Italian actress, director, DJ, and singer Asia Argento is returning to the cinema after being a leading figure in the #MeToo movement. The punk artist stars in the wacky comedy Plus forts que le diable alongside Melvil Poupaud this Wednesday, March 25, 2026. This is an opportunity to revisit her tormented life and long career.
propos recueillis par Violaine Schütz.
Published on March 29, 2022. Modified on March 22, 2026.
Denouncing Harvey Weinstein at Cannes could have buried her career. And marked it with an iron brand. But the flamboyant Italian actress, director, and singer Asia Argento, 50, is very much alive. And in great shape in the very gory and delirious Plus forts que le diable, which is released in theaters on March 25, 2026.
She has worked with Sofia Coppola, Olivier Assayas, Bertrand Bonello, Abel Ferrara, Dario Argento (her father), Gus Van Sant and Bertrand Bonello. In this wacky comedy, she plays a sadistic female gangster alongside Melvil Poupaud and Marine Vacth. This is an opportunity to meet a talented, uncompromising, and punk artist.
Asia Argento on Plus forts que le diable
Numéro : What made you wish to star in Plus forts que le diable?
Asia Argento : I loved the script. Even though the things that happen are horrible and absurd, I believed in it thanks to the writing, which is formidable. I wanted to be part of that world. As well, it wasn’t just gory, but also moving, especially the relationship between the father and son who haven’t seen each other in a long time. And then I love the director, Graham Guit (Le ciel est à nous). He’s a very kind person. When you say someone is kind, you immediately think they’re stupid. But he has a pure heart. He even told me something at the conclude of the shoot that I didn’t think I’d hear in my life, and especially in my career: “Thank God he sent me Asia Argento!” (laughs)
Asia Argento, Melvil Poupaud and Nahuel Perez Biscayart in the film Plus forts que le diable (2026).“I’m fed up with bourgeois cinema. I always want to break taboos.” Asia Argento
The film is a comedy, a rare genre in your career…
Yes, I couldn’t believe I was going to like the script so much at first because I don’t really like comedies in general. They are never as disturbing and delirious as this one. I absolutely wanted to play in the film after devouring the script. In fact, my role was written for a guy who pulled out at the last minute. I fought to play it. I even wanted to play it more like a man on screen, but the director wouldn’t let me (laughs). It’s quite a female gangster, which is rare. That said, in Italy, you can identify them.
Did you realize Melvil Poupaud before filming this movie?
I didn’t know Melvil personally, even though I had seen a lot of his films. I got along very well with him. He’s adorable, very kind and intelligent. Plus, he has great musical taste, which is something rare in cinema. We found common ground in music, especially Bob Dylan. I discovered that he has a band. And I’m obsessed with music (Asia Argento is also a singer and has been a DJ, ed.). So we talked a lot about that on set. And then, Melvil is a quiet person. Everyone went home together in the evening, in Belgium… We worked a lot. But there weren’t people staying out late (laughs). It was a good team and a good atmosphere. I was happy on this shoot, which doesn’t happen very often in my life (laughs). I loved the actors. I’m still in touch with Nahuel Perez Biscayart. I couldn’t look him in the eye during the shoot because he made me laugh so much with his wig. I don’t know if it shows on screen that I always wanted to laugh. I hope not…
“Art isn’t a walk in the park.” Asia Argento
Not long ago, you were seen in Les Reines du drame. A great project presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024…
Yes, it was a completely crazy and camp adventure. I think I’ve never shot a film like that before. As I had prosthetics on my face in this feature film, I said to myself: “Damn, this is the end of my career.” Everyone will think I’ve messed up with cosmetic surgery. I play a has-been diva. And I feel a bit has-been sometimes. But I accept it. So it was made for me (ed.). There were very intelligent and creative people involved in this project, from the director to the cinematographer to the costume team. They were young people trying a lot of different things. I stayed friends with Gio Ventura, who plays the main role in the film. She is very intelligent and very admiring of my work.
In 2021, you released a book, Anatomy of a Wild Heart, which tells your life without embellishment. How cathartic was that?
Art is always therapeutic and cathartic if you have the ability to be brutally honest with yourself, while working on a piece. It’s not always a walk in the park, but it’s always worth the bloody effort. But the sabotage had already begun before the book. In 2017 and 2018, when I denounced Weinstein and when I spoke about him at the Cannes Film Festival. It was a horrible period. There was the death of Anthony (Bourdain, chef, author, actor and television host who was in a relationship with Asia Argento, ed.) in 2018, the accusation of the young man (actor Jimmy Bennett who accused the actress of sexual assault, ed.),… I felt like I was at the bottom of the sea and couldn’t resurface. The book came later. It was published in 2021. I stopped drinking before the release of my autobiography too. A lot of things happened…
“I’ve never been in love with this system. I love cinema but not what revolves around it.” Asia Argento
You said: “The shame that should have fallen on these pigs is forever etched on my skin.” How much did your career suffer from the accusations against Harvey Weinstein and then director Rob Cohen?
