Catherine Deneuve, a true icon of French cinema, has never been one to hold her tongue. At 80 years old, the actress, famous for her roles in Belle de jour and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, still has a knack for sharing opinions that make young Instagram stars tremble. Recently, she let loose in an interview about the evolution of celebrity status and the impact of digital technology in France. Spoiler: she’s not a fan.
For Catherine Deneuve, in France, stars have become an endangered species. According to her, the magic has left the red carpet to get lost somewhere between an Instagram filter and a Snapchat story. "There are no more stars in France," she declared. "A star is someone who should show themselves sparingly and maintain some mystery, not someone who posts their breakfast every morning." Touché. The nostalgia for the days when celebrities were not within selfie reach is palpable in her words.
Deneuve did not mince her words about digital technology and its devastating effects: "Today, everyone has millions of followers without having done anything." Ouch. For her, it’s a bit like replacing the glamour of Hollywood with a DIY YouTube channel. Clearly, she’s fed up with internet stars who do everything except make films.
Even though Catherine Deneuve lives in the present, she’s more the type to turn off her mobile phone so she doesn’t hear it buzzing constantly. She finds the device practical, but especially when it’s off. "I turn it off when necessary, I don’t take it to the table, and I don’t need to check my messages every five minutes." That’s a life lesson. What drives her crazy are selfies and FaceTime: "Taking pictures of yourself all the time is like looking in the mirror and saying ‘wow, I’m really great’. You need to live, not watch yourself live." Note to self: put away that selfie stick.
Behind her biting critiques, Catherine Deneuve positions herself as a modern-day philosopher. She observes that people miss out on their lives by endlessly scrolling on their phones. "We no longer live, we watch our own lives like a Netflix series. The problem is, there’s not even a commercial break to catch your breath."
She sees this digital overabundance as a threat to culture, celebrity, and even human relationships. Her message: put down your phones, and enjoy the moment before it’s replaced by a TikTok video.
Even though she criticizes the current era, Catherine Deneuve is not knitting slippers by the fireside. With over 60 years of career, she continues to shine, like an eternal diamond in a world of fleeting glitter. On February 28th, she will preside over the 50th César Awards ceremony, because yes, we still crave grandeur and French elegance.
After all, when you have classics like The Last Metro and Indochina to your name, you don’t really need to post a #ThrowbackThursday to remind the world who you are. At 80, Catherine Deneuve is living proof that you can remain a star, even without posting a story every day.