DUBAI: French Algerian actress and dancer Sofia Boutella has been out in full force to promote her latest film “Argylle,” in which she stars alongside an ensemble cast.
Boutella plays the role of the mysterious Saba Al-Badr in the film. She stars alongside Hollywood heavyweights Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Boutella was spotted at the London premiere of the film, where she hit the red carpet in a form-fitting silver Carolina Herrera set from the label’s Spring/Summer 2024 ready-to-wear collection.
“Argylle” will be released in cinemas in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1 and follows Elly Conway, an introverted spy novelist who is drawn into the real world of espionage when the plots of her books begin to mirror the activities of a sinister underground syndicate.
For her part, Boutella has had a busy filming schedule for the past few years and most recently starred in Netflix’s two-part sci-fi epic “Rebel Moon.”
Directed by Zack Snyder, Boutella plays the lead role in both instalments of the film, with part two set to be released in April.
Boutella sat down with Arab News in December to shed light on how she drew on her history as an immigrant for the role.
The actress grew up in Algeria during its civil war and later moved to France where she found herself navigating the complexities of adapting to a different culture.
“Having left Algeria young, when I go back there I don’t feel like I belong to Algeria. And then, in France, I don’t feel like I belong to France because I didn’t grow up there,” she explained.
Boutella has learned to embrace her rootlessness, though. “I feel like I belong to this planet. I have the freedom to travel wherever I want, without any limitation,” she said. “But sometimes, I miss the proximity and, attachment that people have to their country.”
While deeply proud of her Algerian heritage, Boutella is quick to acknowledge the opportunities that arose from living in France and the US. She began her career as a dancer in the latter, performing with icons including Madonna and Michael Jackson before making the transition into acting.
“I know the complications involved in growing up (in Algeria) — if I had had to grow up there,” she said. “The fact that I’m able to live my dream is not taken for granted. Algeria has one of the richest cultures in the world, but I would love for more art to exist in Algeria and for people to have the same chance I had to execute my art with such freedom. I am proud of my heritage and where I come from, but I’m very aware of the opportunities I’ve had, and there is not one day that I take them for granted.”
