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This year the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Festival hosts the magnificent world famous actress, Jacqueline Bisset.

During a press conference the actress thanked founder of the festival, Harutyun Khachatryan for inviting her. She also spoke about cinematography, happiness, acting and civilization.

On Armenia and Armenians.
I haven’t been here long enough to judge anything. I’m in a very beautiful hotel, I’m being looked after very well and hospitality is perfect. I know that these festivals are a great privilege. I hope to discover a little bit [of real life] in the next three days. I hope to see some beautiful buildings but I’m not quite sure where to start.

My knowledge of Armenia is not big, but I do know a lot of people in Los Angeles who are from Armenia and who hold this old love for the country. I’m surprised how many [Armenians] I’ve met. So when I told them I was coming they were very excited. I know your country has been through a lot of difficulties. I’m so sorry you suffered a lot. I feel though, that you certainly like to have a party.

On good movies
First [it is] good script. Without the script you can’t do it. The writer for me is the number one. The director needs the script too. We all need each other. The old line [goes] if it’s not on the page, it’s not on the screen. It really is true. Of course some people make very visual movies with very few words. But even in a movie with very few words the spaces between the words count as well. So there always needs to be the line of the story.

This I actually learned more strongly with a few of the older directors I worked with. In particular, they taught me about moving the story forward. In spite of the fact that most actors want to have many close-ups the necessity for them, if the story is strong, is much less than you think. All young actors, we all hoped to be on screen with a nice close-up, because it [shows a more] intimate part of your eyes and face. It took me a long time to understand that the body language is very strong [too], not just the face.

On good co-actors
The exciting partner is the partner who’s right for the part. [There are] many great actors, [yet] casting is the key. Any actor given the right part with the right confidence can do a very good job. It’s much more agreeable to work with someone who has generosity of spirit because they want you to be good and they don’t just think of themselves. I’ve had very few bad experiences with actors.

On choosing acting if given another chance
I think I would still want to be an actress because it has many aspects. When I left school I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew some things about my character. I knew I was interested in people, psychology. I loved English and literature, classical music. I was fascinated by art, and photography was beginning to interest me. I wanted to see the world. So I thought what job is [there involving all] this? I didn’t have the confidence to think I would be an actress.  So my Latin teacher when I was maybe 15, said; “You are such a chatterbox, you might make a good actress”.
Three years later, I was at a dinner in London, trying to earn some money after I left school. [Film director] Roman Polanski was at the dinner [as well]. And I was very quiet. He said; “You are such an introvert, you might make a good actress”. The exact opposite of what my Latin teacher had said. And this little grain went in, and I allowed myself to think maybe I could try to find some classes. My parents allowed me to see some foreign films. Suddenly, [I was] so alert of [this] new world. I began to think somehow I could try. The best part of it [my job] is to study people, their behaviour. People say; “You could have made quite a good psychologist, and also a journalist”. I’m very curious.

On happiness without a marriage and a child
Yes, I do [think that it’s possible to be a single woman and not have a child]. I don’t think that marriage necessarily leads to happiness. Ideally, you hope to find the circumstance when your relationship with someone you love is as enriching as possible. So this is completely separate from the piece of paper. I’m not against marriage. I personally didn’t have an example in my own family that I saw any advantage for my mother, except she had us, children.

On being Angelina Jolie’s Godmother
We don’t know each other very well. I was close with her mother. And I hope that we would be closer but she is so busy. She’s committed to so many things. I don’t think that she needs me very much. And she’s an unusually wise and quite extraordinary person. I hope before I die I will get to know her more. But I’m very proud of her.

On importance of being attractive rather than just beautiful
[Being considered the most beautiful actress] honestly [it means] two things. I find it actually offensive to all the other women and I think it’s a little ridiculous. Physical looks are so personal. I’ve never believed that I was a beauty. It’s a daily split. Because I know attention is paid to me because I look [beautiful]. But I don’t really believe that this is what life is about. I think being attractive is about energy and openness. Of course it’s nice [when] people find you attractive. I think to be attractive is so more important than being beautiful, because these are the traits that take you through your life.
[Being an actress] creates tension, because there’s expectation. If you dress too glamorously, then people think that you’re not a good actress. And if you look like you just came out of some very ordinary existence, they’re disappointed to some degree. Internet is a nightmare for actors.

On Brexit and its effect on cinematography
The Brexit vote is going to affect badly the cinema, the theatre and show business. None of us knows what’s going to happen. I feel like people didn’t really think hard about what they were voting for. I personally would’ve preferred to remain in the European community because I feel that Europe is a part of me. I worry for young people.