Style Watch PollFashion lookbook

Biography

Eva Gaëlle Green (born July 5, 1980) is an actress, raised in Paris and living in London. She has been noted by Vogue for her "killer looks, intelligence and modesty", and has been described by The Independent as "gothic, quirky, sexy". The daughter of actress Marlene Jobert, Green performed in theatre before making her film debut in The Dreamers (2003), which generated controversy over her numerous nude scenes. She achieved greater fame for her parts in Kingdom of Heaven (2005), and in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, for which she won a BAFTA.



She has also modelled for numerous brands. Director Bernardo Bertolucci discovered Green in 2002, and found her "so beautiful, it's indecent". She accepted his invitation to star in The Dreamers (2003), despite her parents' initial objections because of Maria Schneider's traumatisation after filming Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris. Green performed extensive nude scenes, which felt natural once on set, though she was embarrassed when her family saw the film. In addition to performing, Green was also credited with writing the score. Her performance was well received, with some comparing her to Liv Tyler. Green expressed surprise when American censors cut a minute from the film, as "there is so much violence, both on the streets and on the screen.



They think nothing of it. Yet I think they are frightened by sex." Green followed up The Dreamers with Arsene Lupin (2004), in the light-hearted part of a love interest which she had fun playing, though she generally preferred more complex parts. It was her performance in The Dreamers that convinced Ridley Scott to cast Green in Kingdom of Heaven (2005), a film about the Crusades where she played Sibylla of Jerusalem. Green performed six screen tests, and was hired with only a week before principal photography began. Green found the atmosphere of coming onto a film so late tense and exciting, and also liked the film's ambiguity in approaching its subject matter. To her disappointment, much of her screentime was cut. Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com praised her performance as "She doesn't quite know what to do with her character's stilted dialogue, but she carries herself so regally that you barely notice", but Nev Pierce of the BBC called her character "limp". Green was satisfied when her character's complex subplot was restored in the director's cut. Total Film noted the new scenes completed her performance: "In the theatrical cut, Princess Sibylla sleeps with Balian and then, more or less, loses her mind.



Now we understand why. Not only does Sibylla have a young son, but when she realises he's inflicted with leprosy just like her brother Baldwin, she decides to take his life shortly after he's been crowned king." Green was considered for parts in The Constant Gardener (a role which went to Rachel Weisz) and The Black Dahlia. She was a piece of last-minute casting for the role of Vesper Lynd in the James Bond film Casino Royale (2006). Green was approached in mid-2005 but turned it down. Principal photography was already underway, and director Martin Campbell noted casting the role was difficult because "we didn't have the final script and a Bond girl always had the connotation of tits 'n' ass." Campbell saw Green's performance in the director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven, and Green was approached again. She read the script, and found the character of Vesper far deeper than most Bond girls. Green's performance was well received: Entertainment Weekly called her the fourth best Bond girl of all time, and she won a BAFTA and an Empire award for her performance.



Both were voted for by the British public. Green is playing the witch Serafina Pekkala in the film adaptation of His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (2007), and will return to shoot two sequels if she wishes. Green hoped the religious themes of the book would be preserved, but references to Catholicism were removed from the film. Green is appearing in Franklyn, which is currently filming. She plays an artist with a split personality. She might also return for Bond 22 (2008) in a flashback or pre-recorded message following her character's death. Green considers herself nerdy: "When people first meet me, they find me very cold. I keep myself at a distance, and I think that's why I'm so drawn to . It allows me to wear a mask." She moved to Primrose Hill, London, in mid-2005, which she prefers to Paris: "I feel more centred when I'm ." She lives alone, jokingly referring to her border terrier, Griffin, as her "husband". In early 2007, she was dating her Kingdom of Heaven co-star Marton Csokas. She has no particular fitness regime, as, "I'm French and I'm lazy, which means I smoke and I don't exercise", though she does running and pilates. Green finds dieting too stressful. She thinks of herself as an international actress: she can speak both English and French fluently, and is also learning Japanese as well as perfecting an American accent.