A Stellar Cast of Actresses, Including Léa Seydoux and Diane Kruger

Based on the bestseller by Chantal Thomas, winner of France's most prestigious Femina Prize, Farewell My Queen offers a fresh perspective on the inner workings of Versailles through the eyes of a reader serving the queen.

The role of Sydney, the reader, is played by emerging actress Léa Seydoux. Diane Kruger portrays Marie Antoinette, and Virginie Ledoyen takes on the role of the captivating Madame de Polignac, who captivated the queen, in a remarkable ensemble performance.

Directed and written by Benoît Jacquot, a master of French cinema. Filmed on location at the actual Palace of Versailles, the movie captures the era's atmosphere with exquisite detail.

“Love” or “Life”… An Ultimate Choice Faced by a Young Girl

In 1789, the French Revolution erupts with the fall of the Bastille. A guillotine list of 286 names, including those of Queen Marie Antoinette and her beloved Madame de Polignac, is presented at Versailles. Sydney, the reader who adores the queen, resolves to support her through this crisis, but the queen commands her to take Madame de Polignac's place – a cruel order.

Faced with the ultimate choice between "love" and "life," a young girl harbors feelings for the queen that go beyond admiration. We are drawn into three days of betrayal and intrigue among women, as Versailles collapses from a glittering court into chaotic ruin.

“I prefer to act the atmosphere rather than express myself solely through dialogue.”

—Compared to the globally renowned Marie Antoinette, the character you play, Sydney, is not as well-known. Could you first tell us about Sydney and the film's story?

My character is a young servant woman who works as a reader for Queen Marie Antoinette. She's not widely known, but she was a real person. At Versailles, all sorts of documents are preserved, and everything is recorded. Chantal Thomas, the female author who wrote the novel on which this film is based, "Farewell My Queen," discovered the existence of Sydney Laborde, Marie Antoinette's second auxiliary reader, in the Versailles archives. And then she wrote this novel. I believe a large part of the story is imagined, as there seems to be very little documentation about Sydney. However, it's conveyed that she held a very strong admiration for Marie Antoinette.

—What drew you to this role?


—The original work and the film depict Marie Antoinette's private life. It's a very original perspective, and in some ways, quite daring. After playing the role and experiencing this film, has your view of Marie Antoinette changed?

How should I put it… I'm not sure what my previous thoughts on Marie Antoinette were, but I do think my perception of her has changed.


—What kind of impression is that?

Well, I suppose I saw her as a greedy woman. Like a spoiled child who wanted everything.

—There was a scene after Sydney put on Madame de Polignac's dress where it felt like something had changed within her.

Until then, Sydney was merely the queen's reader. But when she was given the mission to "stand in for Madame de Polignac," she felt she was finally given a role. It was as if she was suddenly thrust into the spotlight.


—In the scene where you see the sleeping Madame de Polignac naked, what was Sydney's state of mind?

Seeing Madame de Polignac naked, Sydney deeply recognized that she was the object of the queen's desire. At the same time, she understood that she could never be that object. Sydney's expression at that moment is one of envy towards Madame de Polignac, who is showered with the queen's deep affection.

Léa Seydoux

Born in Paris, France, in 1985. Her grandfather was the chairman of Pathé, a major French film company. After winning numerous awards for her roles in French cinema, she also ventured into Hollywood and is now one of the most talked-about young actresses. She is also active as a model, appearing in commercials for Prada fragrances, among others. Her notable works include "The Beautiful Person" (2008), "Inglourious Basterds" (2009), and "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" (2011). Her latest film is "L’enfant d’en haut" (2012).