Kind of a Shame

Juliette Binoche in the Guardian -

In the past, Binoche has said she prefers working with independent auteurs – Kiarostami; Krzysztof Kieślowski; Michael Haneke – rather than Hollywood directors owing to her frustration with the way mainstream American films depict women. When I ask about this, she gives an exasperated sigh.

"That's a very old question for me," she says. "That's a very old way of thinking."

But what about the fact that we still see so few women, especially over the age of 40 – Binoche is 47 – in leading roles? She interrupts, raising her voice. "That debate has been there for ages! It's boring! We're kind of feeding this thought in talking about it. If we talk about something else, people will think differently, and we'll change it. Because we're responsible, as women – journalist, actress, whoever – just to move on."

Does she consider herself a feminist? "No," she says. "Aware of my feminine and masculine parts, sure. [But that term] just puts people in a stereotyped way of thinking. I think creation and doing, being active, is more important than talking about it."