In the photo above I am with Pierre Richard from our film, “…Et Si On Vivait Tous Ensemble” (And If We All Lived Together). I spent yesterday in Paris doing interviews on behalf of the film which was made last year. What was so exciting was that the journalists all felt the film was really good. Many had seen it at festivals. Several, including the iconic actor who played my husband, Pierre Richard, had seen the film at a small festival with a packed house of ‘average citizens’ (not all critics or journalists) who loved it—much laughing and tears as well. Pierre said, “I wish you’d been there. I hadn’t expected the amount of laughter there would be.” And although the film deals with aging and the decision of a group of friends to pool their resources and live together), he said the younger people (a number of 19-20 year olds) had gathered around him to tell him how much they loved the movie, that it raised issues that aren’t talked about very much and they thought it was important and that there was the perfect balance between tender reality and humor. So I was floating on cloud nine all day.

I brought along several wardrobe changes so I wouldn’t be in all the photos and TV shows wearing the same thing but there was no time to change. There was no time for lunch, either. By the end, I was brain dead trying to answer the questions in French.

Having just finished a short interview with Michele Drucker for his program next week that will focus on Guy Bedos who was in our film, we made a pact that I will come back to do his big show next October when my book, “Prime Time”, will come out in France. I did his show 5 years ago for my memoirs and had such a blast. It is viewed throughout Europe and is one of the viewed and popular shows. Tulea was with me and Vadim’s sister and son come on as a surprise.

At the press conference next to Pierre Richard and our director, Stephane Roblen

My view of the press conference

Having dinner with Eve Ensler, at Brasserie Bofinger where the waiter gave us both a rose.

After dinner, we walked to the home where Aimee Mullins is staying and had a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation. As I was sure would happen, Aimee and Eve had a deep connection. I didn’t take pictures. It didn’t feel right.

The stained glass ceiling of the Brasserie Bofinger near Paris's Le Marais

And now, off to the airport to return to Richard. Tulea is already at my ranch where we will be, along with my children, grandchildren and friends, 17 in all, for Thanksgiving. She went with Tommy and Carol who drove.

Rehearsing with Ines On Stage

I’m in Paris to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of L’Oreal Paris’ slogan “Because I’m worth it!”.
With me are some of L’Oreal’s other brand Ambassadors: Freida Pinto, the beautiful, soulful Indian actress who starred in “Slumdog Millionaire”; Fan Bingbing, the top model and fashion icon in China, Ines de la Fressange, who is a fashion icon in France, and Aimee Mullins. Aimee is a model, an actor, she broke records at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Aimee has no legs. She wears different prosthetics for different shoes and different needs. Perhaps you’ve seen the amazing photograph of her, in a bathing suit, running on a beach…beautiful slim, athletic body and from the thighs down are curved metal springs. It is a staggering vision. She is also eloquent, kind and funny.

Last evening, after our rehearsal, Eve Ensler came to my hotel room with an amazing yoga teacher and we took a class together. It was just what I needed. Eve touches me so deeply that I often cry when I am with her…a sign that she touches my soul. So fierce. In my blog column “Inner Circle,” I have posted the recent article Eve wrote about rape for the Huffington Post, “Over It.” I hope my blogging friends and social media followers are equally ‘Over it’ and will join the rising movement to stop rape which launches on Valentine’s Day, Feb 14th.

Here we are getting our hair and makeup done for the days interviews. We were all in the same room this morning at the fabulous Ritz Hotel (greatest Hotel!!!) which was nice.

Me getting my hair done. I tell you, it takes a village!

Beautiful Aimee Mullins ready to get made up this morning

Freida Pinto in makeup.

The journalist delegation from China

The walls of the hall where the event took place were lined with photos of the various brand ambassadors. Here is Ines de la Fressange

Here is Fan Bingbing

This is Freida Pinto

Freida waiting for the evening event to begin

Aimee Getting Ready

Here is Aimee getting ready for the evening event in a smashing pair of Alexander McQueen pants. One of only 2 existing pair. Aimee knew McQueen for 12 years. She modeled for him and he carved her a pair of wooden legs which she walked the runway in. She is going to send me a photo.

