As Hollywood actress Eva Green’s lawyers claim she was unfairly portrayed as a ‘diva’ as she sues a production company in the High Court, the actress’ career has come under scrutiny.
The French-born but London-based former Bond girl, 42, had a quiet few years after her career hit dizzying heights when she starred in Casino Royale, which set her on the path to hit.
Her multiple collaborations with Tim Burton on different projects helped her take her career even further as she was dubbed his ‘muse’ – but success came with speculation that she and the 64-year-old were dating that she was forced to shut down on Instagram.
As she takes on White Lantern Films and SMC Specialty Finance in court over $1 million over scrapped project A Patriot, while being accused by the other side of breaching her contract, the woman called a “diva” called herself an “ugly duckling” in the entertainment industry.
Eva Green (pictured at the 2019 Dumbo premiere) is suing a production company for $1million she believes is owed after a project she worked for was dropped. Lawyers for the star have argued that White Lantern Films and SMC Specialty Finance called the 42-year-old actress, from Paris, France, a “diva” in the fight against her corner, but Green previously called herself a “ugly duckling” in L’industrie
Eva Green was born in 1980 in Paris, France, and has a twin sister, Joy, who is two minutes younger than her.
The twins were born to a French actress, Marlene Jobert, and a dental surgeon, Walter Green.
The actress’ Instagram account shows her as a dog lover. She also uses her account to share official statements from her representatives and show her support for causes such as the liberation of Ukraine.
She is Jewish through her mother of Algerian origin, from the Sephardic Jewish community. Although she does not practice Judaism, Green has previously described herself as “a secular Jew who never attended synagogue as a girl.”
She and her sister grew up in France while spending time in London and Ireland, leading Green to describe herself as a “citizen of the world”. She studied at the private and independent American University of Paris, which currently has annual tuition fees of €33,920.
She made her big break in 2006 as Bond Girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, which was Daniel Craig’s first foray into the role of 007, and achieved international recognition as a femme fatale-style character who won over the heart of the lothario and set him on a wrong path to seek revenge after being killed by villains.
Reflecting on the role that changed everything and won her a BAFTA for Breakout Star in an interview with W Magazine, she said, “I had to die. I die in a lot of movies. I don’t know why, it’s one of the unusual things in my career. I guess it’s a big rehearsal for the inevitable.
She added that she originally considered turning down the role of Vesper, which was offered to her at the last minute.
She revealed, “At first when they approached me, I thought it would be me wearing a bikini and looking good, so I said I wouldn’t audition.”
“Then they sent me the script and I saw that Bond was falling in love with my character, that she was sensitive and full of secrets. I could relate to that.
The star, who went to a private independent university in Paris, is the daughter of an actress and a dental surgeon
Green’s big breakthrough came at Casino Royale in 2006 where she starred alongside Daniel Craig’s James Bond (pictured in film)
Riding the wave of her success as 007, she landed later roles in children’s fantasy films Golden Compass and Burton’s creations Mrs Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Dark Shadows.
After the pair collaborated on several projects, rumors swirled that Green was dating Burton after being dubbed his “muse.”
The director told Esquire in 2016, “There was something private and mysterious about her, and that’s not common these days. People think she’s ‘dark’, but she’s more interesting than that.’
However, in 2018, Green shut down rumors of a romance with Burton in a statement posted to her Instagram page.
He said: ‘Tim Burton and I are not together, contrary to rumors. I am very lucky to have worked with him. If I inspire him, he never told me.
“It’s not his style: he is shy, modest, extremely sensitive.”
Eva is tight-lipped about her love life in general, but has previously revealed she was dating one of her castmates on The Luminaries, which she currently stars in.
The Sunday Mirror reported that between 2005 and 2009 Green dated Marton Csokas, but the couple broke up due to spending a lot of time filming.
However, they were reunited in the cast of the 2020 BBC drama as characters Lydia Wells and Francis Carver.
A source on set told the newspaper, “Their chemistry was electric. You can tell they had a very close relationship.
The actors also played husband and wife in 2014’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For – but after reuniting as co-stars in the TV drama they declined to say whether they had rekindled their romance.
Now battling in court to get fees for a movie she thinks is owed to her, Green, who hasn’t been on the big screen for three years, recently revealed she feels like an ‘ugly duckling’ in the film industry.
When asked why people consider her ‘mysterious’ during an interview with Spanish newspaper El País, she replied: ‘I don’t know, maybe it’s my dog hair, it maybe it’s because I don’t talk much.
She also took the opportunity to tackle ageism in Hollywood, saying she was told she was “too old for some roles”.
Speaking about his career in general, Green said, “I’m so shy and at the same time exposing myself to literally thousands of people. I don’t really understand why I’m doing this. I have to go to therapy!’
While Green is admittedly a private person, her Instagram account provides insight into her personal life and the causes she champions.
Last year, she began publishing about support for Ukraine after Russia invaded the country.
Reposting a video made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last March, she wrote: “Russia’s firing, even near Ukrainian nuclear power plants, puts ALL of Europe at far greater catastrophic risk than Chernobyl – We must arrest Putin!”
She also used her account to show solidarity with protesters in Iran who are fighting back against the regime’s treatment of women and girls after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of the “morality police”. diet.
His Instagram page biography contains a link to an Amnesty International page in support of a young protester who faces the death penalty in Iran.
Last July, on her birthday, Eva shared a sweet childhood photo of herself and her twin sister Joy dressed as children, and thanked fans and loved ones for the birthday wishes.
Green posted a sweet photo of herself (right) and twin sister Joy (left) on their 42nd birthday last July to thank people for their well wishes
While battling in the High Court with White Lantern Films and SMC Specialty Finance, suing them for her fees for A Patriot, she is counter-sued as they claim she breached her contract.
After Green’s WhatsApp messages were read out in court, which called two of the film’s producers ‘pure vomit’ and ‘af****** moron’, her defense argued that she had been portrayed as a “diva”.
Edmund Cullen KC told the court, “This case is designed to portray my client as a diva to grab the headlines and damage her reputation.”
Ms Green, who was also an executive producer on the project, says she is owed money under a so-called ‘pay or play’ provision which guarantees individual payment whether the work is completed or not.
Judge Michael Green is expected to deliver his decision at a later date.
