Each time her career causes her to leave the familial cocoon
– a big Colonial-style house – Nancy chaperones her. In studios,
as in Paris, her daughter discovers it again with her. “I love
Paris,” says Kate. “I want to visit all that I saw during my
first trip, three years ago: Versailles, the Rodin Museum,
Montmartre, la Place de la Concorde, the Arc de Triomphe…later,
I hope to spend a year in Paris, to get to know the city better
and to perfect my French. For the moment, nothing’s changed in
my life. I work, I play with my Schnauzer, Anna, and my three
cats, Calli, So-So, and Mississippi. I still have the same
friends. My friends don’t treat me like a star. I skate with
them, we go to the pool, we listen to records and we stuff
ourselves with ice cream—luckily I don’t have to pay attention
to my figure…I like my studies a lot, especially English,
history, math, and French, which isn’t an easy language.”
Kate giggles, tosses her long blonde hair, looks at her
mother who, with a shake of her head, approves, and it’s decided
they should reveal the rest of the message from Depardieu. “I
know,” Gérard writes on, “that you will become a great actress,
because you have a great heart…”
“I believe,” the young girl says again, “that I am capable of
leading two careers at the same time, as a model and as an
actress. Lauren Hutton, who also played in “My Father, the
Hero”, has certainly shown that it’s possible. But I have maybe
a stronger liking for movies. I like to play and I am fascinated
by actors. I’m a big fan of Grace Kelly, Michelle Pfeiffer,
Jodie Foster, and Gérard Depardieu. To be an actor requires
constant work, but it’s worth the pain, since it’s something I
feel. Gérard Depardieu helped me, throughout the filming in the
Bahamas. We spoke often. He was truly like a father to me. I
know his daughter, but not his son yet. Gérard is both funny and
touching. I learned a lot through working with him.” Today,
fulfilled, Kate keeps a bit of a silly dream, that she really
hopes will happen: “I would love,” she confides, “to be 20 years
old in Paris!”
