While watching the Walter’s Choice limited series Resistance(now on Passport), WGBH Drama Club was absolutely enchanted by the brave lead character, Lili Franchet. A (semi-fictional) French Resistance fighter, Lili is in all the right places at all the right times to give us an inside look at the Groupe du Musee de L'Homme, a movement in the French resistance to the German occupation during World War II. As her story unfolds amidst the worldwide political upheaval during this time, we also get a glimpse of the joys and trials in Lili's personal life. And we couldn’t help but be impressed by the range of the young actress who portrays Lili: one Pauline Burlet.
So, as is our wont here at WGBH Drama Club, we did some internet snooping to find out more about this intriguing new face:
1. Burlet isn't actually French.
She was born and raised in Belgium, which has three official languages: French, German, and Dutch. French is most prominent in the Wallonia region, where Burlet’s hometown of Mons is located, and so she is a Francophile.
2. Burlet started acting at the age of five.
A local woman in Mons ran drama classes for children, and invited the young Burlet to come sample a class. Naturally, the young girl was hooked.
3. This led to a series of auditions for Burlet.
During her time at the local drama school, Burlet began going to casting calls for commercials and simply enjoyed the process of acting. But it wasn’t until she was nine years old that she landed her first big role.
4. Which is why she might look familiar...
That break-out role that we just mentioned? Burlet played 10-year-old Edith Piaf in the 2007 film La Vie En Rose. We knew she looked familiar!
5. …But Burlet almost didn’t get the part.
Burlet left her audition for Young Edith in La Vie En Rose feeling less than confident. Earlier that day, she had lost her voice, and so she had to conduct the entire audition using just her hands and face to emote.
6. Burlet’s work in film led her to another passion...
While La Vie En Rose was her first big film moment, she wasn’t blinded by her role on set. In fact, she came away from filming with a strong desire to direct — though she has yet to exercise it.
7. …and to more opportunities.
It was also on La Vie En Rose where Burlet met Alain Goldman, producer of La Vie En Rose — and co-creator of Resistance.
8. Burlet is highly lauded in her home country of Belgium.
In 2013, she was nominated for a Magritte, the Belgian version of the Oscars. Although she was passed over for the Best Promising Actress award in 2013, for her role in Dead Man Talking, she landed the award in 2014, for her role in Asghar Farhadi’s The Past.
9. And speaking of The Past…
Burlet first walked the red carpet of Cannes at the premiere of The Past. Director Asghar Farhadi had a huge impact on Burlet, who said that she developed a father-daughter relationship with the Oscar-winning director.
10. But, despite all of the amazing directors she's worked with, Burlet's favorite director is American Tim Burton.
...So much so that she’s said she would give anything to film with him.
If you haven’t gotten around to watching Resistance yet, join us! The limited series is now available for viewing on Passport.
