Four years ago, French actress Isabelle Huppert was named one of “The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)” by The New York Times. The publication praised her performances as “fearless and mesmerizing, sometimes scary, sometimes freakish.” At the time, Denzel Washington topped the male actor category.
In an interview on Oct. 9 with The Chosunilbo, conducted over the phone from her hotel in Switzerland, Huppert was asked if she remembered the article. She responded with a laugh, “Of course, I do. I fully agree with their assessment... just kidding!”
Huppert’s quick wit shone from the start of the 30-minute conversation, as she sprinkled humor throughout. However, she soon turned reflective, saying, “Everything I’ve achieved as an actress is thanks to directors like Paul Verhoeven, Claude Chabrol, and Michael Haneke, and of course, Korea’s own Hong Sang-soo.”
Well known to Korean audiences, Huppert has appeared in three of Hong’s films. “His films are minimal, often with only two or three crew members on set,” she explained. “But watching him handle everything—from the script to the cinematography—was a revelation. He’s a true genius.”
When asked about other Korean filmmakers she admires, Huppert named Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, and Lee Chang-dong.
This time, however, Huppert is coming to Korea not for a film, but as a theater actress. She will perform in the Asian premiere of Mary Said What She Said, a one-woman play directed by American theater legend Robert Wilson. The play will be staged on Nov. 1 and 2 at the Seongnam Arts Center. In the 90-minute performance, Huppert will take the stage alone, a role she has played 98 times across Europe since the play’s debut in Paris in 2019. The Seoul performance will mark her 100th appearance in the production, and tickets sold out within five minutes in Korea.
When asked if she ever feels lonely performing solo, even as the “Queen of Cannes,” Huppert chuckled. “What are you talking about? I have so many lines! It’s an intense psychological drama, so I constantly adjust my tone to match emotions—strength, vulnerability, anger. There’s also movement, dance, and with Wilson’s productions, even the lighting plays a critical role.”
In Mary Said What She Said, Huppert portrays Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots and former Queen of France, who was executed in 1587 after being persecuted by Queen Elizabeth I of England. The play is based on Mary’s final letter before her execution, reimagined as a one-woman performance. “Mary Stuart wasn’t a political figure,” Huppert explained, “but she became a tragic victim because the British royal family saw her as a threat.”
While some actors never return to the stage after finding success in film, Huppert has always embraced both. Reflecting on Mary Said What She Said, Huppert remarked, “I couldn’t pass up the chance to work with a visionary like Wilson on such an ambitious artistic project.”
Since graduating from the Conservatoire national supérieur d’art dramatique (CNSAD), Huppert has appeared in 120 films. Known for unforgettable roles in Elle and The Piano Teacher, she has won Best Actress at both the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, along with a Golden Globe. Having walked the Cannes red carpet over 20 times and served as jury president, she truly earned her “Queen of Cannes” title.
Reflecting on her craft, Huppert quoted French filmmaker Robert Bresson: “Bresson said cinema is the art of truth, while theater is the art of fiction. But whether on screen or stage, the essence of acting remains the same.”
