Monica Bellucci on detaching herself from her public image, her growing fascination with Hindi cinema and her upcoming visit to Mumbai
Anupama Chopra (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 27, 2017)

For years there have been rumours about you doing a Bollywood film and now you are finally coming to India for the Mumbai Film Festival. What do you like about Hindi cinema and what are you most looking forward to?
I would love to make a Hindi film. One of the reasons I am an actress is because through my work I have the pleasure of creating new human experiences and getting in contact with new cultures. I first saw Bandit Queen, made by Shekhar Kapur, and got very interested. I loved films like Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly and Neeraj Ghaywan’s Masaan. It is amazing to see how much Indian stars and Indian movies are loved all over the world.

The first Bollywood films I saw was Devdas, which was screened in Cannes in 2002. I loved it and discovered Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are not only great actors but great dancers too. It is impressive as I can’t dance myself.

I am glad to have met a delegation of Indian actors, directors and producers in Morocco once. I could feel the love of the public, it was really special and quite unique. I was seated next to Shah Rukh Khan at the royal dinner so we had a real conversation about cinema and India. I have a lot of respect for him and his career. He is a kind-hearted man. I hope to meet him and his family during my stay in Mumbai.

I’ve wanted to come to India for a long time but didn’t find the time. I’m happy to be visiting in October, I’ll receive the first Trailblazer Award given to a woman for her role in cinema at the fest.

You have worked with some of the world’s leading directors, including Giuseppe Tornatore, Emir Kusturica, Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Mendes, Mel Gibson, Gasper Noe. What is the hallmark of a great director? What is the one trait common to them?
They are all very talented in different ways. A great director for me has to have his own universe. That’s what makes him or her special! I am curious and always ready for new adventures.

When Bahman Ghobadi was asked why he picked you for Rhino Season, he said, “Number one, she is a good human being. Number two, she is a good human being. Number three, she is a very good actress.” Do you have to be a good human being to be a good actor?
No. What you do is not what you really are!

Actors like you, Isabelle Huppert, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Charlotte Rampling have broken the clichés of ageism in cinema — specially when it comes to leading ladies. How hard has it been to do this and what is the secret sauce?
Things are changing and women have different visions about themselves. They respect themselves much more and it creates more respect from outside. There are also more roles today for mature women. That’s why actresses like Julianne Moore and Isabelle Huppert work a lot. They put themselves in danger and take risks in their roles.

You said in an interview that “being pretty when you are an actress is like a painful banality. Do you know many ugly actresses? If I was an astronaut it would be more original.” Do you think your beauty has been an obstacle?
Beauty is like a horse. You have to know how to ride it. If you count only on beauty, you don’t go far!

Ageing is difficult for everyone but I imagine that it’s especially hard for someone whose beauty is so celebrated. You said that you look at yourself with compassion. How do you do this?
I think it is important to learn how to get detached from your image. There is a moment when it is important to work on your inside beauty. It is the real ageless beauty! To become a mother taught me so many things in this way.

You had children at 40 and 45. What are the advantages of becoming a mother later in life and how has the experience shaped you as an actor?
I started my career very young, first as a model, then as an actress. When I became a mother my career gave me the freedom to choose when I want to work and have time for my children. Children bring you some serenity and I guess some distance with things. You only focus on what really matters so all these things must reflect in you as an actor.

I can’t resist asking — how do you manage to look so incredible. You’ve said that you occasionally have a face massage, acupuncture and you do pilates. Surely there’s got to be more!
What makes me feel beautiful is to be loved by the people I love.

What’s your life mantra?
Be free.