Clémence Poésy Discusses Stereotypes of French Women in New Interview

In a recent interview with the Times, Clémence Poésy (Fleur Delacour) discussed the stereotypes that others continue to maintain about French women, especially when it comes to sexuality. She also discussed the French version of the global Me Too movement, which is called “Balance Ton Porc” (or in English, “Call Out Your Pig”).

Recounting an incident in which she was harassed as a teenager, Poésy expressed that little has changed. In her acting career, she noted that her father would warn her not to go to auditions at locations such as directors’ homes. In not putting herself in a potentially vulnerable position, she explained, she lost out on roles.

What makes me especially angry is that some of these directors have children, and yet they want you to go home with them or shoot a scene that feels uncomfortable. I have to say that in my case no crime was ever committed, so I didn’t suffer like others, but we are only just emerging from the dark ages of a predatory male sexuality.

Poésy also discussed her role in Uncle Vanya, which she recently completed at the Theatre Royal in Bath, and the relevance that the story has to today’s world.

Don’t get me started. The possessive, destructive men in the play made me think a lot about now. In the UK, French women are still sometimes seen as highly sexualised beings who love flirting and seduction. But actually, there is a considerable fight against these old stereotypes in France right now.

On the differences between British women and French women, Poésy described British women as having more of a voice, as well as “more self-deprecation and wit.”

Later in the interview, when asked to discuss her private life, Poésy declined to elaborate. Currently pregnant, Poésy is a mother to a two-year-old son. She expressed that her view of men and women shifted when she became pregnant and that motherhood became her “job.”

As a mother to a son, Poésy added that her approach to raising him is by modeling the same sort of behavior that she would like to see in him.

The way you educate a boy is through his dad. You make sure that [the father] does his share of the childcare and the chores, and you make sure the boy sees that. You make your home how you’d like society to be.

You can also find Clémence Poésy’s latest interview in its entirety online.