Catherine Deneuve wins a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival

French screen legend Catherine Deneuve was honored with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement by the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, but she didn’t seem happy to look back on her 65-year career.

Deneuve, 78, proved adept at avoiding a straight answer — in three languages. How does she feel about being an icon? ‘No! That’s a word that can be used, but it’s not me, no.’

Or be a sex symbol? “I’ve never been a sex symbol. You won’t find me in very sexy photos.’

Amazing: French screen legend Catherine Deneuve was awarded a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement by the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday

For real? “It was a challenge to look good, but of course that hasn’t been that important to me in recent years. And it is much better to be old in Europe than in America, especially as a woman.”

And she modestly notes about her career: “It was a lot of luck.” She had a slight stroke in 2019, but continues to work.

She will soon be making a comedy, Funny Birds, set on a chicken farm in rural New Jersey, alongside Andrea Riseborough, 40, and 27-year-old Morgan Saylor, who played Dana Brody (Damian Lewis’s daughter) in Homeland.

Humble: But Catherine denied being an “icon” or a “sex symbol” when accepting her award, modestly saying there has been “a lot of luck” in her career

At the opening ceremony of the 79th Venice Film Festival, Catherine looked glamorous in a long-sleeved red dress with a side slit.

She completed her elegant attire with a pair of silver stiletto heels as she took the stage to accept her award at the annual film festival.

The French star styled her golden tresses in a half up half down style and accentuated her features with a stunning makeup palette.

She accessorised with an array of gold jewelry including drop earrings and a set of chunky bangles.

Achievement: At the opening ceremony, Roberto Ciccutto presented her with the award for her lifetime achievement

Career: Catherine (pictured in 1996) said of her role as a sex symbol: ‘I’ve never been a sex symbol. You won’t find me in very sexy photos’

The Venice Film Festival annually attracts the biggest stars to the island of Lido in the Venice Lagoon. With film screenings in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi.

This year’s lineup will see the controversial biopic Blonde, starring Ana De Armas as tragic screen icon Marilyn Monroe, in contention for the competition’s top honor.

Brendan Fraser’s moving drama The Whale, in which he plays an obese professor, will also compete alongside films starring Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman and Colin Farrell.

Elegant: At the opening ceremony of the 79th Venice Film Festival, Catherine looked glamorous in a long-sleeved red dress with a side slit

Alberto Barbera, director of the event, said of the line-up: “The program is more varied than usual, putting established filmmakers alongside directors looking for confirmation and, most importantly, talented newcomers striving for international recognition.”

“But what still prevails is the sense that cinema still wants to try, ways of thinking, big issues and big questions, the deep relationships that connect people, the power of feelings and memories and the ability to direct the gaze , to explore beyond the horizon of the present.’.’

The Venice Film Festival is the oldest in the world, first established in 1932 to celebrate filmmaking from around the world.

It lasts until September 10th when there will be a closing ceremony.

Event: The Venice Film Festival attracts the biggest stars each year and is held annually on the island of Lido in the Venice Lagoon, with screenings taking place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema

Source: | Dailymail.co.uk