During an “Actors on Actors” chat for Variety, former co-stars Kirsten Dunst and Jamie Dornan discussed their experiences working on Sofia Coppola’s melancholic cult favorite “Marie Antoinette,” which came out in 2006.
Although the experience was positive overall, Dunst, who was 22 at the time, admitted to feeling self-conscious about the many love scenes her titular character was involved in.
“All our stuff was like making out, and I’m not comfortable with that. It’s never comfortable, ever,” she explained. “I think my first time I even showed my breasts was with Sofia. She never used the take.”
“Marie Antoinette” was Dornan’s debut role, and he admitted to having no idea that Dunst was struggling. “You handled it well. I thought you were in control of everything,” the “Fifty Shades of Grey” star opined.
In fact, Dornan recalled how they met for the first time after shooting began. “I remember we had to improvise,” he said. “Sofia did this thing of how we didn’t really meet until we met in the scene. Isn’t that right?”
Dunst acknowledged it was “awkward” to do it that way, but, ultimately, everything worked out for the actors, who are both up for Screen Actors Guild awards this year.
Dunst impressed in another female-directed movie, Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog,” while Dornan is being recognized for his work as part of the ensemble of “Belfast,” per The Wrap.
