ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: In the spirit of the film, what’s a favorite memory you have involving champagne?
Or do you even like champagne?
HALEY BENNETT:I do.
Haley Bennett in ‘Widow Clicquot’.WME Independent
But I would say, first of all, we had the blessing of Veuve Clicquot.
And they’re extraordinary there.
They’re so beautiful, and they feel like they truly are haunted.
Haley Bennett in ‘Widow Clicquot’.WME Independent
And so having a rare edition of Veuve Clicquot in these caves felt so surreal.
But, what came before that, was strife and heartbreak and tragedy and failures and overwhelming doubt.
And I found that, in particular, interesting and powerful.
Sam Riley and Haley Bennett in ‘Widow Clicquot’.WME Independent
That’s what I really related to in the story.
What was the most interesting thing you learned in the process of making the film?
It’s really about how we define strength as women, and also how we identify with success.
She’s an icon and someone who has been incredibly successful.
But we don’t start at that point.
We don’t just get to success.
Yeah, it’s something that you have to nurture our own personal journeys.
And also how sometimes adversity becomes the catalyst to change in our own lives.
It sounds like you got a lot out of the experience of makingWidow Clicquot.
I got so much out of the experience.
I truly feel empowered by the experience.
And I really feel like there was so much for me to learn through unpacking this character.
Are you planning to go to TIFF to premiere the film?
We worked with independent financiers to get the film made, and we shot it independently in Europe.
And I’m so excited to have the opportunity to share the film with TIFF audiences.
Will it be the first time you’ve seen it with a big crowd?
It was done by my friend Bryce Dessner of the National, who also worked on the music forCyrano.
And who was sitting behind me?
My friends Bryce Dessner and his family and they happen to live in France.
It’s so, so beautiful.
Widow Clicquotpremieres Sept. 12 at TIFF and is a sales title.
Want more movie news?
