For the beautiful young singer/actress Nora Arnezeder, the chance to take on the lead role Paris 36—the latest motion picture from acclaimed French filmmaker Christophe Barratier (The Chorus)—was a dream come true. “When I came to Paris to become a performer, this is exactly the kind of movie I wanted to do,” confesses the 20-year-old newcomer, struggling with her English. “The fact that I got the part was like the plot of Hollywood movie. I would have never thought this would happen to me. I hope I did a good job, because this is a fantastic film.”

Already a hit film in its native France, the musical comedy/drama Paris 36 is set in the small French working-class neighborhood of Faubourg in the Spring of 1936, where a handful of the town’s inhabitants attempt to reopen the shuttered Chansonia Music Hall. Arnezeder plays Douce, a young singer from the countryside whose arrival shakes up the lives of the music hall veterans.

What attracted you to the film Paris 36? What made you want to be a part of the production?
“More than anything, the music. Of course, I loved the script, particularly the characters. All the characters are so well defined. They all have great stories and when you add the music to it, the film really becomes something special. It’s a wonderful way to tell a story. And, as an actress, it allowed me the chance to act, dance and sing, all in one movie. There was no way I could pass it up.”

Were you able to see a lot of yourself in your character, Douce?
“Yes, very much so. In the film, she’s from northern France and she goes to Paris with dreams of becoming a singer. My own life story is a little bit like that. I’m from the south of France, and I moved to Paris to go to a school for music—to sing and dance. So, we have a little in common.”

Since you were already a singer and dancer, how did you feel about acting in the film?
“I loved it! I’m not trained to be an actress, but I loved having the chance to do it in such a great role. It was tough at times, but I loved playing the character every single minute.”

Is it true that Paris 36 director Christophe Barratier didn’t originally envision you in the lead role?
“It’s true, because he thought I was too young to play her. He wanted me to be in the movie, so he said I could audition for a smaller role. So, I studied hard for the audition. I worked so hard that I was about to pass out from exhaustion. [Laughs] After I auditioned, Christophe decided he wanted me for the lead role. So, the hard work really paid off.”

Although the Paris 36 is set in France and the dialogue is French, the film has a very universal message.
“Exactly, movie lovers all over the world can relate to the characters and their problems because it’s about love and matters of the heart. Everyone can relate to that. And music, that’s the universal language.”

What would you say is the main message of the film?
“There’s many. Always trust yourself, be confident and always retain your dignity, no matter how desperate the situation. There are so many wonderful messages in the film.”

Did you do much research on the time period which Paris 36 takes place?
“I did a little, but I mainly did it for my own education. I didn’t need to know much about France in the ‘30s for my character, but I liked knowing what she might have gone through during that time.”

What did you learn about pre-Second World War France that really surprised you?
“I was really surprised by the anti-Semitism. I read many of the newspapers from the time, and they were so cruel in the things that said about Jewish people. It was disgusting. I was shocked, because there is no way you would be allowed to write those kind of things—or should be allowed. It gave me more of an understanding of what went on during the war, but it made me very sad.”

The film can be very serious at times, but it also deals with the dramatic situations with a touch of humor.
“What is so beautiful about the movie is that it makes it okay to laugh at the harder things in life. We don’t have to be depressed about everything, we can approach with a bit of light-heartedness.”

Since you love to sing, are you planning to record an album?
“Yes, I am actually recording one now.”

What type of music do you like?
“I love jazz. I’m a real jazz baby.”