Brie Larson was left fuming after she was asked an awkward question about Johnny Depp‘s controversial comeback film opening the Cannes Film Festival this week.
The actress, 33, who is a Cannes juror, was visibly tense when asked if she would see Depp vehicle, Jeanne du Barry, after being one of the most outspoken advocates of the #MeToo movement.
Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maïwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV. It’s Depp’s first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife, and will premiere on Tuesday evening.
After both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.
Larson responded to a journalist’s question during a jury press conference: ‘You’re asking me that? I’m sorry, I don’t understand the correlation or why me specifically.
Deflecting the question when she was pressed further, she said: ‘You’ll see, I guess, if I will see it. And I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if I do.’
In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.
‘To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it’s the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,’ said Fremaux.
‘If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn’t be here talking about it.’
Jeanne Du Barry will see the 59-year-old actor return to the big screen for the first time in three years – with French actress Maiwenn starring alongside Depp as Jeanne as well as directing the film.
In 2017 Larson famously failed to clap for Casey Affleck after presenting him with the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role.
Affleck was previously sued by two women for sexual harassment allegedly committed during the filming of I’m Still Here – with both suits settled in 2010.
