Audrey Fleurot, an iconic actress of French television, is once again in the spotlight with the return of the series HPI, broadcast on TF1 this Thursday, September 12, 2024. On this occasion, she gave an interview to Le Parisien where she revealed a painful episode of her career. She spoke about a filming scene that deeply marked her at the beginning of her career. She describes this moment as traumatic. The actress recounts a love scene that did not go as planned. She came out of it with a deep feeling of discomfort.
Audrey Fleurot remembers being confronted with a director and a production that did not respect boundaries. She recalls expressing her discomfort: "Am I going to end up with his sex on my butt live because nothing was planned?" The response she received was brutal: "Are you an actress or not? We’re not going to spend the night on this." This scene, never edited in the end, left Fleurot feeling abused. She describes this moment as a "mini-rape," a significant experience that deeply affected her. According to her, such situations should no longer occur in the era of the #MeToo movement.
Today, with hindsight, Audrey Fleurot confides that she should have refused this scene. She emphasizes that such abusive behavior was common at one time. Actors, especially beginners, felt obliged to meet the directors’ expectations to avoid jeopardizing their careers. However, thanks to the #MeToo movement, the rules have changed on film sets. These new measures now offer more protection to actors and actresses.
The #MeToo movement, which shook the world of cinema, has highlighted these abuses of power. Fleurot explains that since then, many measures have been taken to avoid such situations. She notably mentions the introduction of intimacy coordinators. These professionals are responsible for choreographing love scenes to ensure the respect of each actor’s boundaries. For Fleurot, this evolution is beneficial for young actresses. However, she admits feeling uncomfortable with this change because she grew up in a system where these practices did not exist. "For the new generation, it’s a plus. For me, it bothers me more than anything else," she confides.
Despite this discomfort, she acknowledges the importance of these advances. She emphasizes that for decades, the film industry tolerated abusive behaviors. The actress points out that it is a clear sign that cinema is evolving. "All this is a sign of an old world we are getting rid of," she explains. Audrey Fleurot supports that radical changes are necessary, even if it sometimes leads to excesses. For her, the revolution was essential, and the fall of heads symbolizes this profound transformation.
This is not the first time Audrey Fleurot has revisited this traumatic episode. A few months ago, she had already mentioned this filming. She had specified feeling a deep loneliness and a strong sense of vulnerability after this scene. "When you get home, you feel like shit," she confides. These words show how deeply this experience marked her. They also explain why she considers the #MeToo movement a crucial turning point in the film industry.
The 47-year-old actress also addressed the issue of power abuse in her profession. She considers this problem universal, affecting many sectors beyond cinema. "Almost all women have faced this kind of situation at one time or another," she laments. She believes that the liberation of speech enabled by #MeToo has changed things. Women can now set clear boundaries. This is particularly important on film sets. This would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
This fall, Audrey Fleurot resumes her iconic role of Morgane Alvaro in the series HPI. While the actress is now acclaimed for her performances, her journey has been fraught with obstacles. Today, she is a strong voice for change in the industry. She encourages her fellow actresses to fight for a more respectful and secure environment.
Through her testimony, Audrey Fleurot highlights a painful past and a changing present. The #MeToo movement has broken the silence. It has helped create an environment where actors and actresses can work with more safety and respect. While the road is still long, awareness is already well underway.