Ines de la Fressange leaving the makeup room. This photo doesn't do her justice. She is quintessential French beauty and chic.

With Fan Bingbing on our way to the event. I'm wearing a Gucci jacket

On stage with Fan Bingbing

Tomorrow I spend the day in yet another round of interviews to promote the French film I shot last year, ”…Et Si On Vivait Tous Ensemble?” I hope I will get to see some of my co-stars whom I miss. We had such a good time. Alas, Geraldine Chaplin will not be there. She’s in some remote, exotic place at a film festival, I think. We stay in touch. We pledged we’d do that.

Movie making is a strange profession. You become very close to a group of people..cast and crew members..and then it’s over and everyone goes their separate ways. I’ve learned that one has to be intentional if friendships formed on a movie set are to continue. Geraldine and I have pledged to remain friends. I find her fascinating with off-beat taste in all things. A true bohemian who still fits in to any situation with any assortment of people. She’s intelligent, talented, curious, generous.

My friends from Georgia, Sharon, Howell and Megan Ferguson with Richard standing behind

A mother, father, child head stone

rehearsing my French dialogue with Christine Dejoux

a pensive scene with Daniel

detail of grave site arbor

My character works with Daniel's character to plants roses and jasmine around a small bench at the site of my grave

When shooting was over the actors threw a “pot”–(pronounced ‘po’) a happy hour drink and food for cast and crew. I left early because tomorrow, my 2nd to last day, is also my hardest in terms of number of scenes and amount of dialogue….all with Daniel which will be fun though challenging. I need a good night’s sleep and no alcohol.

I am getting sad that I have only 2 more days. I will miss my fellow actors. We have grown close…not to mention the crew. A great group.

With our producer, Christophe Bruncher at the pot

Tonight many of my French and American friends who are in Paris (including Paula Weinstein and Hannah, her daughter who is my goddaughter), and the Fergusons and Charlotte Rampling and Geraldine and her husband Patrizio, and Vadim’s family and Daniel Bruhl, and on and on—will come to a cocktail reception in my honor given by the Paris Film Festival. After that I introduce “Klute” (the festival has shown 13 of my films…yesterday I introduced “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”) and after that introduction we will board a bus I have rented and we’ll all go to the Scissor Sisters concert. I am soooo excited to see them live. The lead, Jason (aka Jake) Sellards is my friend—you’ve seen him in some of my previous blogs– and I have never seen him perform live and I hear they are totally amazing. After that we will all go to dinner!!

I have only 3 more days on the film. The last 2 are the most difficult. 8 scenes of heavy dialogue all with Daniel. It’s going to be fun and intense.
Monday night all the actors are throwing a “pot”–French word for happy hour with drinks and food for cast and crew. Different crews (camera crew, sound crew, set design crew) have been doing it every Friday. I have missed them all. Last Friday they danced till 3am I heard! Now why did I have to go and miss that? Oh yes…well, I was having fun too.

I will remember to take photos tonight. Maybe even Twitter!

The pool getting ready for us to have dinner at the bottom

Pierre and Guy moving the dinner table into pool

Script supervisor Nancy Rivas

Richard came to the set for lunch with his friend, filmmaker Philippe Caland

What a fun time we had as the wine and vodka flowed!!! You’ve got to understand, 3 of our male stars—Claude, Guy and Pierre—are comedians, and not for nothing. They are seriously funny and we laughed till we cried…at least I did. How therapeutic laughter is!! Pierre told me there is a “Laughter Clinic” in Paris to help cure ill people.

It was especially nice to meet and get to know the wives of our co-stars—Jo Bedos, Ceyla Richard, and Catherine Rich.

Enjoy the photos.

Today, Sunday I have stayed in all day to write…actually, early this morning, I went out to walk Tulea and ran into Jo who was walking her puppy. She had on a down parka. I didn’t stay out long because I have no warm clothes. I hope this cold spell will pass before Richard gets here.

