Australian actor Joel Edgerton, now 51, opened up about his surprising self-view during a heartfelt speech at the Deauville American Film Festival in Normandy, France. The star, fresh off presenting the French premiere of his new Netflix drama Train Dreams alongside Felicity Jones and director Chris Bentley, received a special honor at the festival’s 51st edition.
Edgerton humbly shared, "I never thought of myself as talented… I’ve always seen myself as one of the lucky ones. Lucky enough to deeply love going to work as an actor, a writer, and occasionally a director." He quickly credited his collaborators, adding, "I share this honor with the extraordinary people I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside, been challenged by, and learned from."
The award came from French-Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, who’s heading this year’s festival jury. Fans might remember their on-screen chemistry from Ridley Scott’s 2014 biblical blockbuster Exodus: Gods and Kings.
Reflecting on his roots, Edgerton recalled growing up "a long way from here… on the other side of the world" in Sydney’s rural suburbs. He didn’t travel much as a kid, saying, "I rarely had traveled until my teenage years, but films from around the world traveled to me." Movies became his escape hatch: "When I was very young, movies were a chance to escape – to other worlds, into other lives. To be transported away from my real life."
As he matured, Edgerton discovered film’s power to mirror reality too. "As I got older, I got more interested in the ways cinema could also reflect real life and its experiences. I suspect the best of the films that captured my imagination as a child did both: transported but also reflected."
Steering clear of politics, he praised international film festivals like Deauville for fostering global ties. "They celebrate a connection of cultures," he noted, emphasizing how movies "connect people across cultures, across oceans, and across languages." It’s a reminder of why events like this keep drawing fans of Joel Edgerton movies and world cinema alike.
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