And the google alerts keep coming today! Premiere.fr’s Jean-Marc Morandini reports on his blog (translation by me):

Marion Cotillard is a one-off editor on an upcoming issue of French Elle magazine titled “Green Special”, to appear Saturday, February 21.

In this “green issue” the Oscar winning actress and long time green activist, proves to be wholeheartedly committed.

She explains why and especially how she fights every day to preserve the planet – she also reveals her struggles and actions as a eco-citizen to protect the environment.

The preview picture promises new gorgeous pictures and I’ll be sure to pick up this magazine as soon as possible!

Yesterday, Marion Cotillard together with Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson and Penelope Cruz – all dressed in red evening gowns – gathered on the beaches of Malibu for a photo shoot with famous photographer Annie Leibovitz. Word is out we will get to see the actual photo – bound to be stunning – in an upcoming issue of Vogue magazine. I’ve added some behind the scenes pics.

While I was at it I also added some other Behind the Scenes pictures/captures from photo sessions in recent months.

031 2009 – Vogue
020 2008 – Vanity Fair
009 2008 – New York Times Magazine
042 2007 – Paris Match

A story currently appearing in various gossip articles actually clears up why Marion Cotillard’s name popped up early last year in relation with “The Reader“:

Speaking to Newsweek, Harvey Weinstein confessed that the British star [Kate Winslet] was initially overlooked because of her filming commitments on Revolutionary Road.

“Before Kate came onboard, [producers] Anthony Minghella, myself and Scott Rudin had a conversation,” he claimed. “I said ‘Scott, she’s got Revolutionary Road. I think we should have insurance’.”

Weinstein revealed that the part was first offered to Nicole Kidman, who was forced to abandon the project after falling pregnant. French actress Marion Cotillard was later screen tested in Berlin, while Naomi Watts was also approached.

However, Weinstein admitted that director Stephen Daldry was adamant that Winslet was the only person who could play former Nazi guard Hanna Schmitz.
• source: Digitalspy.co.uk

In a report by the DailyMail it was also stated that Marion impressed Harvey Weinstein during her audition.

Now, Kate Winslet may very well walk away with an Oscar statuette on Sunday for her performance – but there are certainly no hard feelings as recent meetings between the two ladies proved.

In recent weeks we’ve heard a lot about the all new Oscars – how the ceremony will be different and especially no presenters were confirmed. Of course it seemed highly unlikely that Marion Cotillard wouldn’t be on the list but we couldn’t be sure. No need to worry though, apparently Marion arrived in LA and is all set to appear on stage this coming Sunday – but even she doesn’t know – yet – which award she’ll present at what moment:

Oscar Week is here, and so are the stars. Many of them are staying at the Chateau Marmont including last year’s Best Actress Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose). I ran into her last night in the lobby of the famed West Hollywood hotel. She told me she’s been so busy making films since she won the Oscar “I haven’t been home in a year!” Cotillard will present an award on Sunday’s show although she’s not sure which one or what point in the proceedings. “They haven’t told us anything yet!”
• source: FoxNews.com

So be sure to tune into the Academy Awards ceremony this Sunday, February 22!

Even though I have a strict “No paparazzi pictures” policy here on the site I’d like to point out this entry on a Marion Cotillard LiveJournal with pictures of Marion arriving in LA. She looks happy and doesn’t seem to mind being photographed.

She’s also all set to attend Prince’s post-Oscar bash:

Prince didn’t know he was having an Oscar party — until he read about it in the papers.

The singer was in the middle of band rehearsals when he saw a story that claimed he was throwing “the Oscar bash of the century.”

The musician finally decided to host an Academy Awards bash after Marion Cotillard — who won last year’s Oscar for Bestt Actress for her portrayal of a French singer in La Vie en Rose — called to RSVP to “the Purple Party.”

Not only will Prince host, but he will also be allowing a film crew to record the whole event for release on his upcoming website, LotusFlow3r.com.

