Marie Versini
Written by Eva Csölleová, Vítek Formánek
French actress Marie Versini was born on 10. 8. 1940 in Paris. She was very talented, gifted and worked very hard and it paid off since she became the youngest ever member of the famous Comedie Francaisse.It was in 1957. In film idustry she got a chance at tender age of 16 and her first film was called Mitsou (1956). Her second film was called A Tale of Two Cities where she played big part with main start Dick Begarde. In other films she was starring with to likes of J. P. Belmondo, Paul Newman, Louis Armstrong, Alain Delon, Lex Barker, J. L. Trintignant or Pierre Brice. Mega successful serie of Vinnetou made a star from Versini who is fluent in English, French, German and Italian. This also enabled her to play in various European films with great success. In 1974 she married director Pierre Vialett and played mainly in his films. Reason why we asked her few questions for UNITEDFILM was that her career started in mid 50´s when „new wave“ came to France.
Do you remember those feelings when new wave came to French films?
Yes, it was like breath of fresh air, kind of miracle, exciting thing and everybody was talking about it. Of course there were some old fashioned people who rejected it.
Did you see difference in acting in „new wave“ films and classical films or it was only in attitude of directors towards actors and filming?
Of course the actors were more natural with „new wave“. They played less, they were themselves, just natural. As great Lee Strasberg of The Actors Studio once said: „Never pretend“.
When you became a star thanks to Vinnetou films, you didn´t have to prove anybody anything. Did you choose deliberatelly more artistic films from various foreign productions to „feel other side“ where success is not guaranteed in that kind of films?
Of course. I have always chosen the films I wanted to do. For example Kennwort Reiher with Peter van Eyck and Liebesnächte in der Taiga with Thomas Hunter.
You made films or TV programmes in Germany, Italy, England, France. Where did you find attitude of film makers more free and independent?
Hmm, difficult to answer. I have always chosen films I wanted to make so I was always happy.
Sometimes the stars are „property“ of the studios which tell them what to say, what to wear, how to behave etc. How can an actor stay „himself“? Does he need only good films behind him or it´s down to discipline and selfbelieve?
Hard to say really. I have never signed contract with a studio-it´s more an American way. I always was free and happy.
With your husband you made a movie Hommage an Robert Schumann which was great success in cinemas. It´s not classical box office hit topic, so why you think it became so popular? Was it so different and well made or spectators try to find more artistic films in that flood of American commercial trash?
I think the public liked music. I have met my husband Pierre Viallet during shooting a movie called A la reconcontre de Robert Schumann. It´s a portrait of Schumann only with his wife Clara. In 2010 for 200th birthday of Schumann we were asked to do another film on Schumann called Homage to Robert Schumann. We are in life very near Robert and Clara and I am sure that public feel it. And also I can say my life with Pierre begins and finishes with Robert Schumann as my Pierre has died shortly after Premiere of this film in Germany…
How do you view the importace of amateur/ independent film, film makers and festivals in current consume world?
More competitions is always good. But we must also make sure that our business remains good and not to do anything for films…that´s unfortunatelly often the case. Films are not so good as they were 10 years ago.