphasize different aspects of the conversation. The center left coverage frames the story as a reflection on Deneuve's personal strength and the positive influence of her mother's progressive parenting. In contrast, the center right coverage presents the story as a professional conversation about the artistic merits of the film and Deneuve's specific reactions to the script and her co stars.