New Zealand film Juniper is finally on release for local audiences, and with it the privilege of spending a few hours in a dark cinema with one of the world's true acting legends, Oscar-nominee Charlotte Rampling.
At 75 years of age cinematic icon Rampling is as sought after now as she has ever been. This COVID year alone she has four films on international release and among them is New Zealand gem, Juniper.
The film's director, Matthew Saville, had just the one woman on his wish list to play the lead role of Ruth - he wanted Rampling.
So how exactly do you woo one of the greatest actors of her generation? You do it face to face.
"'I think it's a very beautiful story' - which it is - 'but you know, how are you going to make it, you're very young and inexperienced' which also didn't necessarily worry me, but you need to know. He said 'no, no, no, don't worry I'm going to come over', and I said 'what?' He said 'I'm coming over'."
And indeed he did. Saville and Juniper producer Desray Armstrong spent several days working the script with Rampling and she was sold.
"I was very impressed with the screenplay, which often doesn't happen cause screenplays often just don't get it," Rampling says.
Saville's screenplay did get it and it got Charlotte Rampling from Paris to west Auckland to headline his very first feature film.
The Oscar-nominee spent six weeks on location in Riverhead, relishing the experience of working with a new tight-knit film whanau and, in a way, coming home to her own family. Rampling's connection to Aotearoa has always been a strong and very personal one.
She married New Zealander Bryan Southcombe in London in the early 70s. They had a son together, Barnaby, now a director and producer in his own right.
"It was almost like coming back to some parts, members of the family I haven't seen for, you know, years and years and years. Cousins and aunts and uncles of Barnaby and Bryan, who is now deceased and buried in New Zealand."
It was this connection to family which informed her performance as Ruth in Juniper. They were both, in a way, coming home.
