Enfnts Terribles

With five hours on the clock and five outfits to shoot, there’s not much time to waste. “Is it okay if we talk during make-up?” I ask as I take a seat on the toilet in the hotel bathroom. Nothing Natali isn’t used to with movie sets as her second home. “Of course,” she smiles. There’s not even a hint of stress to be seen.

“I feel good. There’s a lot going on with COVID-19, and the fact that we have been in this situation for so long … It doesn’t feel complete. The world doesn’t turn like it used to. But I have to say, it wasn’t doing well in the first place. Considering the climate issues we are facing, it seems like we still haven’t learned a lot.” Even though Natali misses a lot of things, she feels like 2020 was a good year for her. “With theater company De Koe we finished our tour through France just in time before the pandemic hit. And to have been able to shoot Déjà Vu in between two lockdowns was so much fun. But I also love doing shoots like this. After all, my kids are healthy, everything’s going well, and it seems like better times are ahead.”

TOO SMALL

I couldn’t help but wonder if, given the chance, which moment in her life Natali would love to experience again. “My thoughts immediately go to S.. (editor’s note: Natali’s first movie role in 1998). At that time, I didn’t know if I wanted to continue with acting. But then someone believes in you. And you start becoming independent. I’d love to experience something like that again. But it’s not something you can look for. It just happens to you.”

And thank god it happened, because Natali almost didn’t go through with her first role. “At acting school, they didn’t believe in me. My teacher (editor’s note: the late actress Dora van der Groen) told me that I act too small, and failed me. Then director Guido Henderickx asked me for S.. He told me that he had already cast a lead actress but wanted me to do it. ‘If you don’t do it, I won’t shoot the movie,’ he said. I came to set, was still in school and so … I don’t know, I want to experience that again. That moment when you’re like, ‘Hey, I love this!’ At school, there was competition between students, but when you’re on set, everyone is working towards the same goal. Everyone respects each other.” And then there was the very first scene. “It was with Dora: the teacher that failed me. So that was …” (laughs)

Natali’s eyes light up when she gets her eyes on a pair of Red Valentino boots for her next look. “Can I keep them?” she jokes. They would become part of a huge collection. “My sister always asks me how many pairs of shoes I have. Years ago, I loved going to stock sales. It doesn’t really appeal to me anymore, but I still have a lot of shoes from those times. Many of them are expensive, but I often managed to get them at bargain prices. It’s easy for me to spend money on pretty stuff. But then again, I recently needed a raincoat, and that’s something I refuse to spend a lot of money on. (laughs) I hate rain, and you’d think that if you buy a nice, good quality coat, you’ll be less bothered by the weather circumstances. But no, I was like, ‘Next time I’ll get a good one!’”

As the hairspray covers Natali’s blonde locks, she’s ready to be welcomed back on set. But one question lasts. We’ve talked about going back in time, but what about the future? “Oh god, please, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know what’s on our plate. Career-wise, it would be amazing to keep getting roles like these. Something new every time. I love theater, I love film. But if I wouldn’t get any proposals anymore … You know, I admire people who suddenly flip the switch and do something completely different with their life. Sometimes I think about that. I don’t know what I’d do, but maybe something will cross my path.”