Eva Green’s Dream Collaboration With Lars von Trier Unravels
Eva Green once idolised Lars von Trier, but her hopes of working with him faded over concerns about explicit material and his uncompromising style during their discussions.
For many performers, the opportunity to work with a revered director is the pinnacle of their ambitions. Yet, for Eva Green, the reality of such a prospect proved more complicated than she had imagined. Despite once describing Lars von Trier as “my God,” Green ultimately declined the chance to join one of his most provocative projects, weighing her admiration against the potential consequences for her career.
Early Success and Lasting Impressions
Green’s breakthrough came with her role in the daring drama The Dreamers, where she portrayed a sheltered twin entangled in a controversial relationship with her brother, played by Louis Garrel. The film’s candid depiction of sexuality and taboo themes quickly established her as a bold new presence in cinema. However, as she transitioned into more mainstream productions such as Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven and the Bond film Casino Royale, the shadow of her debut lingered. The notoriety of The Dreamers was not easily forgotten, either by audiences or by Green herself.
A Tempting Offer and Difficult Choices
When the opportunity arose to appear in Lars von Trier’s Antichrist, Green found herself at a crossroads. The allure of collaborating with a filmmaker she deeply respected was undeniable, but she hesitated. The explicit nature of the script, coupled with her desire to avoid being typecast in provocative roles, gave her pause. Reflecting on her decision, Green told The Edit,
“After The Dreamers, I think people would have been very nasty to me,”
alluding to the scrutiny she might face if she accepted another controversial part.
“People always talk about the sex. You have a sex scene, and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, there’s sex.’ So I’ve decided not to have a sex scene for a while, because you feel like it’s the only thing people remember. I feel very vulnerable.”
Creative Differences and Changing Perspectives
Antichrist, upon its release in 2009, certainly sparked conversation, with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe taking on the lead roles. The film’s unflinching approach to sexuality and violence was not for the faint-hearted. Green, despite her admiration for von Trier, realised she was not prepared to take on such material. She recounted her attempts to negotiate, saying,
“Lars von Trier was my God. I loved everything that he’d done, it was my dream and fantasy to work with him, but I didn’t want to do certain things. I was asking questions and not being a puppet. There were a lot of sexual things where I was like, ‘Really? I’m not sure; is there another way to make it work?’ and he was like, ‘Nobody questions my authority.’ Brutal,”
she admitted.
Aftermath and Reflections
Von Trier’s reputation for pushing boundaries, both in his films and in his working relationships, is well known. Accusations of inappropriate behaviour have followed him throughout his career. By the end of their discussions, Green’s view of the director had shifted. The collaboration she once dreamed of seemed out of reach. As she later remarked to the AV Club,
“It kind of got tricky. I don’t think he would want to work with me, honestly.”