Mel is a great director because he's not just a director, he's an actor, so he knows how to direct actors. I loved working with him. He's great as a director. He's so intelligent. He's generous. I really loved him.

If you have a script that's not great, if you have a great director, you can make a great movie, but if you have a great script with a director who's not good, never are you going to have a good movie.

I'm a lucky person because I've been loved a lot. I have a great family.

When I have to go to Cannes, that is boring to me.

I feel fine and comfortable with myself, but not because I'm beautiful.

Envy is human nature.

I think the lawyers are such incredible actors. Can you imagine the performance they have to do every day?

In acting process, it's very difficult to explain. It's something very intimate, very private.

When I eat with my friends, it is a moment of real pleasure, when I really enjoy my life.

We all need illusions. That's why we love movies.

I have no idea how I'm perceived in America because I don't live the reality of America.

It's not the Jews that killed Christ. It was a political situation, and it was the Romans who killed Jesus. They put Jesus on the cross, not the Jews.

After a while in marriage, it doesn't work anymore. There is something missing, there is something wrong. There are few marriages that stay alive forever. We like something, and after a while, we hate what we used to love.

When I make an American movie it's going to come out all over the world-it doesn't happen the same way for an Italian film or a French film.

In a couple, sometimes, one or both people have to give up their personal life, dreams and ambitions for the good of the family.

I know many beautiful people and their lives are just so terrible. They feel so uncomfortable with themselves. Being comfortable is not about what you look like, but how you feel.

I'm not a movie star. I'm just an actress.

An actor works with their soul and their thought.

Sometimes it's more difficult to exist as a female lead, especially in action movies because all those men are around you. They take so much place.

When people divorce, it's always such a tragedy. At the same time, if people stay together it can be even worse.

Irreversible is not glamorous at all. I try to do different things because I want to grow as an actress and I like to take risks.

Mel is a great director because he's not just a director, he's an actor, so he knows how to direct actors. I loved working with him. He's great as a director. He's so intelligent. He's generous. I really loved him.

I believe that time destroys everything. You can take one beautiful apple, red. After a while, it becomes shrivelled and full of worms, just like what happens to us.

When a relationship doesn't work anymore, it's terrible to stay with someone that you don't love.

Now, all the movies are for teenagers. It's very difficult for an actress to find really deep, beautiful characters to play.

When you're in front of the camera, for a small budget or a big budget movie, there's no difference.

When you see a silent movie, you understand everything that's going on from the images because the images are so strong.

Time destroys everything.

A woman has so many facets, and when you create an image, you have to play with all the different moments of your femininity, not just one thing, because everybody can get bored.

Beauty is a gift, just like good health or intelligence. The only thing is not to be proud of being beautiful. Because you didn't do anything - it was given to you.

Because I'm pretty, everybody thinks I'm stupid. But it is like a mask, and you have to break the mask to show that there is something else behind it. You have to show who you are to make the others come to discover you.

Being an actress is the sublimation of feminity.

British people don't express when they are in pain. They don't think it's elegant.

Directors don't call you for your beauty but for your talent.

Do you know who I would love to play? Morticia Addams - then I could use all that darkness to be funny.

Everybody does what she needs. And if you want plastic surgery, and then you feel better, why not? There is no law. I've nothing against using something to help your beauty - but do it in a good way, with intelligence.

For me, true beauty has nothing to do with wrinkles and everything to do with the fact that my maternal grandmother raised five children just after the war and remained a fighter throughout her life. True beauty is the slick of red lipstick my paternal grandmother would put on before going to church on Sunday.

I always wanted children late; I had my first daughter at 39 and the second at 45.

I always wear some make-up, even on quiet days when I am not doing so much with my time. I like to start using Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Creamy Foundation as a base, as it's lighter than air and doesn't make me feel 'caked.'

I am an agnostic, even though I respect and am interested in all religions. If there's something I believe in, it's a mysterious energy; the one that fills the oceans during tides, the one that unites nature and beings.

I am certainly Italian in my love of food! I eat everything, but I love Italian food most of all. Even my daughter does. Her favourite food is pasta and parmigiana.

I can't say I'm a Bond girl because I'm too mature to be a Bond girl. I say Bond lady; Bond woman. But I'm proud to be a Bond lady, because actually, Bond is the most amazing man.

I come from a Catholic religion, but I'm not Catholic.

I do acupuncture. Because it really helps. It is the opposite of Botox. Botox blocks, and acupuncture moves.

I don't know Hollywood very well. I've never lived in Los Angeles or New York. But what I can see in Paris, where I live, is that actresses like Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Charlotte Rampling, still get the chance to play strong, sexy roles even though they're not 20.

I don't stress myself about my looks. I love to laugh. I like being able to lead an interesting life.

I don't work all the time. That's why I waited to have children until I was ready for that. I try to organise my time according to them because they need me. I don't want to put my work first anymore because it's not as important as my children.

I grew up in Perugia, Umbria, in a world outside of fashion, so I didn't learn about it until I was older and moved away. In Milan, the women are really into fashion, and all the big fashion brands are based there, but I don't think they feel pressure to look good all the time.

I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.