At the kickoff of the Cannes Film Festival, Halle Berry drew major attention during the jury press conference. She was asked about several hot topics, from the festival’s stricter dress code to the possibility of returning to the James Bond universe.
When asked if she’d reprise her role as Jinx from Die Another Day or even take on the role of James Bond herself, Berry said she wasn’t sure if 007 should be a woman. As for a Jinx spinoff, she admitted that there was a time when it probably should have happened and that she would have loved to do it.
Berry also addressed the new dress code rules, which ban nudity and overly large outfits. She shared that she had planned to wear a striking dress by designer Gupta, but had to cancel those plans because its train was too big. Respecting the rules, Berry said she wouldn’t break them, and agreed the nudity ban is probably a good idea.
Juliette Binoche, the jury’s president, also weighed in on timely issues, including the conviction of actor Gérard Depardieu, who received an 18-month suspended sentence for sexual assault. Binoche said the #MeToo movement had clearly played a role in societal shifts and that the festival is now more in tune with those changes. She noted that while change took time, Cannes is increasingly aligning with today’s cultural climate.
Another unexpected topic was former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on all foreign films, which caused a stir just before the festival. Binoche, responding with a mix of humor and critique, said it seems like Trump is “fighting to save America, and himself,” which earned laughs from the press.
