Rossy de Palma became the muse for film director Pedro Almodovar over 20 years ago. Now Almodovar is releasing a new film called Julieta and the Spanish actor is again appearing in his film. De Palma is often referred to as ‘Dama Picasso’ which translates to ‘Picasso come to life’. The actress has very striking, angular, asymmetrical features, like a Picasso painting.
De Palma met Almodover when she was working in a bar in Madrid and he was there with his costume designer. He asked her about the sexy dress and the earrings she was wearing and, to which she explained she had made them herself. He then offered her a role in his next film. This was in 1987.
Almodovar cast De Palma in four more films over the following eight years. In Julieta, De Palma plays Marian, a grumpy, sinister housekeeper in dowdy clothes and hair that is greying and a stare that is penetrating. This is in great contrast to the roles she initially played, where she wore bright, vibrant sexy clothes and her hair was jet black.
Julieta is about a woman who has been missing for years and it explores the issue of ageing where the main character is played by both a young woman and an older woman. The older woman reflects on her life.
Almodovar uses bold and saturated colours and explores themes of mystery, betrayal and death. In the film, a mother writes an unaddressed letter to her only daughter.
