Lorraine Kelly praises Brie Larson for response to ‘awkward’ Johnny Depp question
‘You’re asking me that?’ actor questioned journalist at press conference on Tuesday
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Lorraine Kelly has praised actor Brie Larson for shutting down a question about Johnny Depp at the Cannes Film Festival.
On Tuesday (16 May), Larson was appearing on a panel as a member of the competition’s jury, when she was asked how she felt about Depp’s new film Jeanne du Barry opening the festival.
“You’re asking me that? I’m sorry, I don’t understand the correlation or why me specifically,” the Captain Marvel star replied, looking somewhat baffled.
When the journalist explained that he was asking due to Larson’s support for the Time’s Up movement, Larson responded: “Understood. Well, you’ll see, I guess, if I see it, and I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if I do.”
Larson was praised online for her response to the question, with Kelly joining the actor’s supporters on Wednesday’s episode (17 May) of Lorraine.
Describing how Larson had been “taken aback” by the line of questioning, Kelly said: “That’s the way to shut down an awkward question.”
“Well done Brie,” she added.
Directed by French filmmaker Maïwenn, Jeanne du Barry tells the story of King Louis XV’s mistress Jeanne Vaubernier, with Depp playing the French king.
The French-language film opened the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday (16 May) night, with Depp “tearing up” as the film was met with a seven-minute standing ovation.
While the film was met with mixed responses from critics in attendance, The Independent’s Geoffrey Macnab gave it a four-star review, calling Jeanne du Barry “surprisingly great”.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Depp’s appearance marks his first lead role since winning his highly publicised defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard last year.
Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Frémaux has defended the “controversial choice” to have Depp’s film open the festival several times.
“I don’t know about the image of Johnny Depp in the US,” he recently said. “To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it’s the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework.”