Eva Green
Eva Gaëlle Green was born on July 5, 1980, in Paris, France. She has a sororal twin sister. Her father, Walter Green, is a dentist who appeared in the 1966 film Au hasard Balthazar(1966). Her mother, Marlène Jobert, is an actress turned children's book writer. Eva's mother was born in Algeria, of Sephardi Jewish heritage (during that time, Algeria was part of France), and Eva's father is of Swedish and French descent. Eva left French school at 17. She switched to English in Ramsgate, Kent, and went to the American School in France for one year. She studied acting at Saint Paul Drama School in Paris for three years, then had a 10-week polishing course at the Weber Douglas Academy of dramatic Art in London. She also studied directing at the Tisch School of Arts at New York University. She returned to Paris as an accomplished young actress, and played on stage in several theater productions: "La Jalousie en Trois Fax" and "Turcaret". There, she caught the eye of director Bernardo Bertolucci. Green followed a recommendation to work on her English. She studied for two months with an English coach before doing Soñadores(2003) with Bernardo Bertolucci. During their work, Bertolucci described Green as being "so beautiful it's indecent". Green won critical acclaim for her role in Soñadores (2003). She also attracted a great deal of attention from male audiences for her full frontal nudity in several scenes of the film. Besides her work as an actress, Green also composed original music and recorded several sound tracks for the film score. After "The Dreamers", Green's career ascended to the level where she revealed more of her multifaceted acting talent. She played the love interest of cult French gentleman stealer, Arsène Lupin (2004), opposite Romain Duris. In 2005, she co-starred, opposite Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson, in El reino de los cielos (2005), produced and directed by Ridley Scott. The film brought her a wider international exposure. She turned down the femme fatale role in La dalia negra (2006), that went to Hilary Swank, because she didn't want to end up always typecast as a femme fatale after her role in "The Dreamers". Instead, Eva Green accepted the prestigious role of "Vesper Lynd", one of three Bond girls, opposite Daniel Craig, in Casino Royale (2006) and became the 5th French actress to play a James Bond girl, after Claudine Auger in Operación Trueno (1965), Corinne Cléry in Moonraker (1979), Carole Bouquet in Sólo para sus ojos (1981) and Sophie Marceau in El mundo nunca es suficiente(1999). Since her school years, Green has been a cosmopolitan multilingual and multicultural person. Yet, since her father always lived in France with them and her mother, she and her twin sister can't speak Swedish. She developed a wide scope of interests beyond her acting profession and became an aspiring art connoisseur and an avid museum visitor. Her other activities, outside of acting, include playing and composing music, cooking at home, walking her terrier, and collecting art. She shares time between her two residencies, one is in Paris, France, and one in London, England. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Steve Shelokhonov
Trade Mark
Smokey eye makeup
Black hair and blue eyes
Calm and often reserved performances
Husky vocal quality
Trivia
Born to French actress Marlène Jobert and Swedish dentist Walter Green. Eva's mother was born in Algeria, of Sephardi Jewish heritage. Eva's father is of Swedish and French descent. Her paternal great-grandfather was French composer and music critic Paul Le Flem.
Has a non-identical twin sister, Joy, who studied business and is married to an Italian count. Joy and her husband reside in Normandy where they rear horses.
Nominated for Les Molieres (Paris, 2002) for the play "Jalousie en Trois Fax" for the category Revelation Theatrale Feminine.
The face of the Emporio Armani campaign.
Niece of Marika Green.
Composed music for flute and piano.
Her favorite film character is Adele Hugo in Diario íntimo de Adela H. (1975).
Her favorite actors are Joaquin Phoenix and Edward Norton among others.
Cousin of singer/actress Elsa Lunghini.
She turned down a role in Brian De Palma's La dalia negra (2006) with Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson.
Was ranked #16 on Maxim's hot list 2006.
Her hobby is collecting art and visiting museums.
Plays classical music.
Green is the fifth French actress to play a Bond girl.
Studied English in Ramsgate, Kent, UK.
