Anais Reboux, a precocious 13-year-old, caught the eye of renowned director Catherine Breillat at a bustling McDonald's establishment, sparking a chain of events that would forever alter the trajectory of Reboux's life.
Breillat, intrigued by Reboux's raw talent, decided to take a chance on the young girl despite her complete lack of acting experience. The director opted to conduct a screen test, which initially went awry, but Breillat remained undeterred, convinced that Reboux possessed a certain je ne sais quoi.
It transpired that the original casting director was unable to coax the best out of Reboux, prompting Breillat to re-test the young girl alongside another candidate. The two were tasked with reciting passages from Éric Rohmer's Pauline à la Plage, a scene that would prove pivotal in Breillat's decision-making process.
As Reboux and her co-tester engaged in a conversation about the script, Breillat observed a profound connection, a sense of authenticity that transcended mere recitation. Reboux wasn't simply reading the lines; she was living them, conversing with her co-star as if the words were her own.
Breillat's eyes were opened to the potential of this fledgling talent, and Reboux was subsequently cast as the lead in Breillat's critically acclaimed film, 'Fat Girl', a role that would catapult her to international recognition and cement her status as a cinematic prodigy.
