There’s been much talk at the Cannes Film Festival about how to boost the ranks of women directors and producers. Eva Longoria is a good example of a success story.
Though she gained fame for Desperate Housewives, the actress has turned into a successful producer and director. She executive produces the TV series Devious Maids among other series, and has directed as well.
“I love producing, I love directing. I like being behind the camera because you have more control over the final product and the entire project and so, for me, I will always continue to produce,” she said. “I was always a producer and director in my head and so some people go, ‘Oh that actor became a producer’ and I was like ‘No, I was always a producer who kind of became an actor.’”
Longoria, who is in Cannes in part as an ambassador for L’Oreal, said the new digital age of TV, and various streaming services are helping to improve diversity in Hollywood.
“It provides more importance on the content creators and that gives more opportunities to a more diverse pool of people — whether you’re a woman, whether you’re Latino, black, Hispanic, anything,” she said. “Now there is way more avenues for you to show your content.” Here are some more highlights from the festival.
The glitterati
German model Toni Garrn brought a touch of little mermaid to the Cannes red carpet for The Little Prince in a sparkly, swanky silver gown that trailed elegantly to the floor, with bare shoulders and a crossover cutaway midriff.
Glittering fairy-tale elements infused several looks at Friday’s premiere of the animated film, based on Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s classic children’s tale.
Teenage Twilight actress Mackenzie Foy, who voices the central role of the Little Girl, was a picture of poised perfection in a glimmering princess-like frock.
The day of the dog
A small white dog named Lucky has taken the award for Cannes’ best performance on four legs.
The maltipoo — a cross between a Maltese terrier and a poodle — was awarded the Palme Dog at the film festival on Friday for a sparky performance as Dixie the dog in Miguel Gomes’ Arabian Nights.
The Portuguese director’s three-part film is a six-hour story set in present-day Portugal, inspired by Middle Eastern classic The 1,001 Nights.
Runner-up for the Palme Dog was Bob, the canine companion — and brother — of Colin Farrell’s character in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster, a surreal story in which people who can’t find mates are turned into animals.
An unofficial part of the Cannes Film Festival, the Palm Dog was founded in 2001 and is judged by a panel of film critics. Its name is a play on Cannes’ top film prize, the Palme d’Or.
Previous winners include Uggie the terrier from the Oscar-winning movie The Artist and pampered poodle Baby Boy from Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra.
Andie MacDowell’s regrets
Andie MacDowell has great memories of the Cannes Film Festival, but also one big regret — the year she decided to skip it.
“You know Sex, Lies, and Videotape won here and I didn’t come because I had just had my daughter, and I was nursing her and really round, and I was afraid people would make fun of me,” she said of the 1989 film.
“I know that was stupid. Now in hindsight, because I’ve matured and I’m older, I don’t really care what people say,” the 57 year old actress added.
That daughter she was nursing is Rainey Qualley, a singer-songwriter and actress. She was recently seen in the last season of Mad Men. MacDowell’s other daughter, Margaret, is also an actress, starring in the HBO series The Leftovers.
“I try to stay out of their way, they’re really independent,” she said. “They’re very independent, they’re their own people. I think what I’ve taught them they’ve really taken. They have really good work ethics. I have a really good work ethic. I’m on time, I’m appreciative, I give 100 per cent and I don’t complain.”
MacDowell, who stars in the Hallmark television series Cedar Cove and is in this summer’s Magic Mike XXL, was in Cannes as a brand ambassador for L’Oreal. One of her festival highlights was hanging out with fellow spokeswoman Jane Fonda.
“That was a blast, and she’s gorgeous and an inspiration. She’s 77. She looks amazing. So I’m happy, I’m thankful, I’m always living gratitude,” said MacDowell.
