Actress Adèle Haenel, known for films like “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and “Love at First Fight”, made a rare appearance on the French TV show “C dans l’air” on France 5 this Saturday afternoon. The 37-year-old actress had not spoken publicly for nearly five years, except on her social media accounts.
This public appearance comes shortly after director Christophe Ruggia was convicted on appeal to five years in prison, with two of those years served with an electronic bracelet. He was charged with sexually assaulting Adèle Haenel when she was between the ages of 12 and 14, during the filming of “The Devils”.
Regarding her activism, Adèle Haenel emphasizes the fight for justice beyond her own case. She advocates for a society with no injustices and where all lives are livable, expressing gratitude for her own experience with the justice system and acknowledging that not everyone is as fortunate.
During the interview, Adèle Haenel also criticized the film industry for not learning from past mistakes, particularly addressing the sexualization of children in certain films. She declared her focus on theater and her reluctance to participate in an industry that perpetuates issues like racism and sexism.
Since her iconic walkout at the 2019 César Awards in protest of Roman Polanski’s accolades, Adèle Haenel has become a symbol of resistance. This recent TV appearance was her first public statement since 2021 when she presented the documentary “Return to Reims” as the narrator.
These statements shed light on Adèle Haenel’s commitment to activism and her stance against the harmful narratives perpetuated by the film industry.
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