- Title: FRANCE: Bruce Willis awarded prestigious French honour
- Date: 11th February 2013
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) ACTOR BRUCE WILLIS AND FRENCH CULTURE MINISTER AURELIE FILIPPETTI BEING PHOTOGRAPHED VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS FILIPPETTI SPEAKING AT PODIUM WILLIS' WIFE EMMA HEMING WATCHING WILLIS LISTENING TO FILIPPETTI JOURNALISTS FILIPPETTI PUTTING COMMANDER OF ARTS AND LITERATURE AWARD AROUND WILLIS' NECK WILLIS AND FILIPPETTI BEING PHOTOGRAPHED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR BRUCE WILLIS, SAYING: "I always feel at home in Paris and when I'm in France. I feel very comfortable here and I always look forward to coming back. It is an honour, a real honour to be here for the second time and to get this very high honour for the commanders. And I couldn't be more pleased." HEMING WATCHING PHOTOGRAPHERS HEMING JOINING WILLIS AND FILIPPETTI ON STAGE, BEING PHOTOGRAPHED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR BRUCE WILLIS, SAYING: "I like the idea that it would possibly be that I don't take myself very seriously, that the characters I play always try as hard as they can to think that they're in charge but in truth, women are in charge. Women should be in charge of everything." WILLIS SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS
- Embargoed: 26th February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- City:
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts
- Reuters ID: LVA65VNA7XPI4BT6CRKQAKHEZD3Z
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- Story Text: He may be best known for his tough man roles, but a softly-spoken Bruce Willis seemed humbled as he received the prestigious Commander of Arts and Literature award in Paris on Monday (February 11).
With his wife model and actress Emma Heming looking on, Willis expressed his fondness for the country celebrating his work.
"I always feel at home in Paris and when I'm in France. I feel very comfortable here and I always look forward to coming back. It is an honour, a real honour to be here for the second time and to get this very high honour for the commanders. And I couldn't be more pleased," he said, wiping away a tear.
Previously an Officer of Arts and Literature in France, and Willis' new role as Commander puts him in the same league as David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Michael Caine.
French Culture Minister Aurelie Filipetti praised Willis' diverse roles from Pulp Fiction to his iconic portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard films, currently on their fifth installment.
Asked why he thought his work resonated so much with French audiences, Willis said the feminine power behind his tough guy characters was key.
"I like the idea that it would possibly be that I don't take myself very seriously, that the characters I play always try as hard as they can to think that they're in charge but in truth, women are in charge. Women should be in charge of everything," he said.
Willis' latest outing as McClane, 'A Good Day to Die Hard', will hit cinemas worldwide on February 14. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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