Beloved French actress Audrey Tautou takes over as the new face of CHANEL N°5.
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Q: You're too modest?
AT: No, I'm happy. It may seem pretentious, but I think it was a good choice! The fragrance is very French. While I'm not a chauvinist in any way, there is something refined, elegant and delicate -- and no, I'm not describing myself -- but it's often what people tell me they associate with French women. Or at the least, it's the image that foreigners have of French women, or the cliché of the French or Parisian woman. And I'm happy that woman is ... me.
Q: You have never advertised anything before. Why? What made you say “yes” this time?
AT: I have always refused to appear in advertisements or to be the face of a fragrance ... until now. Firstly, I wanted to establish myself as an actress, and I also wanted to be able to say "yes" with sincerity. I needed to have a real relationship with the "object" that I am supposed to promote since I am supposed to be the "face" of it. My standards are very high, so I could never be the face of a fragrance that I do not even like; I've turned down many offers because of that fact. I needed to have a connection and then there was this combination of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the House of CHANEL -- which I have known for so long -- and this truly exceptional fragrance; I have to admit it was a tantalizing cocktail!
'I couldn't love a man who doesn't love CHANEL N°5!' says Audrey Tautou
Q: Coco Chanel used to say: "A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future." Do you agree?
AT: For me, a woman who wears perfume represents the ultimate in femininity. Perfume is so much more than makeup or clothes; you wear perfume like a secret that you are not prepared to share with everyone; you only share it with someone you get close to, it's like a kiss.
Q: Could you love a man who does not love your perfume?
AT: I couldn't love a man who doesn't love CHANEL N°5! I could only love a man who has taste because so do I ... But, no, I couldn't love a man who doesn't love my perfume; it would be hopeless.
Q: Coco Chanel did not give this fragrance a name, but a number (No.5), which was her lucky number. Do you put any stock in numbers, signs or lucky charms?
AT: Something very strange happened to me that was purely the result of chance. The day it was announced that I was going to be the new face for CHANEL N°5 it was May 5th (5/5). I was in New York at the time and my hotel room was, coincidentally, "555." This wasn't intentional and no one purposely booked this particular room for me, nobody knew anything about it; I found that to be very strange ... I think it was something that was meant to happen to me. I can believe in signs but they have to be very big ones!
For more on the making of the Coco Chanel film and Audrey Tautou, please click here.
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