The Celebrity Truth

A controversial comment made by French actress Marion Cotillard about the September 11 attacks has landed the Oscar winner in hot water, however, her lawyer says the quote was taken out of context and Cotillard is "in shock".

During an interview on French television in February 2007, Cotillard expressed her view that New York’s World Trade Center may not have been the target of terrorists, but rather, an American-sanctioned attack, as it was a "money-sucker" and would have been too costly to rewire and maintain.

The comments have drawn widespread criticism from the media and online message-boards, just as the actress is enjoying the highs of winning an Academy Award for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in ‘La Vie en Rose’.

However, her Paris based lawyer, Bastien Duval, has told Britain’s The Times that Cotillard had simply formed her own opinion about the attack on the Twin Towers, electing not to follow those ideas that were fed by the government.

"This reportage has been taken out of context, and one can only condemn such practices," Duval said.

"Marion deplores that.  She is currently filming in Chicago and has a lot of work. She is in an ocean of happiness and voila, this row blows up.  It’s rather strange.  It’s an old report, not at all current.  Why bring it out now?"

He continues, "I talked three times to Marion overnight.  This is worrying her.  She is still in shock and does not really know how to react.  She doesn’t have to apologise for a badly presented and badly interpreted reportage."

Duval reveals that Cotillard "hopes that the Americans will have enough distance to understand, but her career is not just American. She can make films everywhere."

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Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox.