Secrets of The Da Vinci Code
When did he contact you again?
I didn't hear anything in December, but I wasn't expecting to. In the US, I am known for Amelie and I thought the image -- which is very strong because of the film's success -- did not match Sophie Neveu's. But on January 3, I got the first email saying he insisted on meeting me, asking me to come to Los Angeles as soon as possible to do tests with him and Tom Hanks.
How did the tests go?
What is funny is that, just when we were getting to Venice Beach, where they were held, my driver said, 'Look, there's Tom Hanks, sitting outside at a cafe!' At that point, my heart beat a little faster (laughs). Ron Howard, the producer Brian Grazer and casting director were present. Tom Hanks joined us.
I had warned them at the start that it wasn't going to be brilliant, because I hadn't had enough time to work. I was rather calm, because I was deeply convinced it wasn't going to work out. At the same time, I had a bit of stage fright because it was rather intimidating. The meeting must have lasted two hours and, at the very end -- this is how sure I was of not getting the part -- I took out my camera to get a souvenir snapshot of this memorable moment, and to prove to my sister that I really had met Ron Howard and Tom Hanks (laughs).