Maïwenn Opens Up About Challenges of Working with Johnny Depp on “Jeanne du Barry”
American moviegoers will soon get to watch “Jeanne du Barry,” the film about King Louis XV’s romance with his mistress Jeanne du Barry that opened the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The movie sparked controversy due to Johnny Depp’s casting and an incident involving the director Maïwenn and a journalist before its release. Now, Maïwenn discusses the difficult process of making the film.
In a new interview with The Independent ahead of the theatrical release, Maïwenn reflected on the tumultuous experience of collaborating with Depp.
“I must be honest. It was hard to film with him,” Maïwenn said. “The whole crew was scared because he has an unusual sense of humor. We didn’t know if he would be on time or able to say his lines…Even when he was on set and on time, the crew was still afraid of him.”
While both promoted the film during Cannes and before theaters, Maïwenn explained she no longer keeps in contact with Depp.
“There’s been no normal relationship since filming ended,” Maïwenn said. “Johnny is an immense genius to me but he lives in another world. I cannot communicate with him.”
Much discussion around “Jeanne du Barry” focused on Depp’s acting comeback after his high-profile legal case against Amber Heard. But critics noted after Cannes that Depp’s role is ultimately smaller than initially expected.