Adèle Haenel, the actress, has decided to fully dedicate herself to theater since the legal episode involving director Christophe Ruggia, who was sentenced to five years in prison for sexual assault on a minor.
Her public appearances have been scarce in the past five years. On Saturday, April 25th, Adèle Haenel, known for roles in “Portrait de la jeune fille en feu” and “En liberté!”, appeared on the TV show “C dans l’air” to discuss the end of the legal saga with Christophe Ruggia. The director was sentenced to five years in prison, including two years served with an electronic bracelet, for sexual assault on a minor while Haenel was between the ages of 12 and 14.
In a ten-minute interview on France 5, the presenter questioned her about her future in the film industry. In 2023, Haenel bid farewell to the film industry, which she deemed shallow, complacent towards sexual predators, and complicit with a “deadly, ecocidal, racist world order.” She believes the industry perpetuates problematic narratives of racism and sexism and refuses to be part of it.
She expressed her readiness to continue her career not in film but on stage. Since 2012, Haenel has performed in eight theater plays. Over the last six years, she focused on theater, with roles in “Der Teich (L’étang),” “Le Voyage sans Fin,” and “EXTRA LIFE.”
Haenel now looks forward to “the end of a heavy and challenging legal journey” and wants to move on from being “crucified” by the trial. She now wishes to talk about the present and children facing difficulties today that no one wants to acknowledge. Apart from acting, Haenel is known for her political activism on the far left and her stances on feminism, LGBT rights, racism, and capitalism.
In 2020, she left the César ceremony after an award was given to director Roman Polanski, accused of sexual abuse on a minor. Two years later, she stated, “Activism plays a big role in my life.” On Saturday on France 5, she explained she is fighting for justice in a world that is shifting towards fascism.
