jeanne moreau quotes, jeanne moreau
jeanne moreau quotes
“Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.”
“The important thing is to be alive—to see what you have… to feel it.”
“Art is an irreplaceable way of understanding and expressing the world.”
“To be free is often to be lonely.”
“In love, one should simplify, choose persons worthy of their promises, and leave them if they don’t keep them.”
“Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.”
“The body is a house of many windows: there we all sit, showing ourselves and crying on the passers-by to come and love us.”
“I have always been a serious and melancholic person.”
“I believe that true art is universal and that it has only one language—no matter how difficult it is, it must be translated for the people to enjoy it.”
“I’m a character actress in the sense that I play many different roles. I don’t get cast as the same character.”
“Every artist walks with a sick heart.”
“One never knows what each day is going to bring. The important thing is to be open and ready for it.”
“Freedom is something you need every day.”
“Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don’t want it.”
“A lot of things draw me to a project—usually the script, the director, and the other actors.”
“Film will only become an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper.”
“Actors need bricks to play with, and in fact, that is what they do with each other.”
“I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense.”
“An artist never works under ideal conditions. If they existed, his work wouldn’t exist, for the artist doesn’t live in a vacuum. Some sort of pressure must exist. The artist exists because the world is not perfect.”
“The camera can film my face, but until it captures my soul, you don’t have a movie.”
“There is no joy without pain. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Acting is discovering the soul of the character, and finding a way to express it in the most beautiful way.”
“If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time because a dose of joy is a spiritual cure. It transcends all barriers.”
“I’m someone who likes to have everything perfect.”
“Life is short, and it’s up to you to make it sweet.”
jeanne moreau fast facts
Jeanne Moreau, born on January 23, 1928, in Paris, France, and passing away on July 31, 2017, in the same city, gained prominence as an actress celebrated for her diverse performances in French New Wave cinema during the 1950s and ’60s, extending her prolific career well into the 21st century.
Commencing her journey at the Conservatoire Nationale d’Art Dramatique, Moreau became the youngest member of the Comédie-Française at the age of 20.
While Le Dernier Amour (1949; Last Love) marked her initial foray into film, it was Ascenseur pour l’échafaud (Elevator to the Gallows, 1958) and Les Amants (1958; The Lovers) that catapulted her to international acclaim, embodying feminine mystery and sensuality.
Her portrayal of alienated modern women in Moderato cantabile (1960) and La notte (1961; “The Night”) and her dynamic role as the enigmatic Catherine in Jules et Jim (1962) solidified her reputation as an extraordinary actress and a captivating screen presence.
Noteworthy films from the 1960s include Le Journal d’une femme de chambre (1964; Diary of a Chambermaid), Viva Maria! (1965), co-starring with Brigitte Bardot, and Campanadas a medianoche (1966; Chimes at Midnight, or Falstaff).
She also ventured into directing, notably with L’Adolescente (1979; “The Adolescent”), featuring Simone Signoret.
Continuing her career into the 1980s and ’90s, Moreau’s films like Le Miraculé (1987; “The Miracle”) and La Vieille qui marchait dans la mer (1991; The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea) earned acclaim in France.
Her roles ranged from a seductive older woman in the BBC movie Clothes in the Wardrobe (1993; U.S. title The Summer House) to portraying a Jewish grandmother in I Love You, I Love You Not (1996).
By the early 21st century, Moreau’s filmography exceeded 130 titles, including Lisa (2001), Le Temps qui reste (2005; Time to Leave), and Plus Tard (2008; One Day You’ll Understand).
Her enduring impact on cinema remains a testament to her talent and versatility.