Vanessa Kirby reveals her prep for Josephine in the Joaquin Phoenix led Napoleon took her to Paris

The Joaquin Phoenix led Napoleon is soon to hit theatres. The Ridley Scott helmed biographical period drama also features actress Vanessa Kirby in the pivotal role of Josephine, wife to the French military commander. The actress recently opened up about the kind of intense but fulfilling preparation that went into becoming the character.

How Vanessa Kirby embraced the character of Josephine

As per a recent press release, Vanessa Kirby admitted to not knowing much about French history, a realisation which caught the actress by surprise. What commenced was a complete immersion in the life and psyche of Josephine with a lens of empathy. Kirby's prep for the role did not just lead her down a rabbit hole of books but also on an informative trip to Paris which included a visit to Josephine's tomb.

She said, "I knew nothing about French history – I was actually quite astonished that I knew so little. So, it was a pleasure: I locked myself away and just read every book I could, about her and about him. We also went to Paris, to the Napoleon Museum, to Malmaison. I even went to Josephine’s tomb. It was a deep immersion in that history and that period, and it was such a privilege to learn about her."

Ridley Scott has mounted Napoleon to be a visual spectacle

In a recent interview, director Ridley Scott delved into the visual elements of the film vouching for great attention to detail and historical credibility. The Gladiator director shared how every last detail of what will be seen on screen has been researched and vetted. 

He said, "Every aspect of what you see from armoury to horses to saddles to hats, to the wardrobe, it's all researched. I sit there like an octopus glomming all this stuff coming at me because they’ve researched everyone. I’m like a child, I look at picture books. I go ‘I like that’..." Napoleon will be releasing in theatres in India on November 24.