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'9/11 attacks made up, ' says French best actress Oscar-winner
Last updated at 12:29pm on 03.03.08
Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard has accused America of fabricating the 9/11 attacks
Actress Marion Cotillard sparked a political row yesterday after accusing America of fabricating the 9/11 attacks.
The 32-year-old French actress, who received an Oscar last month for her performance as singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, openly questioned the truth behind the terrorist atrocity in an interview broadcast on a French website.
"I think we're lied to about a number of things," Cotillard said, singling out the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center as an example of the US making up horror stories for political ends.
Referring to the two passenger jets being flown into the Twin Towers, Cotillard said:
"We see other towers of the same kind being hit by planes. Are they burned? They [sic] was a tower, I believe it was in Spain, which burnt for 24 hours. It never collapsed. None of these towers collapsed. And there [in New York], in a few minutes, the whole thing collapsed."
She added that the towers, planned in the early Sixties, were an outdated "money-sucker" that would have cost more to modernise than to rebuild altogether, which is why they were destroyed.
She said: "It was a money-sucker because they were finished, it seems to me, by 1973, and to re-cable all that, to bring up-to-date all the technology and everything, it was a lot more expensive, that work, than destroying them."
Cotillard's stardom and increased earning power looked assured following her Oscar win.
But after her outburst, in which she also queried the 1969 Moon landings, a successful future in Hollywood appears to be in jeopardy.
She said: "Did a man really walk on the Moon? I saw plenty of documentaries on it, and I really wondered. And in any case I don't believe all they tell me, that's for sure."
Cotillard, who was born and brought up in Paris, made the comments on Paris Première - Paris Dernière, a programme broadcast a year ago.
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At the time, her remarks were largely ignored, but their appearance yesterday on the French magazine website Marianne2 comes at a time when Cotillard's profile is sky-high.
She is shortly due to fly to Chicago to star alongside Johnny Depp in Public Enemies, a gangster movie expected to be her first big money-spinner.
Cotillard's film career began in Luc Besson's 1998 film Taxi - a huge hit in France but less so around the world.
She is slowly becoming a household name in France, in a list most recently topped by her close friend Audrey Tautou and previously by women such as Catherine Deneuve and Brigitte Bardot.
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'I think we're lied to about a number of things' Cotillard said, singling out the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center as an example of the US making up horror stories for political ends
But Cotillard, who lives with actor and director Guillaume Canet, frequently tells interviewers she has no interest in money or prestige.
Denying that she had any kind of "Anglo-Saxon ambition", she said she prefers to "choose roles which suit me".
Despite her low-key image, Cotillard is an environmental activist who once worked as a spokesman for Greenpeace.
News of her anti-Americanism comes as Franco-American relations appear to be thawing, following Paris's refusal to show support for the invasion of Iraq.
President Nicolas Sarkozy insists he is pro-American, even supporting so-called "Anglo-Saxon" economic reforms.
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Reader views (13)
What an incredibly stupid thing to say. Does she think that because she won an Oscar she can make accusations like that?
- Danielle, Tacoma, WA
While I agree that the US do fabricate acts re: terrorism or the like, I can't agree with this example of 9/11. I mean, it was live on TV, we all saw it unfolding. Also, why would the US demolish two buildings that people were still working in? Also, she was not alive when men walked on the moon - she has obviously seen the film 'Capricorn One' and taken it on board!
Two bad examples love, which will contribute to a short career if you are not careful. Think, next time you are asked for your opinion, and use better examples
- Karen, London UK
That it is possible to say such bizarre things just illustrates the credibility-gulf that exists between 'cosy' USians and free citizens of even quite civilised nations. How much worse it must be for the uncivilised and the medievalists.
- Steve, T Wells
What does she mean by 'anglo saxon ambition'? This woman needs a reality check! Where on earth was she on 11th September 2001?
What a stupid woman. Ah well a short career awaits her!
- Karen, London Uk
More proof that those spouting conspiracy theories are usually even more idiotic than they governments they protest against.
- James, London
What a fantastic woman.
- Andy, London
Now this is not exactly a woman famed for her intellect, is it?
Who really cares what some actress thinks?
- Scott, london
Oh dear, she's going to be in real trouble now. I bet she'll never work in Hollywood now! Americans are very patriotic and have long memories.
- Suzanne, surrey
I was going to say "silly little girl" and then noticed she was 32!
Wow.
- John Entwistle, London
She just expressed an opinion. And it's one that can be swallowed because the 9/11 story is a mysterious one.
- Mo, London, UK
Aw, bless her...Ms Cotillard clearly isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, is she? This juvenile rant just makes her look like a silly impressionable little girl. There are numerous unanswered questions about 9/11, but to imply it was an attempt by the Americans to save money on demolition is quite breathtakingly stupid.
Interesting to note, by the way, that she’s happy to accept the dollar for starring in US-funded films, but also quite happy to propagate idiotic conspiracy theories about her paymasters. Only my opinion, but if I was funding her latest US project, she’d be on the first plane home, P45 in hand.
- Mark, London
More evidence that when it comes to anything harder than reading out someone else's words luvvies are utterly useless, and should be ignored - if the average actor or pop star weren't pretty they'd be lucky to be packing boxes for a living.
- Edward Green, Upminster UK
What an odious woman.
- Ed, London, UK
