AFP :
James Bond star Eva Green last Friday won a court case in the UK over her
$1 million (o810,000) acting fee for the never-made science fiction film ‘A Patriot’. The French actress had sued UK-based production company White Lantern Film at the High Court in London for the fee but the firm
countersued, saying she derailed the
o4-million project by making
‘unreasonable demands’.
Judge Michael Green ruled the 42-year-old actress was entitled to the sum and dismissed the counter-claim.
“In particular, I find that Ms Green did not renounce her obligations under the artist agreement; nor did she commit any repudiatory breaches of it,” the judge said. Green, famous for her role as Vesper Lynd in 2006 Bond film ‘Casino Royale’, was due to play a soldier.
She signed up to the project in 2018, but became increasingly uneasy as funding issues meant that UK producer Jake Seal began to assume more control.
The star attended a trial in January, where messages between her and production staff were read out. At one point, she blamed her ‘Frenchness’ for calling a film director ‘weak and stupid’.
Green said in a statement on Friday that her ‘professional reputation has been upheld.’
“I fought tooth and nail to defend the beautiful film that I loved and had signed on for. I stood my ground, and this time, justice prevailed,” she said.
“I wish I could say that this ordeal has made me stronger, better, wiser. But to have my personal life dragged through the press and the court was more painful and damaging than I can say.” Max Mallin, lawyer for White Lantern, argued during the trial that Green had shown a ‘categorical and unequivocal refusal to perform’ and repeatedly made ‘unreasonable demands’.