In a resurfaced interview from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, Julie Delpy tried to illustrate the struggle of being a woman in Hollywood.
Delpy made certain statements that made it hard for other panel members, including Kieran Culkin, to utter a single word.
The French-American actress, screenwriter and film director said, “Two years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by the media.”
She further added, “It’s funny — women can’t talk. I sometimes wish I were African American because people don’t bash them afterward.”
Following Delpy’s remark, the Succession star Kieran Culkin could be seen lowering his face in apparent frustration.
Netizens bashed the Wiener-Dog actress for her controversial statement. They questioned Delpy’s inability to understand that being Black and a woman was not mutually exclusive.
There were some who supported how Culkin’s appropriately funny reaction.
But does the 2 Days in Paris actress really regret being born to French parents?
Key Takeaways
- Julie’s parents were theatre artists.
- She has directed a movie with her parents as the cast.
- Julie’s mother, Marie, died of cancer in 2009.
Julie Delpy Was Born To French Parents
Julie Delpy was born as the only child of her parents, Albert Delpy and Marie Pillet, on December 21, 1969.
She was raised with the idea that she has the same rights, is as strong as men, and can do the same thing as men.
Coming from such families, Delpy faced xenophobia in Hollywood, leading her to ponder whether it might have been easier if she were African-American.
Her Parents Were Theatre Artists
Julie’s parents, Albert and Marie, were involved in the French experimental theatre in the 1960s.
Albert is a Vietnamese-born French actor and theater director. He used to go onstage dressed in drag.
American audiences would find Julie’s father gross in the traditional French style: s*x-obsessed and reluctant to shower unless bullied into it.
Similarly, Marie, an actress and writer, is known for Before Sunset, Two Days in Paris, and La Menace.
She was a lifelong campaigner for various causes whose family were more or less wiped out by the Nazis during the war.
2 Days In New York Was A Homage To Her Mother
The French-American film director made a comedy movie, “2 Days In New York,” as a tribute to her late mother.
Previously, in the 2007 comedy 2 Days In Paris, she cast her parents as her artist character Marion’s on-screen parents.
In the sequel, she planned to cast both her parents. Unfortunately, that did not happen, as her mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2009.
Following her mother’s demise, Julie felt unable to proceed with the project. However, she did it anyway because her mother wanted her to do that film.
“She wanted me to do that film, so I did it because she wanted me to do it. In a way it was an homage,” Julie said.
“So I went back to zero and threw away the original script. I went back to writing something where I talk about the loss, without making it melodramatic. I know people love melodrama but I didn’t want to do that out of respect.”
Julie And Her Father Had Some Not So Happy Moments On The Set
Albert Delpy, who worked with his daughter, Julie, on two different projects, had some tussle during their shoots.
Julie, who is protective of Albert, her father, had to be firm with him on the sets.
“He’s an actor, he’s worked all his life, but I’m his daughter, so when I give him directions, he doesn’t always want to follow them,” said Julie.
She added, “When I say to him, ‘Dad, you have to do it, I’m the director,’ he’s like, ‘F*ck you.’ And I’m like, OK.”
However, the father-daughter duo have a very good bond and are frequently seen traveling together.
FAQs
Is Julie Delpy Married?
Julie is married to Dimitirs Birbilis. They tied the knot in 2015.
Does Julie Have Any Kids?
The French-American actress has a son, Leo Streitenfeld, born in January 2009 from her relationship with German composer Marc Streitenfeld.
