Juliette Binoche has discussed Coco Chanel’s Nazi connections ahead of playing the fashion designer in new Apple+ show The New Look.
The Chocolat icon, 59, appeared in The Radio Times to discuss the new show, which follows the lives of the famous French designer and her rival Christian Dior, played by Ben Mendelsohn, as they seek to rule the world of high fashion.
Chanel has long been associated with Nazi ties, after evidence revealed that she worked as a Nazi agent – something Juliette was keen to discuss: ‘Her involvement with Nazis is a fact but you have to know that she didn’t kill anyone…
‘She didn’t give any names [to the Nazis]. There are different ways. It’s a difficult story. I could go on and on… It would be easy to say Chanel was a collaborator, full stop, and you have to put her in the bin. But it’s way more complex than that.’
The star also discussed fame, saying: ”I do worry about The New Look being watched in people’s houses. worry about my freedom. When you’re too famous it’s hell – you cannot go out and live your life. You become a prisoner’.
Juliette Binoche has discussed Coco Chanel ‘s Nazi connections ahead of playing the fashion designer in new Apple+ show The New Look
The Chocolat icon, 59, appeared in The Radio Times to discuss the new show, which follows the lives of the famous French designer and her rival Christian Dior, played by Ben Mendelsohn, as they seek to rule the world of high fashion
The New Look features an ensemble cast ranging from John Malkovich to Maisie Williams and Claes Bang, who was last seen playing The Prick in Bad Sisters, and a soundtrack produced by superstar Jack Antonoff.
Chanel may have played a part in the French wartime resistance, but she was also a Nazi intelligence operative and had a relationship with German intelligence officer Baron Hans Günther von Dincklage, played by Claes.
The interwoven saga follows the surprising stories of Dior’s contemporaries and rivals from Chanel to Pierre Balmain, Cristóbal Balenciaga and more.
Juliette said: ‘I discussed the story in depth with [show creator] Todd A Kessler and the scriptwriters because there are so many contrary things to say about Chanel…
‘Some people condemn her as the worst person in the world and others say she worked for the resistance. It’s very hard to have a black-and-white opinion.’
Back in November, Apple TV+ unveiled the first images from The New Look, showing Juliette cutting a chic figure as Coco in a black dress and pearls.
When asked if politics affects her own fashion, she said: ‘I’ve been working with the same stylist, Jonathan Huguet, for almost ten years…
‘I appreciate fashion, but I’m not fascinated by it. I don’t want to be responsible for deciding how to do my hair with this or that outfit! I trust Jonathan; he likes dressing me as half woman, half man. It gives me a sort of freedom that I enjoy.’
Coco Chanel is pictured in 1936
When asked if she likes being famous, she said: ‘What a question! The honest answer? Well… it depends on the moment. It can be a burden…
‘It’s not always the kind of attention you want. I go to the market every Sunday and people recognise me, but so what?…
‘If they want to see my face without make-up, they can have it. I’ve been in films wearing no make-up. When I do theatre, people forget about me for a while.’
The series will make its global debut with the first three episodes on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 on Apple TV+, followed by one episode every Wednesday through April 3.
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When asked if politics affects her own fashion, she said: ‘I’ve been working with the same stylist, Jonathan Huguet, for almost ten years’ (pictured in 2022)