The party will take place after the awards ceremony this Sunday.
• source: US Magazine

Marion Cotillard’s upcoming movie, the Michael Mann directed “Public Enemies” starring Johnny Depp, was test screened last Thursday (Feb 12) in Sherman Oaks, CA. It was a blind screening, which means that they didn’t give the name of the film when soliciting for moviegoers. /Film compiled some reviews that subsequently appeared online. Here the Marion related parts:

Marion Cotillard was excellent as well. She and Depp had believable chemistry but I couldn’t tell what her accent was supposed to be. Some words didn’t have any accents at all while others sounded like her normal speaking voice. I will have to say that by the she surprised me very much. She has the final scene in the movie and it ended well. (I will say that she surprised me even more because I thought she wasn’t *THAT GREAT* in La Vie En Rose–Nom? Yes. Oscar win for that movie? No.)
• by MovieTVWatcher

Loved the paring of him with Cotilliard–she was excellent too and a nice complement to Johnny’s Dillinger. I thought the acting all around excellent!
• Donna from JohnnyDeppreads

And he does dance one dance with Billie. But he starts off telling her, “I don’t know how to dance”. … Now that we’re onto Billie, Marion Cotilliard really grew on me. They were good together. I loved the scene where JD went after Billie at her job. Watch for that one! And the love scene was good. But typical Johnny, in clothes. But for most of it we only saw him from the shoulders and up.
• by BuccaRoux

Everyone seemed to like the love story, but they wanted a little more character development with Billie. They really liked the scene at the coat check counter a lot and how Dillinger just completely charmed Billie into going back to the hotel with him. (And yeah, I think we ALL would’ve gone with him – he was that charming!) And he gave her a gift – which Billie probably felt she didn’t deserve, but it was symbolic of how he wanted to protect her. And when they capture her, she protects him. Really nice theme going throughout. I have to say that the scene when they do capture Billie and take her away is just gutwrenching. To watch Johnny’s face go through all the emotions he’s feeling is just incredible.
• by Ginger

Marion Cotillard. What can I say other that she’s beautiful and talented. There is definitely some chemistry between her and Depp which made their brief love affair believable.
• by Cutelittleartist

Thanks to the ever helpful Mariana I’ve been able to add a few additional pictures of th recent Christian Dior Fashion Show as well as the BAFTAs to the gallery. Enjoy!

023 Paris Fashion Week – Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer
013 The Orange British Academy Film Awards 2009

I have for you a clip of Marion Cotillard’s entire presentation at the BAFTA ceremony this past Sunday as well as screencaps of the show. A number of times when a winner made his way to the stage on the right side of the alley Marion could quickly be spotted. I’ve also added captures of these moments.

Gallery: Orange British Academy Film Awards – 2009
Video: Public Appearances > 2009 (also on YouTube)

I hadn’t spotted Marion Cotillard during the red carpet show for tonight’s BAFTA Awards so I figured she wouldn’t be making an appearance. Imagine my surprise then when Jonathan Ross announced last year’s winner for Leading Actress to present the BAFTA for Leading Actor – so a fresh & sexy Marion appeared and handed the coveted statuette to Mickey Rourke. I will have pictures up shortly.

If anyone caught any red carpet footage of Marion, could you please send it in?

036 The Orange British Academy Film Awards 2009
003 The Orange British Academy Film Awards 2009 – Afterparty

[edit Feb 10:] Added 4 more pictures of Marion at Harvey Weinstein’s After Party at the Double Club in London

I finally found the time to scan the Marion Cotillard interview featured in the first ever issue of French movie magazine “Studio Ciné Live”. So sorry for the delay in getting them up. Translation to follow.

The article also had a second Public Enemies still. If anyone has a better quality version of the first still (also newly added to the gallery) please don’t hesitate to send it in as it would be greatly appreciated!

004 Studio Ciné Live (France) – February
002 Public Enemies – 2009 > Stills

The first ever issue of Studio Ciné Live (combination of former French movie magazines Studio and Ciné Live), on newsstands January 28, will feature a special interview with Marion Cotillard. Last week French gossip website Purepeople.com released an extract (Scans & full translation will follow as soon as I’m able to pick up the magazine). From that we get 2 fantastic news:

1) Marion is all set to appear on stage! She’ll appear in Arthur Honegger’s play Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher at the Théâtre Marigny in Paris this July! She last played that role in May 2005, back then however in Orléans.

2) Marion’s much awaited first French film (though maybe in the English language) after her Oscar win The Last Flight by Karim Dridi, in which she plays female aviator Chubbie Miller next to Guillaume Canet’s Bill Lancaster, is still happening. Filming is set to begin March 9 in the Moroccan desert.