Hafsia Herzi, a French actress known for her enigmatic and compelling performances in dramatic films, has taken on a new role in the thriller Histoires de la nuit, directed by Léa Mysius and released in theaters on September 16. The film is an adaptation of Laurent Mauvignier’s best-selling novel and follows a mid-40s woman who is seemingly content with her life but is suddenly confronted by three figures from her past on her birthday. The movie was selected for the Cannes Film Festival competition and features a cast that includes Benoît Magimel, Bastien Bouillon, and Monica Bellucci. Herzi, who also directed her own film La Petite dernière, which was released last year, spoke about her role and the film’s production during an interview in Paris. Herzi had previously seen Léa Mysius’s work and admired her distinctive cinematic style, which influenced her decision to accept the role. She noted that while she has not often been cast in thriller roles, she found the opportunity to work closely with Mysius on a closed set to be an artistic challenge and a valuable experience. She read the novel after the filming was completed and expressed admiration for the author’s writing and Mysius’s adaptation of the story. In the film, Herzi plays Nora, a character with two contrasting sides: one more reserved and composed, and the other more open and unrestrained. She emphasized the importance of understanding these dual aspects during rehearsals, particularly when working with co-stars Bastien Bouillon and Tawba El Gharchi. She found the intense emotional tension in the film difficult to portray and often needed to step back to stay focused during the shoot. Herzi has previously played enigmatic characters in films like La Prisonnière de Bordeaux and Borgo, and she is drawn to such roles because of their complexity and the emotional depth they offer. She mentioned that directors often cast her in these types of roles, but she is careful to avoid falling into clichés by varying her approach each time she takes on a new character. Herzi has recently been recognized for her performances, including a César Award for Best Actress for Borgo, and her film La Petite dernière was well-received at Cannes, though it did not win a César. She is currently working on a new acting role in La Foudre and also directing an adaptation of Leïla Slimani’s novel Dans le jardin de l'ogre. While she expressed some disappointment at not winning a César for La Petite dernière, she acknowledged the recognition from Cannes and the film’s commercial success.