Of course, when you work on a character, you try to understand her. You feel that everything she does has a reason.

The difference between the extras here and in France is the French extras read books. Actually, they hide the book and pretend that they're acting. Here (in Hollywood), you can see everybody wants his break.

I feel very honored and special really. You can't imagine, to arrive at the Oscars when you arrive so low, and you can't go further than the Oscars.

In France, it's always about life, normal life. We always stick with these realistic things. So when French people are dreaming about American movies, they go and see the thrillers, and Westerns, and science fiction, huge entertaining movies.

I tried to find a character and how I would be an American actress in the 30s. But if this was a talking movie [The Artist], I'm sure she would be exactly the same for me.

Right now I'm the most famous silent movie actress in the world and I want to keep that for me. So I hope there's not going to be any other silent movies.

I read Gloria Swanson's autobiography just because I wanted to know what it was like in the time.