One of the standout elements in the new adaptation of The Three Musketeers is Eva Green. The 43-year-old French actress joins a stellar cast that features Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, and François Civil. Milady, the second installment of the Bourboulon duo, dives into a darker, more enigmatic corner of Alexandre Dumas’s world, with Green portraying the iconic yet morally ambiguous anti-hero. The Hollywood star has spent recent years focused on European cinema and television, and in a Paris interview with El Periódico de Catalunya, she explains what drew her to this complex figure and how she prepared to embody her multifaceted portrayal. This is a production that aims high and delivers tension from the first frame.
Milady is presented as a dark character with nuance. If she were merely evil, the role would lack allure, Green notes as she discusses one of the saga’s most compelling figures. In Bourboulon’s films – which may form a trilogy – her character weaves through plots of courtly intrigue and religious conflict, making her a pivotal catalyst in the layered, historical narrative that fans of Dumas know well.
A femme fatale in the mythological sense
When asked about her broader favorite works, Green recalls The Count of Monte Cristo and reflects on how the Musketeers universe shaped her. The actor grew up absorbing the stories and subsequent screen adaptations, forever tied to the image of Milady that has haunted the franchise for decades. She credits Lana Turner’s unforgettable Milady in the 1948 film with leaving a lasting impression that influenced her approach to the character. Green notes that her own Milady blends danger with vulnerability, a balance that keeps the audience guessing about her next move.
Her journey from Bond girl in Casino Royale to Miss Peregrine and beyond informs her take on the femme fatale. Green describes Milady as seductive and manipulative, yet not devoid of cracks in her personality. The script’s strength lies in giving Milady layers rather than painting her as a single trait. One memorable sequence in the second film features a tense face-to-face with Athos, played by Cassel, where the roots of Milady’s obsessive nature are explored and revealed in a charged confrontation that anchors the drama.
A modern and chameleon-like character
The Milady portrayed by Green stands out for its modern sensibility and internal conflict. She is depicted as a self-made woman, independent and unafraid to challenge conventions or others’ judgments. Her dynamic with D’Artagnan, portrayed by Civil, drives the narrative tempo across the two films and hints at a structure that feels reminiscent of serialized storytelling. Viewers who skip the first part risk missing crucial context for the second, as the arc builds on its earlier foundations.
Milady also evolves with remarkable ease, adopting different roles to reach her aims. The character’s wardrobe shifts reflect this adaptability, underscoring the actress and costume team’s collaborative achievement. Green praises the work behind the costumes, noting that maintaining rapport with the designers is essential when a character is constantly changing appearance to suit her schemes.
Naturally, Green participates in key action moments that leave a mark on this cloak-and-dagger epic. She trained in swordplay for two months, and in one scene she recalls that her blade caught the fabric and altered the outcome, a playful anecdote that fans of the blockbuster will enjoy. While the films aim to entertain and attract large audiences, that same energy can also puzzle the most ardent cinephiles who crave precision and nuance in historical adventure.