Exclusive: Sonia Rolland talks activism, new filmPosted in Articles, Arts, Europe, Media Archive, Women on 2013-04-20 01:48Z by Steven |
Exclusive: Sonia Rolland talks activism, new film
Euromight: Your Guide to Afro-Europe
2013-04-15
Epée Hervé Dingong
Sonia Rolland, (Miss France 2000), is an actress and model who has been outspoken about racial issues in the film and fashion industries, and in the media. In this exclusive interview she talks about her work, politics and what it means to be “black” in France.
After being Miss France how did you become a successful actress?
It took a lot of work because I had to convince the acting community that a beauty queen could be an actress. I always wanted to act, but becoming Miss France wasn’t the right way to pursue that goal. When you’ve been Miss France you have always that label. Determination and willingness were the keys and today people talk about me as an actress…
…Do you think you would have more roles in if you were not black or a woman?
It’s not clear-cut when you are mixed race because they don’t know where to put you. If I was totally black I would be put in that category, but I’m mixed, so that’s another thing for them to deal with. However, I was Miss France. Though advantages can mean more difficulties, but that doesn’t stop me. It makes me stronger. I’ve done many projects including Desordres, (her new film) and this summer I’ll be in Michigan shooting a movie called “Radio Days” where I play a French Senegalese woman, then I’ll appear in French filmmaker Tavernier’s movie Quai D’Orsay. I also do the Mixa commercial on TV, which gives me permanent visibility…
Read the entire interview here.