Paris (AFP)

It is on the poster Wednesday for the film "Jumbo" after being nominated for the Cesar for "Portrait of the young girl on fire". For actress Noémie Merlant, this ceremony, which rewarded Roman Polanski, was a "very violent" moment but which shows that "the world is changing".

"I like to get out of my comfort zone and go towards roles or stories that scare me, that lead elsewhere", underlined Noémie Merlant in an interview granted in March to AFP for the release of "Jumbo", originally scheduled for March 18. Release finally postponed to July 1 due to confinement.

In this first original feature film by Belgian director Zoé Wittock, Noémie Merlant plays Jeanne, a shy young woman who is unsuitable for the world around her, with a very outgoing mother (played by Emmanuelle Bercot).

While working as a night watchman in an amusement park, Jeanne will develop feelings towards a park attraction, Jumbo, which will turn to passionate love.

"There is a very poetic side to the film," says the slender actress, who says she "looked for a very closed and at the same time very lunar body" for this character.

"Up to now, I think that I have had roles of women who were not object but subject, so I continue in there", continues the actress of 31 years, noticed in particular as a young girl seduced by Daesh in "Le ciel attendra" by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar.

Noémie Merlant knew the consecration with "Portrait of the young girl on fire" by Céline Sciamma, in which she plays a painter who must paint the portrait of a young woman before her marriage, and will gradually become passionate about she.

This role earned her the prize for the best actress in the Enlightenment of the international press and a nomination for the César this year, a ceremony which she remembers as "a painful moment for many people".

During this evening, Roman Polanski had received the prize for the best realization for "J'accuse", arousing in particular the indignation of Adèle Haenel, at the origin of a new impetus of #MeToo in France. The actress, also on the poster for "Portrait of the young girl on fire", had left the room, followed by the director of the film Céline Sciamma and Noémie Merlant.

- "Proud" of this protest -

"I am proud to have accompanied my comrades. I think it's good that there is movement, it creates dialogue," says Noémie Merlant.

"I think the world is changing, moving forward (...) Now we get up and leave when we have to make things happen," said the actress. "Sometimes, in my opinion, it has to go there."

If this moment "was very violent", however, "basically I feel that it opens up to other things internally, whether in the professional environment, family or with friends. wants to speak and even when everyone does not want to speak, it's interesting, "she said.

The prize awarded to Roman Polanski had torn the middle of the 7th Art between the filmmaker's supporters, who criticized the violence against him, and the supporters of Adèle Haenel who, like feminists, see in the director, targeted by several accusations of rape, a symbol of unpunished sexual assault.

"As women speak up, it allows you to ask questions about yourself," she adds. "This is also why also in the new generation, many are shocked. We do not have the same questions."

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