Kevin Costner and his Horizon co-star Sienna Miller spoke of their deep respect for each other Sunday as they prepared to walk the red carpet for the film’s premiere.
British actress Miller, 42, said she would go “to the end of the world” for Costner.
He said of her: “I think she is one of our great actresses.” Her outer beauty is undeniable, but she is very skilled as an actress.
The films will mark a global comeback for Miller, who seemed headed for stardom 20 years ago after the animated Layer Cake.
First-time mother (in January she gave birth to a daughter with her boyfriend Oli Green) surprised at the photocall with an open jacket and wide pants.
Kevin Costner and his Horizon co-star Sienna Miller spoke of their deep respect for each other Sunday as they prepared to walk the red carpet for the film’s premiere.
British actress Miller, 42, said she would go “to the end of the world” for Costner. He said of her: “I think she is one of our great actresses.” Her outer beauty is undeniable, but she is very skilled as an actress.
Costner, who won seven Oscars for Dances with Wolves in 1990, spent yesterday giving media interviews at the Carlton hotel in Cannes to promote Horizon: An American Saga.
It is the first of four planned film installments and the first two will be released in theaters this summer.
He has been working on the story for 30 years and mortgaged his property in Santa Barbara, California, in order to raise funds to make the films he wanted to make.
On Sunday, Costner was honored with the French Order of Arts and Letters before walking the Palais’ famous red carpet.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said: “You represent the America of wide spaces, the America of free minds, the America of cinema and the love of culture that we share on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Referring to his role in the 1992 box office hit The Bodyguard, he added: “I will always love you.”
Costner, sporting a Wild West mustache and watched by his proud children, had the medal pinned to his white suit.
Costner said it was a dream come true to present the film at Cannes.
He said: ‘I think in everything we do, we have to defend ourselves in some way. We have to defend the moments that we believe are important.
The films will mark a global comeback for Miller, who seemed poised to become a superstar 20 years ago after the animated Layer Cake.
Sienna plays settler Frances Kittredge. She said: ‘I grew up watching western movies. “I think my idea of cinema was a Western when I was a kid, and then Dances with Wolves was a huge, huge part of my life.”
Costner has been working on the story for 30 years and mortgaged his property in Santa Barbara, California, in order to raise funds to make the films he wanted to make.
It is the first of four planned film installments and the first two will be released in theaters this summer.
‘We can’t be consumed with making our pile of money as big as our heart is full… I don’t have to attend to the conventions of what everyone thinks. It’s like telling your story, hoping it’s attractive, believing it’s attractive.
‘It thinks it takes you somewhere, that it’s no more important than any other story, but it’s a story that when the lights go out, it’s the one you’re watching.’
Set in the early 19th century, the film follows several groups heading west. Costner is Hayes Ellison and his own son Hayes is also in the film.
Sienna Miller plays settler Frances Kittredge. She said: ‘I grew up watching western movies. I think my idea of cinema was a Western when I was a kid, and then Dances with Wolves was a huge, huge part of my life.
“I had two rabbits named Two Socks and Cisco,” a reference to the wolf and the horse in that earlier Costner film. “I got a call saying Kevin wanted to talk to me, and then they sent me four scripts and I thought it must be a series.
‘There are four, but they are so big it didn’t really make sense. And then we had this great conversation. I would really go to the end of the world for him, I think he’s phenomenal.”
Costner says women’s stories are central to this new Western. ‘It’s almost impossible to imagine a West without women, isn’t it? The West cannot live without women.
And they understand that they were basically trying to keep their families clean and fed, and the women were working themselves to death. And if they lose their man, there is a chance that their life will turn into something unimaginable, bad.
“That’s why Sienna’s (Miller) character acts so quickly to bring a man into her life, because she knows how vulnerable he can be and she doesn’t care about her reputation to do it. And now we would make it taboo: that’s Too fast, she’s moved too fast.
And he added: ‘I’m not looking for praise because there are women in this. For me, they’re not there, they actually dominate the movie, to be honest. Each of those women dominates when they are on screen.
Actress Wasé Chief plays Liluye, a woman caught in the fight for territory between the indigenous community and incoming settlers. She said: “My dad was in Dances with Wolves and Kevin didn’t know about it until much later.
The cast is seen together at a photo shoot in Cannes on Sunday afternoon.
Costner says women’s stories are central to this new Western. ‘It’s almost impossible to imagine a West without women, isn’t it? “The West cannot live without women.”
“Each character has so much depth, and especially how he’s always portrayed the natives, I knew I was going to be in good hands with him.
“There have been times where I’ve had to turn down jobs because I’m like, ‘I don’t feel right about this as described.’ But Kevin makes sure that the entire Native cast feels really comfortable, and they get it. It’s like it’s just an honorary native.”
Costner adds: ‘I thank God for Cannes. I’m basically an independent filmmaker and I’m here alone.
‘This is a big moment for me because it’s helping me raise awareness about a film. I don’t have all the money in the world to expose this film. But I have my time and a platform here.’