Berenice Bejo on 'The Artist': 'Everyone is Destined To Be So Jealous'

"Who's That Girl?" reads a range headline in early stages of 'The Artist.' The topic of that question is Peppy Burns, a mystery aspirant actress thrust in to the limelight when she stumbles, literally, into quiet film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) outdoors the premiere of his latest hit. Obviously, it is also an apt question for that lady playing Peppy Burns -- Berenice Bejo, the 35-year-old Argentine-born French actress that has been the person receiving her very own spotlight this fall just as one Best Supporting Actress contender on her operate in the brand new film. Who's that girl? Probably the next large factor. Bejo -- who's the lengthy-time partner of 'Artist' director Michel Hazanavicius, in addition to a new mother -- is a working actress since 1996, but is just now benefiting from major recognition. Like she turns Peppy right into a whirling dervish of the character -- a powerful-willed and kind-hearted female you never know what she would like and stops at nothing to have it, while concurrently remaining in keeping with herself along the way. This is not 'All About Eve' territory Burns, as described by Bejo, is among the most charming figures you will probably find onscreen this season. No surprise Bejo in awe from the experience she'd while shooting the film. "Personally i think so lucky," she told Moviefone, whilst talking about 'The Artist's' box-office potential, her a reaction to the finished film, and why Hazanavicius is really a great director. Michel has stated he required to convince themself to create 'The Artist.' What did he need to do to convince you? He did not need to convince me. I truly trust him and that i admire him like a director and author, and so i only agreed to be very excited and incredibly curious to see the script. I could not wait. The very first time I just read the script is at December 2009, and that i was like, "OK, I am the first.Inch I'd conferences and stuff and that i had the script and that i understood I'd the script awaiting me in your own home. And That I laid lower on the couch such as this and that i began reading through and that i cried. I had been like, "My dear God, I am so lucky!" He did such a fantastic job. There is something that individuals don't understand is when hard it had been to create the script. To really make it so touching and each image. He's been really spending so much time. Peppy is really a pleasure -- she's not cynical, she's caring, and despite the fact that she's upwardly mobile, she does not possess a malicious bone in her own body. Was that within the script when you initially see clearly? The only real factor not written was the job interview scene when Peppy is arrogant and self-aggrandizing. After I browse the first draft, I stated to Michel that Peppy was too perfect. She was too cute! We needed doing inside a different atmosphere. This is exactly why he authored that scene -- to provide her a genuine existence. We needed that. That scene is guaranteed as she immediately regrets acting for the reason that way. Things I love about her is the fact that she's very faithful to herself and George, even if he's heading down. She likes you him constantly -- even if he isn't a superstar any longer. She trusts existence. Always. She's not calculating anything. She just continues, and -- if tips over -- she takes existence and turns it into an optimistic. She continues step-by-step and becomes famous, but she's nothing like individuals stars who're like, "I wanna be famous." She's adorable to males and ladies. And things i did not realize after i browse the script, is the fact that every scene she's in, she's for action. She's going somewhere, she's doing something. She's never passive. Things never occur to her. She brings about things. Being an actress, what did you need to do in a different way on the quiet film? My voice was high, because I did not focus on my voice. I had been like [affects high tone], "That's existence!" I would need to apologize towards the crew. Then Michel would say, "Visit the computer monitor. Don't listen." And That I was like, "This really is working." I must be outrageous and extremely high to locate it in your body. You trust the director -- and yourself -- and go. Particularly in this type of movie. How have you think it labored whenever you saw the finished film the very first time? It wasn't finished the very first time I first viewed it. I had been like, [mouth agape]. The entire movie. I had been like, "This really is me? Within this movie? Everybody is destined to be so jealous." It's correct! If I wasn't within this movie, being an actress, I'd end up like, "My dear God. It's rarely gonna happen again." I do not think there's likely to be another quiet movie. Therefore it is me and nobody. Personally i think super lucky. Michel stated he used music onset. Just how much did which help your speed and agility? It felt as if you were already inside a movie. Whenever you watch a film, there's music. So, when we are shooting, the crew is watching us playing, acting, with music, therefore it already felt just like a movie. Everyone is at the atmosphere. It had been really strange. Everybody was taking pleasure in everything together. Whenever you perform a speaking movie, it's like "Seem. Quiet." Everybody is much like this: [serious face]. The actor's are playing. "Cut!" Then everybody moves again. Here, everybody is taking pleasure in it and laughing and crying. I'm not sure. The background music was noisy. I recall i was shooting at Warner Bros. and there is another shoot. The ones would visit and would say, "What's that? This can be a French movie? What is the music? That's so awesome!" We'd "The Way In Which I WasInch from Barbra Streisand. Some jazz. Some French music. It simply produced a mood. It had been special. Special. The response towards the film continues to be evenly excellent. Does that surprise you whatsoever? I am not surprised if you notice the film that you want it, but I am still curious if people are likely to come. It will likely be interesting to ascertain if American audiences appear. I believe what is going to attract the American audience is the fact that it comes down to Hollywood. It is a Hollywood love story. A vintage. And i believe everybody loves Hollywood. And i believe a united states may be curious to determine this French director doing something regarding their industry. In no time you forget it's quiet. In 2 or 3 minutes you are like, "I am really not hearing anything also it does not bother me. And I am getting fun." The very first 40 minutes happens so quick. A lot of unexpected things happen. It is going so on as well as on. The editing is fast. It is extremely modern. It is a today movie. It simply is actually quiet. Plus, it finishes having a raucous dance number. How was that to film? I am not really a dancer. It had been hard. For five several weeks. I recall which i recorded myself throughout my first training, because I figured, "I am not going to have the ability to do anything whatsoever.Inch It isn't possible. I recall searching in the recording. Shuffle, step, shuffle, step. Over and over. I've all individuals tracks of me and Jean and slowly and gradually, you can observe the advance. "I am doing the work! I am doing the work!Inch It had been one take, we made it happen 18 occasions, also it was amazing. Michel stated just smile. Completely. Take a look at one another so people will not review your ft. We really understood the steps. And that we were very focused. Michel was like, "Yeah, that's good, but you are not smiling." Only then do we began smiling, but we did not possess the steps. Slowly and gradually we needed to connect the smiling and also the ft... Like rubbing your belly and patting your mind simultaneously. Exactly! The identical! Then when you are getting it, it's this type of pleasure. The film is incorporated in the thick from the Oscar race already. Perhaps you have given lots of considered to what it might be prefer to get nominated for the best Supporting Actress? It's amazing. You are carrying this out quiet, black and whitened movie. French. And you are all of a sudden within the running for that Oscar for the best Picture, Best Director, Best Author, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress. You are like, "What? You are sure? OK!" So, no matter what -- nomination, no nomination, Oscar, whatever -- it's all regulated good already. We're feeling very honored. The first American film was 'A Knight's Tale.' That which was that they like? 'A Knight's Tale' was great. It had been a large studio movie. Many individuals on set. Plenty of producers. Producers behind the computer monitor using the director, suggesting, "Yes, no, yes, no." It had been a united states experience. I'd 12 days of shooting for 10 lines and, maybe, twenty minutes of appearance. So ... but, I loved it! I had been there and watching everyone work. I wouldn't imagine doing that again, but we'll see. I picture this was more enjoyable. Oh, yes! [Photo: AP] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook