Bond Alum Eva Green on Embracing Villainy in Musketeer Saga

The actress talks about playing Milady de Winter in the two latest Three Musketeers movies.

Former Bond girl Eva Green plays Milady de Winter in two movies by director Martin Bourboulon – The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan and The Three Musketeers: Milady, to be released next year. Here she talks about playing the baddie.

Are you a fan of Dumas’s books?

I read The Three Musketeers in school, but I was especially struck by the sparkling performance by Lana Turner as Milady in George Sidney’s adaptation. The sense of adventure and romance thrilled me a lot.

What appealed to you about this adaptation?

More flesh is given to the character of Milady and, thus she has moved away from the traditional image we have of her. We understand why she became Milady. It also gives more body to the Musketeers, who are often represented in some adaptations as childish beings.

How do you perceive the figure of Milady?

In the collective unconscious, Milady is wicked, mysterious, intrepid, diabolical, ready to do anything to achieve her ends. In the second film, we will understand why she became this unscrupulous woman. We will discover her Achilles heel and, therefore, a new Milady, who I find more human.

How did you prepare for the role?

I had to train for two months for the sword and dagger fight scenes. I rode first with Mario Luraschi, then with the rider Margot Passefort, who works with him and who helped me to be less afraid of horses. I also did aikido.
All this allowed me to find the inner strength of the character. I had a lot of fun working with the stunt people they were very patient, because I was clumsy.

Why is it fun to play an evil character?

It’s fun because it’s very far from what we are in daily life. It allows you to let go, it’s liberating!

Which was your favourite scene to film?

I really enjoyed playing the one at the ball among all the extras, with the fire-eaters, these splendid masks and real musicians in the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. It was extraordinary. A magical memory.

Eva Green’s 10-second CV

Name: Eva Green

Born: July 6, 1980 in Paris, two minutes before her twin sister, Joy.

Early career

Inspired by Isabelle Adjani in The Story of Adèle H, she decided she wanted to be an actress at the age of 14, and went on to study at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In Paris, she performed in various plays and in 2003 made her film debut in Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers.

I know the face…

We’re not surprised. Green has been in oodles of movies on both sides of the pond. Perhaps one of her most famous roles was as Vesper Lynd opposite Daniel Craig in Casino Royale in 2006. She was also in the news earlier this year thanks to a legal wrangle with White Lantern Film over abandoned movie A Patriot. She won but not before some rather ugly WhatsApp messages were made public.

C’est pas vrai!

Green is a taxidermy fan and collects insects and skulls. Her go-to shop is Deyrolle in Paris.

From France Today magazine