Scott Thomas rounds on UK film directors

By David Millward

3:48PM GMT 29 Mar 2013

The bilingual British born actress, who is now one of the biggest stars in French cinema, told The Daily Telegraph, there were major differences in the film industry on either side of the Channel.

Scott Thomas, 52, had a simple explanation why she was offered more rewarding roles in France than in Brtain.

"That’s just my age. Because they don’t want leading ladies that are over 50. It’s the truth! It’s the truth!

"I’m still asked to do leading roles in France, never in the UK. Never ever. People will ask me why, and I don’t really know apart from this idea that in France people are less afraid of older women, or getting old. Why is it in Anglo-Saxon culture that age is a taboo?"

The actress has lived in France for decades, having moved there to work as an au-pair at the age of 19.

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While she gained major recognition in the 1990s for UK films including The English Patient and Four Weddings and a Funeral, in more recent years she has been given major dramatic roles in French films including I’ve Loved You So Long, Leaving, Sarah’s Key and In Your Hands.

Her belief that French directors cherish older women more appears to be underlined by the continuing flourishing careers of Catherine DeNeuve, 69, and Fanny Ardant, 64.

Francois Ozon, the director of her latest film, In the House (Dans la Maison) agrees that the French have a different approach to films and older actresses.

"Because for us, cinema is first an art, we’re not really obsessed by the commercial success of the film,” he said.

Recalling the success of Under the Sand in 2000, which starred Charlotte Rampling who was by then in her mid-50s, he said audiences were moved to see an actress of that age could still be sexy.

“In England, you have the feeling that with women after 50 you don’t have sexuality any more, or if you have sexuality you are a nymphomaniac."

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Band of Outsiders Spring 2012: Solange Knowles and Glee‘s Ryan Murphy Attend Scott Sternberg’s Victorian Picnic

Since Scott Sternberg showed his Men’s Spring 2012 collection at Pitti Imagine in June, last night’s Band of Outdsiders show was all about the girls, which was fine with us. Even the theatrics had a more feminine feel–the show took place outdoors on a piece of west 24th street nestled under the Highline. The only real decoration was foliage. It gave the show a secret garden vibe and the music was soft and slow. For the finale, confetti–which was actually colorful candy wrappers and quippy fortune cookie papers–fell from above as the girls retreated. It all fit in with the collection’s inspiration, Picnic at Hanging Rock–a 1970's cult film that takes place in the early 1900s.

With a designer like Sternberg, though, it doesn’t necessarily matter what the inspiration is–the clothes are always going to be perfect.

Boy started out sophisticated with a black and white selection of crisp, tailored button-downs, skirts and dresses, and even a cotton poplin toile de jouy print military jacket and matching box-pleated skirt–a print we would see again later in more complicated incarnations. Then, things got a little more relaxed and masculine with easy separates and suiting–much of it short-sleeved, wide-legged and loose. Also loose and low-waisted: a peplum skirt with suspenders and a pair of army green cropped overalls with the top half folded down, part of a monochromatic army green look that echoed the camping-inspired offerings he showed in Florence. Sternberg’s signature knee-length bandage skirt with suspenders was also there over a striped smock shirt.

However, not everything about Boy was predictable. We did a double take at a curve-hugging shiny textured black leather wrap apron skirt with an opening that left little of the model’s left thigh to the imagination. The textured leather continued with cute short-sleeved rain poncho and a tube top. Also worth a second look: long duster jackets, and more of the aforementioned toile de jouy print, but in a light blue ombré.

Then came Girl, which I fall more in love with each season. Girl, less structured and girlier than boy, has always had a ‘70s/Virgin Suicides vibe, which could be seen in this season’s offerings, but not in a literal way. Everything was super pretty, from silk georgette fuzzy floral dresses to lace patchwork tops and dip-dyed shorts. I wanted everything.

You can always count on at least one or two cool celebrity attendees at a Band of Outsiders show and this season drew Solange Knowles, who we had seen just an hour earlier at Honor, Glee creator Ryan Murphy and Kevin Mchale, who plays Artie on the show. Although it was his first fashion week, he’s not a total newbie. He told us, “I’m newly obsessed with fashion, the past like two years I’ve been getting into it.” Favorite brands besides Band? “I went to Loden Dager, I love Loden Dager, they’re amazing. I like to mix and match all kinds of shit. I like Marc Jacobs…but I’m like miniature so it’s hard to find things that actually fit me.”

Kevin, along with his Glee castmates, starred in that major Fashion’s Night Out promo, which we had to ask him about. “It was awesome, it was so fun to do. We did it in Manchester, England, which was really random but Jake Nava was amazing and it was just so nice that Anna asked us to do that and I’ve never said yes quicker.” Sadly, due to Glee‘s busy work schedule, he didn’t get to meet Anna or attend any Fashion’s Night Out events. However, he did appear to be super friendly with Bee Shaffer, who attended the show without mom. Other notables included Solange Knowles, Tavi Gevinson, Grace Coddington, and the CFDA’s Steven Kolb. It’s been a while since Sternberg’s been nominated for a CFDA award and we wouldn’t be surprised if this collection put him back on their radar.

**All images: Imaxtree

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