Stephane, our director, Guy Bedos, Christophe, our producer, Guy's PR rep, Claude Rich's wife, actor Catherine Rich

We also celebrated Daniel Bruhl's birthday with a cake

Jo Bedos, with the new puppy she gave Guy for his birthday.

Pierre and his wife, Ceyla, with the puppy.

presenting Guy with his cake

Claude being his usual dramatic self. Actually, I think he was singing a raunchy song that he sings in the movie, only not leaving out the final and most raunchy verse.

Geraldine and her husband, the Chilean cinematographer, Patricio.

Geraldine with actor Catherine Frot. Geraldine was so overcome when Frot arrived (she thinks she's one of the greatest actor's)

Pierre and Ceyla--she is Brazilian and fabulous!

Guy with his daughter, Victoria

Daniel came with several friends who came from Berlin and Spain to celebrate with him

So in this scene where we’re enjoying a barbacue in the garden, our friend, played by Claude Rich (in the cap) suggests putting a swimming pool in place of the vegetable garden. Geraldine’s husband is totally opposed. Stay tuned.

A majestic blue spruce (I think) in the backyard.

The back view of the house

Rehearsing my dialogue with Christine who makes sure my accent is on target

I got to back to the apartment where I am taking advantage of this free afternoon and evening to work on my book.

Richard will call soon. He is in a large studio in L.A. Recording the huge string section –some 45 musicians–for his new Rod Stewart album. I wish I was there to hear and watch what he says is the most exciting part of producing and not all albums have big string sections. Everyone who hears this album in the making says it’s historic. Richard wants me to listen to a little of the sessions over the phone and a colleague of his is videoing it.

We shot a scene leaving a birthday lunch we just had

I'm glad I had the cape cause it was chilly

Waiting to be called into action. We have a good time talking and laughing. Everyone's funny!

Fabienne, Kesso with Tulea, Karina (back to camera) and Dominique, waiting in "kitchen" to touch us up between takes

The tent where we eat

It's Guy's birthday and they had a cake for him

The tree looks lovely, doesn't it? Guess what? It's fake, made of cloth.

Part of the livingroom where we all end up living together--filled with film equipment

The kitchen--actually the diningroom for the family who live here

lovely tall ceilings and an arched door into the livingroom

This garden will be turned into a swimming pool so that Geraldine's (Annie's) grandchildren will want to come and see her.

The caterers who feed us every day--very good!

interior courtyard of Hotel de Ville

ceiling of entry staircase

door to Mayor's office

Rodin statue representing Le Republique

even the floor is gorgeous and ornate

Dining Hall. Crystal chandeliers by Baccarat

The attendees were surprised and delighted that I photographed them. That's our producer, Christophe Bruncher, in the gray shirt and glasses

photographing the photographers

The ceiling of the salon where we held the press conference

The Mayor about to welcome me onto the stage

funny shot with the cell phone image in foreground.

Being presented with the Medal of the City of Paris by the Mayor

Christophe Girard, the person in charge of Paris's cultural affairs with the women who run the Paris Film Festival where I am being honored July 3-4

That's the great filmmaker, Costa Gavras, leaning forward. He was just an assistant director on the first French film I did with Renee Clement

with Costa Gavras

The oldest resident turned 109 the day before and we visited her. She was quite lucid. When I congratulated her on turning 109, she said she wasn’t happy at all with the numbers. I’d have loved to really interview here but we were called back to the set for a shot.

Today I will receive a medal from the city of Paris at a Paris Film Festival press conference. Rushing out for that right now.

making our getting away--helping Claude escape

Claude hangs on to his photos of his naked friend.

with some staff and clients

Between shots, Geraldine and I visiting a woman who just turned 109!!

camera getting ready to film us walking toward it

waiting to shoot, protected from rain

arriving in the rain to visit our friend in the retirement home

Lovely gardens of the retirement home

Till next time