Kristen Stewart is having a breakthrough year, with two strong supporting roles in films about women – the first, The Clouds of Sils Maria (with Binoche) and the second, Still Alice (with Julianne Moore). Stewart also carries the film Camp X-Ray. Working closely with Binoche the two actresses at different ends of the age and experience spectrum was partly a mentor/student relationship, says Binoche in an interview with Indiewire:
In “Clouds of Sils Maria,” you play an aging actress who sort of gets threatened by a younger actress. I’m assuming you aren’t actually threatened by Kristen Stewart or Chloe Moretz. Did you take on a mentor or teaching role during filming?
It’s interesting, because I read in an interview — and I don’t really read interviews — that Olivier said that there were moments when I was showing up Kristen, showing her how to act. For me it’s never been like that. Sometimes I push her, because I know her potential. When you see that, it’s very exciting as an actor to go and push someone. I think deep down I would like to teach one day. It’s about mothering, about giving birth, a midwife kind of situation, and there’s something very rewarding in a very hidden place. When you see somebody transforming and growing, it’s such a reward because it gives hope to everybody. With Kristen, in the films she’s done, I don’t think she ever really experienced how amazing she is. Actually, when I saw her in interviews, the way she listens and the way she answers, I said, “This is a great actress.” Just the way of receiving and giving back. I think she has an amazing career in front of her, and she’s gonna surprise us.
She will work again with Binoche in the upcoming The Big Shoe. In keeping with typical film critic groupthink were films starring women are concerned (except Gravity of course), Camp X-Ray got a roughing up. Like clockwork.
Either way, Stewart’s growing as an actress and looks to have a bright future ahead of her.