SXSW 2024: Morgane Bensadoun Talks ‘The Idea of You,’ Her Multifaceted Career, and More

Morgane Bensadoun stands as one of the industry’s most captivating emerging voices. Whether she’s embodying diverse characters on screen or delving into varied walks of life as a writer, Morgane infuses her work with an empathetic quality that resonates deeply with audiences, leaving an indelible mark.

This past March, her latest film, The Idea of You, made its world premiere at SXSW. Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Morgane about The Idea of You, her upcoming feature Twin Flames, her multifaceted career, and more.

PC: How did this journey as a storyteller begin for you? When did you discover your passion for acting?
Morgane: I feel like I knew I wanted to become an actor before I even realized it. I have this vague memory from my eighth birthday party—while all my friends were downstairs playing pin the tail on the donkey, I had sneaked up to my bedroom to act out Annie alongside the film, all by myself. When my mom finally caught me, she decided that she better put me into a theater class, and fast.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career, either personally or professionally?
Morgane: Gosh, there are too many influences to even count! There are so many instances of that one teacher who said that one thing that resonated. Among many, my elementary school drama teacher stands out. I will never forget Miss Harington pulling me aside after class one day and asking me why I pretended to think class was lame and monotonous when I clearly had a passion for character work and delving into the text. She totally caught me right in my tracks and demanded that I not stifle my curiosity to follow the social norm. This conversation shook me and is one I will never forget.

PC: You’ve already achieved so much success in your career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Morgane: Without even realizing it, my challenging college years became one of the most significant full-circle moments of my career.

During my senior year, I had a meaningful conversation with my mom about how lost and out of place I felt. She had a particular sureness to her advice that one day all of this would make sense and come full circle, as everything happens for a reason.

Exactly one year after graduating (to the day), I returned to my small rural college campus, but this time, to act in an Emmy-nominated TV series. We literally filmed on that exact campus. It was my full-circle moment.

PC: Your film, The Idea of You, closed out SXSW 2024 and will be released on Prime Video later this year. What does this moment mean to you as an artist to see something that you helped create reach such a global audience?
Morgane: I feel an immense amount of gratitude to have had a small contribution to this incredible film. I have admired Anne Hathaway’s career for a very long time, so getting an offer to explore French improv for a day alongside her was incredibly surreal and a little gift to the French girl in me.

Right after I wrapped, I remember begging the AD to let me stay and watch the rest of the day. I have him to thank for letting me absorb the masterclass that is Michael Showalter and Anne Hathaway at work.

Being able to attend SXSW for the premiere has been a dream. I can confidently say the film exceeds all expectations and is a must-watch on Prime on May 2nd.

PC: One of your biggest strengths as a storyteller is your versatility with languages. How much does that play a factor in the types of roles you’re most interested in playing? What was it about the script of The Idea of You and this character that resonated with you?
Morgane: Having lived between Paris and New York for much of my childhood, it has always been a dream to weave my bilingualism into my character work. I’ve had the great pleasure to work on projects in both French and English and hope to continue finding this intersection in my career.

One of my first projects was The First Lady, where I played Jane, Eleanor Roosevelt’s childhood best friend at boarding school in France (portrayed by Eliza Scanlen and Gillian Anderson). I remember feeling so at home playing Jane, as she and her boarding school friends effortlessly dipped between French and English, mirroring my own childhood experience of having “Franglish” as the predominant language in my household.

PC: Outside of The Idea of You, your original screenplay Twin Flames is in pre-production. Is there anything that you can tell us about that project?
Morgane: Yes! Without giving too much away, my coming-of-age film Twin Flames explores the intersection between childhood and adulthood at the point when our friendships from youth don’t quite resonate anymore with our emerging identities. Codependent friendships are a theme I’m personally fascinated by and is something I hope to shed an interesting perspective on with this dramedy.

PC: Being a multifaceted storyteller, how has the experience of working behind the camera as a writer impacted the way you interpret characters and scripts as an actress, and vice versa?
Morgane: I love this question. In all honesty, becoming a writer has been one of the best things for my career. It has been so fulfilling to have a sense of control over the direction of my characters, getting the chance to explore their inner worlds so deeply.

While acting will always be my first love, the current audition culture has disallowed for deep dives into character analysis and performance in the way I always crave. Getting the chance to create this opportunity for myself has opened me to new ways of working and, most importantly, allowed me to carve my own path.

To keep up with Morgane, follow her on Instagram.

Photo Credit: Kate Owen