“My character represents the society that looks away from its disabled children”

Every day, a personality invites itself into the world of Élodie Suigo. Wednesday March 13, 2024: The actress, Leïla Bekhti. She is starring in Léa Todorov’s new film: “The New Woman” which is released today.

From her training in art therapy to her César for Most Promising Actress for her role in Everything that shines by Géraldine Nakache (2009), including the punchy TV movie Harkis with Smaïn (2006) or even A prophet by Jacques Audiard (2009), Leïla Bekhti has always been attracted by experiences and stories that do not leave one indifferent. Each of the films in which she has acted is enlightening.

Today, she is starring in the Franco-Italian film The New Woman by Lea Todorov. This is the portrait of Maria Montessori, famous teacher and doctor qualified in the field of psychiatry on hallucinations. The film tells the story of the meeting between this exceptional woman, played by Jasmine Trinca, and Lili, a Parisian courtesan played by Leïla Bekhti. They both have a well-hidden secret. One is the mother of a daughter considered stupid because she has a disability, and the other is hiding her son born out of wedlock.

franceinfo: Isn’t this film a look at the emancipation of women, at the importance of taking back control of one’s life?

Leila Bekhti: Exactly. It’s a film about emancipation. It’s a film about freedom. But above all, it is a film about sisterhood. Together, we always go a little further. And besides, the character of Lili that I play is a fictional character.

Unlike everything else.

Exactly. And then my character represents society, this society which looks away from its disabled children. And at the same time, she embodies freedom. I play a self-centered girl who is going to learn to be a mother. It was very difficult to act out rejection and violence towards a child.

You are a mother. Can we reject the child we carried?

I would tell you no. But for Lili, it’s like a package being brought to her. What’s more, she rediscovered it at nine years old. We also understand how Lili was conditioned. It’s a time when difference, disability, is more than rejection! Besides, we talked a lot with Léa at the start of filming, it was essential that I never looked at Tina – Rafaëlle Sonneville-Caby who plays my daughter in the film. It was super important. And for the little anecdote, I constantly went to see Raphaëlle at the start of each take and I told her: it’s Lili who will speak, it’s Lili who won’t look at you. Leila looks at you, she is there, she loves you. And throughout the film, all the takes, it was essential that the children be able to distinguish between fiction and reality.

Léa appealed to children who are affected by disability. This film suits you 300%? Initially, you studied art therapy. You were forced to give up because you were upset by what was happening before your eyes, by these children affected by disabilities and especially by your inability to help them. Isn’t this film a sounding board, ultimately?

Yes, it’s a sounding board. I think helplessness is the hardest thing for me to tame. I’m having a lot of trouble, and even more so today. With everything going on, it’s hard to be helpless especially when it comes to children.

Maria Montessori discovered mathematics at age 14. This is what will develop her passion since two years later, she will enter biology school, a place reserved for boys. She graduated with a score of 105 out of 110, being one of the first women to graduate. Her father ended up rejecting her. At what age did you discover you wanted to be an actress?

I thought you were going to talk to me about mathematics! It started later. I really wanted to work in the social sector. It kind of happened like that. I never allowed myself to think that it was possible to be an actress. For me, it was reserved for people who were already in television. When I had my first casting for Sheitan, I’m going there with the idea of ​​being able to tell my friends how a casting goes. It wasn’t even to unhook him. But in any case, that’s when I said to myself: OK, I’m going to make this my career. I was lucky too and today I see that it’s work, it’s choices, it’s investment.