The Women of Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola has become one of the most acclaimed writers and directors of her generation and also an ultimate example of woman director. She has been already nominated once for an Oscar for her movie “Lost In Translation”, has debuted two films at the Cannes Film Festival (“Marie Antoinette“ and “The Bling Ring”), and has won a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for her movie “Somewhere.” And this year she will present her latest movie “The Beguiled” at the 70th Cannes Film Festival in the Official Selection. 

She is also famous for her ability to present to the world up-and-coming actresses and sky-rocket them onto the big screen, giving space and time to undiscovered talent.

Meet here all the actresses she “discovered” and the ones she can’t resist, her heroines.

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KIRSTEN DUNST

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The director first met Kirsten Dunst in 1998. She took the 16 year old Dunst under her wing for the actress’s first adult role in the melancholic movie “The Virgin Suicides“. Two more films with her: the 2006 period drama, “Marie Antoinette” and this year’s much-anticipated “The Beguiled“. On working again with Coppola, Kirsten said that the director still behaves protectively with her as she still was the young girl she had met on set many years ago.

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ELLE FANNING

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The director cast the 12 year old Elle Fanning in “Somewhere“ as the daughter of Stephen Dorff who goes to live with him at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood. The film took home the Golden Lion when it was shown at the 67th Venice Film Festival. The pair reunited for The Beguiled which is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

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SCARLETT JOHANNSON

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Coppola cast the actress in the Tokyo-set romance “Lost in Translation” after just one brief lunch meeting. She said of Scarlett: “She has a coolness and a subtlety that you would not expect. You feel like she’s seen a lot. She can convey an emotion without saying very much at all.” Scarlett declared that for her, Sofia was and still is one of the most inspiring director she has worked with.

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EMMA WATSON

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Emma Watson took on the role of narcissistic valley girl Nicky in the true crime drama “The Bling Ring” casting all unknown actors. Commenting on Emma’s ability to embrace the character, Coppola told to Indiewire: “I think of her more as this long, hard-working actress from Harry Potter. But if anything that was a hindrance. I didn’t want her to stick out from the crowd, so I thought she did such a good job of blending in and transforming herself. You’re not going, ‘Oh there’s Emma Watson’ the whole time.”

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NICOLE KIDMAN

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This is the very first time for them. Despite Nicole Kidman long career and numerous box-office hits, this year’s release of “The Beguiled” marks their first collaboration. Kidman will play the tough headmistress in the remake of the 1971 film with the same name.

Credits: Vogue UK

Cover Credits: Variety