It was on the set of Francois Truffaut’s film that I first met Jacqueline Bisset.
Jacqueline Bisset started off her acting career in the 1966 Roman Polanski film Cul-de-sac, where she was credited as Jackie. The next year, she won a supporting role in the Audrey Hepburn/Albert Finney film Two for the Road and shortly thereafter a role in the James Bond satire Casino Royale. But it was in the 1970s that would bring Bisset the most fame and critical acclaim, starting with her lead in the award-winning Truffaut film, Day for Night.
We connected immediately from the beginning and have been very good friends ever since that movie. Some of my earliest photos of Bisset were used on the cover of the Sunday Times Magazine and Jour de France She was one of the most popular young actresses around and very much in demand. Whenever I came to LA she always invited me to stay at her beautiful home a Spanish styled house. Those invitations lead to quite a few photo sessions. We also worked together on two more films, The Deep and The Greek Tycoon.
I remember once, when we were working together in a hotel, shooting some portraits, I noticed that she really knew how to use the light coming from the window to her advantage. She’d instinctively put herself into a position where she felt the light was good.
She’s met my family and I’d always call her whenever we were in the same city. Just to catch-up for a girlie chat, that sort of thing. She’s a very good friend–and everything that goes with that.
Extract taken from Eva Sereny’s ‘Through Her Lens‘ available from the Iconic Images store SIGNED by Eva Sereny, shop now.