Bought a new baby-grand piano for her London home.
Studied piano and flute.
Raised in Paris, she went to an English-speaking school.
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#6). [2007].
Her parents first objected her appearance on Bernardo Bertolucci's Soñadores (2003), remembering Maria Schneider's traumatisation after filming El último tango en París(1972) .
Described the atmosphere on the set of Franklyn (2008) as strange because she and her co-actor Ryan Phillippe didn't talk much, being both very shy.
Admires François Truffaut, Ingmar Bergman, Tim Burton, Lars von Trier, David Lynch and David Fincher.
Enjoys running and pilates.
Has a border terrier named Griffin.
As she was extremely shy in her youth, her mother sent her to a therapist. However, she attended acting lessons to become more open.
Before meeting Carla Bruni, French President Nicolas Sarkozy invited Green to join him on his campaign trail. She politely declined.
She received a letter from author Philip Pullman, in which he praised her for the performance she gave in La brújula dorada (2007), based on his novel.
Only sees her only movies two or three times because she doesn't enjoy seeing herself on the big screen.
Was cast in El reino de los cielos (2005) a week before filming began.
Has a non-identical twin sister named Joy.
Described her character in Cracks (2009) as complicated.
She collects religious icons.
Had to use a stunt double for most of her action scenes in Casino Royale (2006). Even the scenes where she was running up the stairs were taken with a stunt double, because she nearly broke her leg.
Made her first magazine cover when she was two months old.
Her favorite Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale (2006) outfit was a Gucci mac and black hat, "Simple but elegant.".
While promoting La brújula dorada (2007) she said her daemon (animal spirit) would be a frog, because it's French.
One of her dream acting jobs would be to portray a serial killer.
Dislikes shopping.
She would love to work with Tim Burton, Stephen Daldry, Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze.
Considers Bryce Dallas Howard as one of the next big things in Hollywood.
Prefers that people tell her she's a good actress rather than she is beautiful.
Was a contender to play Carol Ferris in Linterna Verde (2011).
Was cast as the female lead in Anticristo (2009), but was dropped because of a complicated contract.
Niece of cinematographer Christian Berger.
Favorite actress is Isabelle Adjani.
Good friends with Jordan Scott.
Chosen by Los Angeles Times Magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful Women in Film (#18). [2011].
Empire Magazine chose her character, Vesper Lynd as the 9th sexiest female character in cinema history.
Was in a relationship with actor Marton Csokas from 2005 to 2009.
Was cast in the role of Marie Antoinette in Adiós a la reina (2012) but dropped out the film to work with Tim Burton in Sombras tenebrosas (2012).
Was considered for the role of Jeanne Schneider in L'instinct de mort (2008) but the role went to Cécile De France.
Was cast as Tessa Quayle in El jardinero fiel (2005) but she had to drop out due schedule conflicts. She was replaced by Rachel Weisz, who was awarded with an Oscar for the role.
Filmed back to back 300: El origen de un imperio (2014) and Sin City: Una dama por la que matar (2014). Both films are sequels and both are based on comic books by Frank Miller.
Frequently, she has been replaced by actress Diane Kruger. Green rejected the roles of 'The Seeker' in La huésped (2013) and 'Anna' in Las vidas posibles de Mr. Nobody (2009), while she also backed out of playing 'Marie Antoinette' in Adiós a la reina (2012). All three roles was subsequently given to Kruger.
With her appearance in 300: El origen de un imperio (2014) and Sin City: Una dama por la que matar (2014), she's the only actor to star in two adaptations of Frank Miller novels within the same year.
Filming La brújula dorada (2007), where she plays "Serafina Pekkala", a witch. [December 2006]
Has played a witch three times; Angelique in Sombras tenebrosas (2012), Morgan in Camelot (2011) and Serafina Pekkala in La brújula dorada (2007).
Her last name is pronounced "grain/greyne". It is derived from the Swedish word "gren", which means tree branch.
Stated her desire to work with French compatriot Marion Cotillard.
