On display since February 28, “Dune 2” is the cinema event of the start of the year. The opportunity for the general public to discover Souheila Yacoub, a 31-year-old Swiss actress notably seen at Gaspar Noé.
Three years after the first part, Dune fans can finally discover at the cinema the second part of the adventures of Paul Atreides, still played by Timothée Chalamet, who unites with Chani and the Fremen to lead the revolt against those who destroyed his family.
Within this tribe, he will cross paths with Shishakli, a warrior who is originally a male character in Frank Herbert’s novel. “I just know that the gender change totally fits the story, because she’s in a very egalitarian and feminist tribe. The director also wanted to create a human connection for Chani, Zendaya’s role, to develop a beautiful friendship”explains her interpreter, actress Souheila Yacoub, in the columns of the Swiss newspaper The morning.
RINDOFF-BORDE / BESTIMAGE
A former high-level gymnast
At 31, this Swiss, daughter of a Belgian and a Tunisian, is having her first Hollywood experience. However, it was not cinema but sport that she was destined for. She practiced rhythmic gymnastics from the age of 4 and joined the Federal High School of Sports in Macolin at the age of 12. A member of the Swiss national rhythmic gymnastics team for six years, she participated in several international championships, notably the world championships in 2011, where her team finished in fourth place.
Determined to compete at the London 2012 Summer Games, she devoted herself fully to training from the age of 16, despite her intensity and the harshness of her coaches. His team was finally selected, but was disqualified to give its place to Great Britain, the organizing country.
Wild Bunch Cast
In “Climax” with Sofia Boutella
Miss French-speaking Switzerland 2012
Determined to turn the page, Souheila Yacoub entered the Miss Suisse Romande competition in 2012 and won the title. She then enrolled at a dance school in Geneva, before arriving in Paris, where she enrolled at the Cours Florent with the help of a scholarship. Three years later, in 2016, she joined the National Higher Conservatory of Dramatic Art.
She did not complete her course to devote herself to the opportunities that presented themselves to her: in 2017, the playwright Wajdi Mouawad chose her for his play All birds. She then made her cinema debut in two feature films that are polar opposites: the psychedelic Climax by Gaspar Noé and the generational comedy Les Affamés, alongside Louane.
CPB FILMS/ SCARLETT PRODUCTION /CANAL+
“The Savages”
Daughter of the President of the Republic
The actress then moved on to projects: daughter of the President of the Republic in Rebecca Zlotowski’s series, Les Sauvages; she is a Kurdish fighter in the series No Man’s Land on Arte, the former great love of a thug in De bas jardin, an aspiring actress with electrifying energy in Between the Waves, or even one of the conquests of a young provincial in The Salt of Tears by Philippe Garrel.
I didn’t go through any casting, I didn’t do any readings. I simply received a call from Denis Villeneuve offering me the role.
The Hollywood adventure
After having been directed by Cédric Klapisch (En corps) and Cédric Kahn (Making Of), Souheila Yacoub begins 2024 with her face on the poster of the biggest blockbuster of the start of the year. A Dantesque six-month shoot, which took her from Budapest to Jordan, via Abu Dhabi.
Impressed by the means implemented, the actress had no time to rest, although she was not the main role: “In big Hollywood productions, it’s not always easy, because we don’t shoot every day. We’re very happy when we get hired, but we have to hang on. We’re somewhat at their disposal. For example, I wasn’t filming the first two weeks, but I had fight coaching and Chakobsa lessons, the imaginary language of the film. I had four lessons a week.”
AGENCY / BESTIMAGE
The ‘Dune 2’ team at the London premiere
She still can’t believe she participated in Dune: Part Two: “I had a lucky star on this feature film. I didn’t do any casting, I didn’t do any readings. I just received a call from Denis Villeneuve offering me the role. I don’t know by what miracle I landed on this set with all these stars that I admire”. (Interview by The morning)
Souheila Yacoub is not done with SF: we will soon find her in Planète B by Aude-Léa Rapin. She will also be in Les Femmes au balcon, directed by Noémie Merlant.
Our meeting with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler and Denis Villeneuve: