In “The Clouds of Sils Maria,” by French director Olivier Assayas, Kristen Stewart’s fame has been reversed and the paparazzi pass her by.

She plays the efficient assistant to a famous European actress played by Juliette Binoche. Reading the tabloid news about a young Hollywood star (played by Chloe Grace Moretz), he scornfully says, “It’s show business news, it’s fun.” When she reviews possible roles for her boss, the “Twilight” ex-actress says a movie has werewolves “for some reason.”

“I had to seriously control the joy that was exploding in my face when I said those lines,” Stewart said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I don’t think the movie is just about that, it’s not a comment on the crazy nature of this medium in America, especially. But if anyone knows about that, it’s me.”

Stewart, 24, does not seem to be escaping from his past as a teen idol, which in fact seems like he’s gotten over it a long time ago, but now turns to see him with a wink. “The Clouds of Sils Maria” premieres in United States on April 10 and is part of a whole series of movies that Stewart has made at high speed.

“I’m having more fun than ever,” Stewart said. “These movies go by like this (snap fingers). We did ‘Camp X-Ray’ in 20 days. It’s better when it’s faster.”

The frenetic pace contrasts with the heavy demands of a five-movie series like “Twilight.” Now he mainly makes independent films and the roles, as in “The Clouds of Sils Maria”, are usually cast or part of a more complete cast. She played Julianne Moore’s daughter in “Still Alice” and a Guantánamo guard in “Camp X-Ray.”

He ended a science fiction romance (“Equals”), a thriller (“American Ultra”), and a New York robbery drama (“Anesthesia”). She has been filming Kelly Reichardt’s adaptation of the Maile Meloy stories and will be a co-star in the upcoming Woody Allen film.

“Since there are few expectations for any of those movies, there are no moments that people have read in a book and represent the most important thing in their lives, I really let go,” he said comparing his role in “Twilight.”

She added that it has become “much better at trusting myself and not thinking that you need to use those nerves and crazy inertia to convince everyone on set that you are legit.”

Stewart’s post “Twilight” work reveals (or perhaps remembers) that her nature is less that of a megastar and more that of an actress with a penchant for naturalism, instinct and curiosity. He’s basically gone back to the same kind of indie movies he did outside of “Twilight”: “Adventureland”, `’Welcome to the Rileys”, `’ The Runaways”. His lack of scruples in choosing roles or an obvious attempt to shore up his career stands out.

“My favorite actors are not people who make perfect characters,” Stewart said. “I want to see people willing to go places they haven’t determined. You want to see the surprise on their faces.”

Assayas (“The Summer Hours”, “Carlos”) approached Stewart for “The Clouds” at the suggestion of producer Charles Gillibert, who had worked with her on the adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road,” another French production. . Stewart said she never got the script (“and they in their very French way didn’t call, ask or push”), so the role went to Mia Wasikowska. After Wasikowska dropped out of the band Stewart joined in.

“It’s really something you haven’t seen in her,” Assayas said at the Cannes Film Festival where the film originally premiered. “Kristen, no matter what image you have of her, is ultimately a great actress by whatever standard you see her.”

For now he has won the French. In February she became the first American actress to win a César for her role in “The Clouds of Sils Maria.”

On the relationship between the actors and their publicists, Stewart said: “It’s much more complicated than ‘go get me water.’ Although she plays a character outside of fame, she is perhaps the closest role to her.

“It is not a deviation. It is a world that I know very well, that I have observed a lot,” he said. “He wasn’t really trying to be someone else.”

In person Stewart appears to shrink physically, with a defensive pose and rolled up sleeves. She never ends up relaxing, but takes heart as she talks about her inspirations and her newly found creative freedom.

Asked if “Twilight” changed her, Stewart reluctantly rambles about how it helped her realize that she is an actress. But when they point out that “Twilight” seems to be far from her thoughts, she quickly nods.

“Completely, I just have to think about it when they ask me.”

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