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MOVIE | Adèle Exarchopoulos, star of 'Blue is the Warmest Color,' in conversation. Gallery

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MOVIE | Adèle Exarchopoulos, star of 'Blue is the Warmest Color,' in conversation. Gallery

Adèle Exarchopoulos. Though only 20, she's an actress with nearly a decade of experience.

“Auditions are always a complex mix of factors. The timing of the shoot, my own state at the time, what the director is looking for. So, when I first met them, there was no way I could have known I'd be chosen.”

“Blue Is the Warmest Color” is a live-action adaptation of Julie Maroh's comic of the same name, which captivated director Abdellatif Kechiche. Adèle was cast as the 15-year-old protagonist, Adèle, attending a French high school. © 2013- WILD BUNCH - QUAT’S SOUS FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINEMA – SCOPE PICTURES – RTBF (Télévision belge) - VERTIGO FILMS

She goes on dates with boys her age, but nothing feels quite right. Then, a woman with blue hair, the older Emma (Léa Seydoux), appears, and a new “something” begins to stir within her. © 2013- WILD BUNCH - QUAT’S SOUS FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINEMA – SCOPE PICTURES – RTBF (Télévision belge) - VERTIGO FILMS

Experiencing love for the first time, Adèle grapples with her emotions and grows as a woman and as a person. © 2013- WILD BUNCH - QUAT’S SOUS FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINEMA – SCOPE PICTURES – RTBF (Télévision belge) - VERTIGO FILMS

“I didn't do any specific preparation for the role. That's because what we wanted to depict wasn't a story about a lesbian couple or homosexuality, but the romance between two individuals who are drawn to each other, clash, and eventually part ways. Gender is irrelevant to that.”

“Léa and I are completely different types. Especially when it comes to preparing for our roles. If Léa thoroughly researches her character beforehand, I tend to be more intuitive.” © 2013- WILD BUNCH - QUAT’S SOUS FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINEMA – SCOPE PICTURES – RTBF (Télévision belge) - VERTIGO FILMS

After casting Adèle as the protagonist, the director changed the character's name from Clémentine in the original comic to Adèle, her own name. “I think it helped me to merge with the character. When you're called by your own name, your body naturally reacts, even if it's not acting on your own will,” Adèle explains.

“Director Kechiche is someone who constantly pursues truth. While acknowledging that acting can't be entirely removed, he strives to depict things as close to reality as possible. That's because he wants to create a work that anyone, regardless of gender or nationality, can empathize with.”

“His style is about the director and actors working together to create a single piece. Improvisation is highly encouraged, as are the actors' opinions. If you don't like an idea the director proposes, you can voice it without hesitation. Being in that environment allowed me to proceed with the shoot at a natural rhythm that felt comfortable for me.”

Adèle responds intelligently to every question, yet she's still a 20-year-old girl at heart. During the shoot, she even showed us this playful expression.

“I learned to improvise, to give my all, and the importance of trusting others. Before working on this film, I felt I was still immature as an actor and as a person, but I feel like those aspects were rapidly honed. It was an experience that brought light into my life.”

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MOVIE | Adèle Exarchopoulos, Star of 'Blue Is the Warmest Color,' in Conversation

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