Léa Seydoux: Lesbian scenes made me question my sexuality … but I’m in love with a man

 
31 January 2014
The Weekender

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Actress Léa Seydoux has revealed her role in Blue Is The Warmest Colour made her question her own sexuality.

The 28-year-old plays a gay woman in the acclaimed French romantic drama, which includes a seven-minute sex scene with co-star Adèle Exarchopoulos.

Seydoux, who is nominated for the EE Rising Star Award at the Baftas next month, said: “Of course I did [question my sexuality]. Me as a person, as a human being ... It’s not nothing, making those scenes. Of course I question myself. But I did not have any revelations.”

The actress revealed she is in a relationship with a man, although she kept his identity a secret.

She told ES magazine: “I never believed in marriage, but now I’m in love, I think maybe.

“We still need to believe in things — we need discipline. I don’t believe in the religious side, but as a civil act — yes. But I don’t really care about marriage.

“I’m very happy. He’s not an actor, he’s not famous at all. He writes sometimes. He’s good at philosophy. We met some time ago but neither of us was free. He has a very ... pure heart.”

Seydoux faces competition at the Baftas from the likes of 12 Years A Slave’s Lupita Nyong’o. She said of her nomination: “I’m very excited, I’m very proud. It’s my first time at the Baftas.” But she revealed she could be melancholic, saying: “I’m still contemplative. I’m less sad, but sometimes see the world in a very dark way still. Sometimes I feel the world is very sad. I feel like all art is fighting against death.”

Seydoux, who is from a wealthy family, and her co-star Exarchopoulos have previously criticised the film’s director Abdellatif Kechiche, saying he made them feel like prostitutes during the ten-day shoot for their sex scene.

Kechiche hit back by calling Seydoux a poor little rich girl who had a “spoilt child arrogance”.

She said of the row: “I feel independent, maybe that’s why I spoke. You know, I’m still very happy with this film. It was hard to film it and maybe people think I was complaining and being spoilt, but that’s not it. I just said it was hard. I like to be tested. Life is much harder. He’s a very honest director and I love his cinema. The way he treats us? So what!”

Read the full interview in tomorrow’s ES Magazine

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