Auditioned for the part of Tauriel in El Hobbit: La desolación de Smaug (2013) and El Hobbit: La batalla de los cinco ejércitos (2014) in 2010, losing the role to Evangeline Lilly. Her audition took place right after Benedict Cumberbatch's, who successfully obtained the role of Smaug in the films.
Johnny Depp is one of her favorite actors and Tim Burton is one of her favorite directors. She worked with them on Dark Shadows (2012).
Personal Quotes
[about shooting nude scenes for Soñadores (2003):] I am a very shy person in life, very reserved, but you know, it's Bertolucci. I've seen Last Tango and it's not pornographic, it's not vulgar, it's not sick, so I trusted him. He's a master of love and eroticism, but it's good because I stopped being self-conscious. I felt like I was on drugs or anaesthetised because you have to be. You have to let yourself slip away and forget everything, forget the sound guy and all that. [February 5, 2004]
[about the sex scenes in Soñadores (2003):] It must be very shocking for the American people, but what I don't understand is why they are so crazy about that. I don't understand why you can't see naked people on screen but we can see a baby being killed. It's quite strange. They're too puritan, too uptight. [February 5, 2004]
It's a way to exteriorize all my shit. To scream and cry and laugh on-screen, it's almost like black magic. You can do anything. I'm a dreamer, so that's a good job for me. Onstage is the only place I can fully express myself.
For me, acting is like a therapy. I can express myself fully when I am acting and have blood in my veins. Even when I'm not working, I'm always living in my own world, imagining characters.
At drama school I always picked the really evil roles. It's a great way to deal with your everyday emotions.
Onstage, every night you create something new. Plus, you have your audience right there - it's like performing for the gods.
[About Sybilla, her character in El reino de los cielos (2005):] "Sybilla suffers from numerous frustrations. She's an heroine, not a "potiche".
I am many things. I can be quite mad, and young, but I'm not the kind of person who goes out to nightclubs and goes crazy. I am more like lying on my bed and listening to classical music to relax.
I have Algerian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish blood: I feel like a citizen of the world. Life and cinema don't have borders.
I don't want to be a Hollywood star. I just want to do my job and enjoy it. My aim is to find my true identity and to remain true to myself.
I'd rather be thought as an international actress rather than a French one. Because I don't know what's coming up for me, my ambition is not to be typecast. So I'm working on my English accent, as well as my American one. I don't want to be like 'Okay, I'm French, and I want to succeed in Hollywood!' Juliette Binoche has set a good example of what I want to do, because she works all over the world, and that's what I want to do as well.
I don't have a problem with someone having plastic surgery, but I think it's crazy for everyone to have the same body.
I don't believe in awards. It's very good for the ego, I suppose.
I love photo shoots where I can be like a pinup, not myself. Where I can be feminine, glamorous, dark ... not like in real life. I hate it when you go in and they want you to be 'natural,' to be yourself. I just hate it. I love having fun. When they ask you to smile, I hate it. Of course I smile in my real life, but to do it on cue, that's not spontaneous. I'd rather do something that's like a little movie, like a little story, rather than just me, I feel naked.
[on acting] -- It doesn't satisfy me completely, this job. I want to travel. Maybe I'll end up living in Norway, making cakes.
I feel sick if I have to do something for the money. I can't breathe. I'm not proud of myself.
I was in LA last week for a meeting and I don't like it. I get knots in my stomach and have to walk around a museum to make myself feel better. It's a cruel place, very hierarchical. If you're in the middle, you're shit, and if you're at the bottom, you're nothing. The people have no idea about anything that doesn't come from Hollywood. Most of them have never heard of The White Ribbon or A Prophet, and the only film of mine they know is Bond, because it made lots of money. I'm the Bond girl. It's as though it's written on my forehead.
[on auditioning for Soñadores (2003)] -- I was bored with the theatre. I wanted to stop acting. I didn't believe in anything. But I did a lot of auditions to get the role. You can't turn down a role like that. You don't say no to Bertolucci.
