Isabelle Huppert Mesmerises in Unconventional Mary Queen of Scots Play

Théâtre de la Ville-Paris, Mary Said What She Said, credit Lucie Jansch.

French Actress Delivers Powerful Performance in Avant-Garde Production

Mary Said What She Said is experimental theatre at its finest. The avant-garde play engagingly follows the shadowy figure of Mary, Queen of Scots, gradually revealing her mythic persona. Portrayed by the incomparable Isabelle Huppert, Mary narrates truths and untruths about her life, blurring the lines between fact and fiction in a riveting performance.

Théâtre de la Ville-Paris, Mary Said What She Said, credit Lucie Jansch.

The French actress, renowned for her uncompromising portrayals, is perfectly cast in this unconventional take on the controversial queen’s story. Huppert laughs, cries, gossips, lies, and speaks candidly, breathing life into Mary’s complex narrative. From her upbringing in France and marriage to King Francis II to her return to a Protestant-ruled Scotland as a widow, Huppert brilliantly embodies the myriad personas of this enigmatic woman.

Mary’s life unfolds through a series of vignettes, with Huppert seamlessly transforming into the witch, the strong woman, the feeble woman, and the powerful woman — a true tour de force. Her nuanced performance underscores the challenges Mary faced as a…