Victoria Lacoste is a talented actress and executive producer. At 29, she has already played significant roles, both in the cinema and theater stage and by creating her own production company, Edelweiss. Free-spirited, ingenious… and trilingual (French, English, and German), born in Annemasse to a French father and a Swiss mother, her success is impressive and makes her an example of a brilliant career. Equally comfortable in front of the camera and as an executive producer, this young woman leads her career like a free spirit. A sense of freedom and a rebellious spirit are part of her DNA, reminiscent of her illustrious grandfather, visionary René Lacoste, who founded the famous brand Lacoste, and her great-grandfather, Jean-Jules, who was a rowing champion.
We met Victoria on a terrace with a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean, the Bay of Cannes, and the famous 77th Cannes Film Festival, to learn more about her career.
Victoria, can you tell us about moments from your childhood?
I had a rather solitary childhood, out of sync with my peers. I was bullied at school and had an intensity and desire to surpass myself, where no one expected it. But it was singing lessons, at the age of 10, that changed everything. I learned to move, to sing… to express myself. From being shy, I became a chameleon with an adaptability that has never left me. I fell in love with the stage, a true revelation.
Was the idea of becoming an actress spontaneous, or was there a moment in your life that led you to this profession?
With singing, theater, musical comedy, and the pleasure of being on stage with recognition from my peers, I found my place. After finishing high school, I left at 18 for Melbourne, Australia, to work for a year in a zoo. After a brief return to France, I headed a world tour to Colorado, USA, where I was the first foreigner enrolled at the University of Boulder in the “Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre” program. It was a rich program of theatrical studies, directing, and diversity. A forward-looking practice and a multitude of ways to create. Among the many works, I played the character of Christine in the play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House. A strong role for which I received an Irene Ryan Acting nomination. For someone who never felt in the right place, never fit into standard boxes, I discovered myself. Four years later, with my diploma with congratulations, I realized that my passion for the stage had multiplied. After Colorado, Los Angeles with my insatiable thirst to move forward, without waiting for the phone to ring.
What I love about this job is the diversity. I can’t see myself doing anything else. I am inspired by things that are not necessarily in the spotlight. I have a deep fascination for Denis Villeneuve, who can make a short film like Next Floor, then films like Incendies, Sicario, Blade Runner 2049, and now Dune Part Three! He has an incredible aesthetic signature. I also have sincere admiration for the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan. They choose actors against type, they take risks, and that’s what I love. Just like the work of directors Claire Denis, Emmanuelle Bercot, Julia Ducournau, or even the Argentinian Gaspar Noé.I am connected to their universes. I would like to continue creating with collaborators who share my goals while maintaining an acting career to get involved in projects. Being a woman in a position of power is not something I take lightly. I believe that, in a way, it involves the responsibility of bringing a new perspective and a new point of view to the film and theater industry. If I could contribute, even in the most modest way, to changing some toxic dynamics while bringing new voices to light, I would consider that a huge success.
Tell us about the birth of Edelweiss Productions
”Quiet on set. Action!”
In 2018, I created my company, Edelweiss Productions. Producing to be able to play roles that match my desires. “If I have to be outside the system, so be it!”. For me, the best way to fit in, to work with a team, to understand the codes… is to jump in at the deep end. My signature? Atypical and dynamic projects. Quickly, I produced, with a friend, Kelsey Bollig, a genre short film: Asking for a Friend (2019) then The Fourth Wall (2020). Widely praised by critics, we accumulated over sixty festivals and forty awards worldwide, such as the prestigious HollyShorts Film Festival where The Fourth Wall won Best Horror Film among 6,000 other short films. A festival recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, allowing the best to qualify for the Oscars. Being a producer doesn’t make me forget my passion for acting and theater. A double hat that allows me to act in my productions. In the United States, being both an actress and a producer is not an issue. As an actress, it’s a dream to be able to play roles that push the limits. And thanks to the success of the first film, I discovered a passion: setting up projects, even if it means juggling two jobs. A mountain of stress that I have learned to tame. Managing a team of 60 people while playing my role was quite a challenge, but in hindsight, a successful bet! Today, even if the stress of producing, creating, and acting is constant, I have found my path. Producing atypical, surprising, audacious films is my challenge, my necessity, and my oxygen.
Today, Edelweiss Productions aims to be at the genesis of bold projects, even those in independent cinema, which is entering a new era. I believe that one of the greatest challenges will be to continue evolving in a time where we feel freer than ever, thanks to all these new media and platforms available, while never being so policed in our expression. I posted a personal film project on Instagram containing a small part of nudity. It was removed within 24 hours!
I sincerely hope that we will manage to change what is considered “acceptable,” especially regarding women’s bodies and sexuality, and that we will learn to see a woman’s or man’s body not as a threat but as a mode of expression in itself.
What role in your career has had the most impact on you?
As part of a student-directed play, I played a cat in a Peruvian play at the university. This experience was impactful because the role was very physical. I had to portray a strong animal and learn a script in 10 days. A real emotional and physical challenge!
What is your most cherished goal or dream?
I would love to have an international career, being present in France and always in the United States! I am a true chameleon, so I would like to perform a theater piece in Paris while continuing to produce films, to be at the genesis of important projects.
Cinema, theater or production: what excites you the most?
All three excite me, but I have a soft spot for theater. I love being on stage, having the opportunity to reinvent myself every night. Peter Brook said, “In cinema, you have acted, in theater, you are acting.” The magic of theater is that no performance is like another, as the audience is different each time.
We are in the midst of the 77th Cannes Film Festival. What emotion does this globally followed mythical event evoke in you?
During the festival, I felt a mix of wonder and accomplishment. I am finally starting to implement certain projects, and I am making exciting connections that, I am sure, will impact my career.
Tell us about your future projects.
Currently, I am preparing a dramatic action film with a backdrop of love and car racing. This is the first time the project genesis comes from Edelweiss Productions. It has a special meaning because it is my first true personal project on a large scale. I am also working on a theatrical project in Paris, but I won’t say more for now…
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edelweissfilmproductions.com
instagram.com/edelweissfilmproductions