I was shooting a lot, and then suddenly no one called me anymore. It changed a lot since my speech at Cannes. In Italy, I’m still contacted for projects for shows, but a little less than before. You pay a high price for the decisions you make. But it’s okay. You know, I’ve never been in love with this system… In fact, I was very resistant to the way cinema is made. I still don’t understand what goes on around cinema. At the same time, you meet people like you, with whom I have a strong connection for years. But it’s rare. I deeply love the seventh art, but not what revolves around it.
At one point, you were juggling projects…
Yes, but I also accepted things because I needed money. I had two children, and I had to work for them, because I was a single mother, which wasn’t easy. I’m very happy to have them. They are my greatest pride, what I’ve done best in my life. They are both doing very well.
“I’m a little has been. But I accept it.” Asia Argento
There are very risky jokes in the film, notably about a tattoo that looks like Hitler’s face. What are your limits when it comes to humor?
The director is of Jewish origin and he wrote these jokes. I like this kind of bold comedies. Today, you can no longer dare to do extreme things. I’m fed up with bourgeois cinema. I always want to break taboos. So, I love shooting in films that remind me of the cinema I love.
For Plus forts que le diable, director Graham Guit was inspired by filmmakers such as Jean-Pierre Melville, Martin Scorsese, the Coen brothers or the Safdie brothers. What were your influences?
I was inspired by a guy I saw at the gym. He ate in a strange way and stood in a certain way, which gave me ideas. I didn’t have much time to prepare for this role. But it was something positive because normally I prepare my roles for a long time and I become obsessive. And that doesn’t serve me, because I think too much. It’s sometimes better to act spontaneously, especially when the film is well written. I was afraid of the French. It’s always my fear, because it’s been a long time since I’ve shot in that language. But I did my best.
Asia Argento, Melvil Poupaud and Nahuel Perez Biscayart in the film Plus forts que le diable (2026).“I’m fed up with bourgeois cinema. I always want to break taboos.”
Do you know Melvil Poupaud before filming this movie?
I didn’t know Melvil personally even though I had seen a lot of his films. I got along very well with him. He’s adorable, very kind and intelligent. He has great musical taste, which is something rare in cinema. We found common ground in music, especially Bob Dylan. I discovered that he has a band. And I’m obsessed with music (Asia Argento is also a singer and has been a DJ, ed.). So we talked a lot about that on set. And then, Melvil is a quiet person. Everyone went home together in the evening, in Belgium… We worked a lot. But there weren’t people staying out late (laughs). It was a good team and a good atmosphere. I was happy on this shoot, which doesn’t happen very often in my life (laughs). I loved the actors. I’m still in touch with Nahuel Perez Biscayart. I couldn’t look him in the eye during the shoot because he made me laugh so much with his wig. I don’t know if it shows on screen that I always wanted to laugh. I hope not…
“I’m a little has been. But I accept it.” Asia Argento
The film is a comedy, a rare genre in your career…
Yes, I couldn’t believe I was going to like the script so much at first because I don’t really like comedies in general. They are never as disturbing and delirious as this one. I absolutely wanted to play in the film after devouring the script. In fact, my role was written for a guy who pulled out at the last minute. I fought to play it. I even wanted to play it more like a man on screen, but the director wouldn’t let me (laughs). It’s quite a female gangster, which is rare. That said, in Italy, you can find them.
What about your father, the master of horror Dario Argento? Would you star in another film with him?
He always wants to shoot. He’s working on several projects, including one with Isabelle Huppert. But I’m not sure we’ll make another film together. I just starred in a long film and I have to do two more soon. And then, I’m working on a film with Abel Ferrara, for three years. It will be called American Nails (a thriller with Willem Dafoe) and the story is great. Owe were supposed to shoot, but Abel got angry with the distributor. But we found someone else. We should start shooting soon, in southern Italy. And after that, I could stop (laughs).
What do you think of Abel Ferrara’s performance as an actor in the film Marty Supreme ?
I loved the film and Abel’s scene with the collapsing bathtub and the dog. He hates dogs. He’s afraid of them. That’s why he made me kiss a dog in the film Head Go Tales (2007). It was the beginning of the end of my career (laughs). Everyone said: “She’s really sick!”