[on her growing dislike for theatre before landing Soñadores (2003)] -- I was in this play and I didn't get on with the director and didn't like the play. It was very grotesque, you know? Too much make-up and wigs and I was playing, like, this coquette. I was on stage for most of the time apart from three minutes when I was allowed to go off and pee in a bucket. And for those three minutes I was sitting on a bucket, peeing and crying at the same time. Oh, it was terrible. It was a nightmare. I hated it so much.
[on Isabelle Adjani] -- She's my role model, I adore her. I watched Diario íntimo de Adela H. (1975) so many times, and La pasión de Camille Claudel (1988) also - in that she plays a sculptor, very passionate, who was Rodin's lover. He rejected her and she ended up completely cuckoo in an asylum. Adjani is a bit like Miss G - she has that crazy side in some of her movies. She's very beautiful, but she can do everything - she's very funny, she's very sharp and not afraid of big emotional moments. I met her when she was doing a play in France, and I was very intimidated - you feel very wobbly and like a big geek. I just said to her "I'm a big fan of yours!" She's like a myth to me.
[on Ewan McGregor] -- ... Ewan's brilliant - a really giving actor.
[on Daniel Craig] -- He was a very cool Bond, very raw. He's very paternal actually. He really looked after me, and he was wanting to do something different with Bond, which I think he did. I was a bit scared at the beginning - but it was a good Bond and it made me bankable - money, money! [laughs]
[on Jordan Scott, director of Cracks (2009)] Working with her was a real exchange - a real collaboration. She was extremely sensitive. The film looks almost unreal - like a fairytale.
[on Michael Haneke] -- "The White Ribbon" is absolutely brilliant. You want to open his brain and go "What is this shit, what happened to you?" I met him in LA last week. He's funny, normal - well he seems like that - you never know. I asked if he'd been inspired by something, and he said he just made it up! He kind of has an evil side, which I like.
[on Shane Meadows] -- I might need to get my hair dirty if I was going to be in one of his films. I hate it when people say "You're very beautiful." I feel very shallow. I want to be taken seriously, you know?
[on desire] -- You've got to have desire, otherwise you just die. A lot of people, they're 80 or 90 years old, and they die because they have nothing left to live for. It makes you alive if you have something you want in life. My first drama teacher was very passionate - she was full of energy - it was all about work, work work, then you can achieve something that is beyond your limits.
[on taking a break] -- If I'm feeling a bit down I think of a very nice place in the sun to calm me down - like a place I went to not far from Cancún in Mexico. I just imagine I am there and everything gets calm in my head. My mother has a house in Normandy - I feel quite centered when I'm there. She cooks for me and I feel like I'm two years old.
[on enjoying the moment] -- I know it sounds very clichéd but it's true. I'm the first one to forget. Life is short - enjoy it. And do your best. Even if you fail, you've done your best.
Cracks (2009) is a very interesting project, quite unusual, and some of it is a bit taboo. It was interesting for me to show all those colors. It's quite a gift to give an actor, and it doesn't happen very often, so I was lucky.
I always wanted to be an actress but I didn't know if I could do it. So I did a workshop in England to improve my English and three months of acting to see if I liked it or not. I came back and did three years of drama school in Paris. That's when I realized I really liked acting and that I was going to try to be an actress.
I thought Perfect sense (2011) was kind of a brave, unusual story, thought-provoking but mainly a love story with the background of a catastrophe. I thought it was quite charming. I knew the director, David Mackenzie, and also the fact that Ewan McGregorwas onboard was very appealing.
Jordan Scott is a very talented director, she's just the most amazing. She knows, understands actors and tries to get the best out of them. She gives them a lot of freedom, she loves them and she's very sensitive, very sensual. She's a very special being and one of the most talented directors I've worked with. It's a real treat to be with her.
It's so boring to play the girlfriend. Most of the women in film are there to be beautiful to the man. It's quite hard to find a ballsy or complex character.
