My timeline was so peaceful when Dune Part 2 came out – just film nerds raving about the movie, about the actors, about the way Denis Villeneuve directed and told this complicated story. Lea Seydoux plays Margot Fenring, who apparently has quite a sexy scene with Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. It’s cool that Villeneuve cast Lea in a significant role in this franchise, and as it turns out, Lea is always looking to work in American/Hollywood productions, even if she thinks European films are less harsh for women.

Léa Seydoux is a superstar in her home country of France and has successfully crossed over to Hollywood in franchises such as James Bond (“Spectre” and “No Time to Die”) and “Dune” (she debuted as Lady Margot Fenring in “Part Two” and will likely return for the third movie if it moves forward). But Seydoux recently told Harper’s Bazaar U.K. that it’s much easier being a female actor in Europe than it is in America.

“The industry in America, I find it harsh on women,” Seydoux said. “It’s hard for women to age. I don’t want to be afraid not to be desirable or to lose my contract. In America it’s economic, and when it becomes a matter of making money you lose your freedom. I don’t feel comfortable with the fact that you have to tick all the boxes. Being a woman on screen is easier in Europe.”

“I have more freedom because I’m a European actress, which suits me,” Seydoux continued. “I’m not trying to be popular, I’m just trying to enjoy myself. In America you have to conform. I don’t want to adapt myself to the system, I want the system to adapt to me!”

Seydoux added that “it’s tough for someone who’s not totally American to lead a Hollywood film” and she “takes what I get” in terms of roles in major studio tentpoles. The actor told IndieWire in 2022 that one reason she enjoyed coming to Hollywood to make movies is because “I feel that in America people have more imagination.”

“I have been offered films very, very far from what I’ve done and I’m like, ‘Oh. Interesting.’ I love to feel that I can adapt myself. For me, that’s very exotic,” she added at the time. “I make the films that I would want to watch. It’s the only way I choose.”

[From Variety]

I think what she says is true, across the board – European filmmakers are generally not afraid to cast women over 35 in lead roles, and aging naturally is more acceptable in Europe generally, and specifically with European actresses. She’s also right that Hollywood is where she’ll get more interesting character work, just not lead roles. It’s also worth noting (because I know commenters will talk about it): Lea is a French nepo baby (népo bébé). The Seydoux family is very powerful in the French film industry and she’s always claimed that they didn’t help her at all (lol). I guess my point is that sure, Lea’s observations about the differences between America and Europe are correct, but also – she was always going to be a huge name and a big deal in France, whereas in America, we just see her as “oh, that French actress.”

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.