I'm very picky, I love falling in love with things. That's why maybe I don't work as much as I should. I need to really be drawn to the character and like the director.
A lot of the films now are more focused on the visuals than on the actors. I think all directors should go to drama school.
It's not a job. It's almost like a faith or a religion. Every time, I give a bit of my soul.
I used to play the piano. I stopped when I was about 17. If I sat down at a piano now I could probably play one or two pieces. Maybe Chopin's "Nocturnes".
The sex scenes were quite full on and frank in Soñadores (2003). I had a scene in which my own character has to lose her virginity. I had to remember how I felt when I first had sex. I am so reserved in real life, but I surprised myself completely. I was asked if I wanted some alcohol before some of the scenes - and admit that I did have some whiskey. There was a breaking of the ice before the sex scene. The actor Louis Garrelcame into my trailer and said: 'I will show you my dick if you show me your breasts.' So I did - and he did. He said to me: 'They look great.' So when it came to the sex scenes, it made it a little easier.
I was such a nerd in school that it's been a good exercise for me to be able to talk a bit about myself. I'm always scared of words in real life, if they're not on a page in a script. To talk about myself, I feel like, Oh, my god...
Well, I'm not Daniel Day-Lewis. It's a bit pretentious to come home and remain in character. Can you imagine? It must be pretty hard to live with. I'm sure Daniel Day-Lewisis very sweet but if he takes some of those roles home with him then it must be quite tense. I wouldn't want to be his wife.
[on John Galliano's comments] It has been very brutal and I really... I just wish he could go back in time and for it not to happen. I'm sure he's going to get back [into fashion] because he's so talented. Sometimes, you can make mistakes. I don't think he's anti-semitic. I'm Jewish. I don't think he has anything against the Jews. I think it's more that he was probably a bit drunk.
[on Artemisia, the character she plays in 300: El origen de un imperio (2014)] She's such an extreme character. I think lots of men are going to be scared of me from now on. I'm like a little bird in real life so that's why I enjoy playing those ladies.
[When asked who she'd like to work with - GQ Magazine UK, August 2014] There's so many but I love Matthew McConaughey, I think he's really intentioned and so interesting. I would also love to work with Marion Cotillard.
I'm fairly blonde. I've been dyeing my hair black since I was 15 and I've stuck with that look ever since. It's my way of hiding myself I suppose. I think I look more interesting with dark hair. It's part of my self-image and we all have a darker side. I like to put masks on sometimes because I haven't always been that confident and you fall into the trap of continuing to hide your real self even though you've changed and grown a lot as an individual. I feel more open but it's not always easy for me to show that.
I was not offered something interesting [after Casino Royale] by Hollywood. Every role was the boring beautiful girl. Instead of doing that, I made movies that not a lot of people saw but were good for my heart. I've always found the movie business rather cold, so finding parts to play and having people enjoy them has made this year a miracle for me.
[on green-screen] It's very close to being on stage. When you do theatre, the furniture and background is usually very minimal you don't pay any attention to the props. All your energy is focused on the other actor or actors you're playing your scene with. That's how it was making this film. There's just the crew around you and you have to imagine the setting that's eventually going to be filled in later. I had read the graphic novels before starting work on the film and so I had a good understanding of the surroundings. You also get used to miming opening a door or looking in certain directions where something is supposed to be happening or knowing where the walls are supposed to be. It takes a bit of discipline but it also intensifies your work because your entire concentration is on the other actor.
[on Johnny Depp] He's such a generous actor, a real gentleman. He's very intense and has the most intense eyes. He doesn't move, then like thunder his eyes are locked. He's very strong, he takes risks, very brave. He was amazing.
[on Tim Burton] I've always been a big big fan of Tim's, so it was like a dream come true. He's a very sensitive man, very humble. And he's so creative, you get near him and it's very electric. It's contagious. It's as if he has five people in his head and it's always very active. He's great because he's so open to suggestions, like Chloe said. That is a real luxury for an actor. And he really understood Angelique's character, he was great to collaborate with.
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