Actress Corinne Masiero strips naked at French Oscars in protest of cinema shutdowns

Actress Corinne Masiero stripped naked on stage at the César Awards in protest against the closing of cinemas.

**Warning: images containing nudity ahead**

The Césars- referred to as the French Oscars – took place on Friday night in Paris’s Olympia concert hall with a socially distanced, in-person show, unlike many awards shows which have had to be staged virtually.

During the ceremony, many presenters called for more support from the government for the cultural and the arts.

Masiero, 57, was among then, as she made quite the statement while presenting the award for best costume design.

The Louise Wimmer star came on stage wearing a donkey costume stained with ‘blood’, and removed it to reveal a blood-soaked red dress and tampon earrings.

However, she didn’t stop there, as she soon took off the dress to stand completely naked, while presenter Marina Fois looked on in shock.

Masiero reportedly said: ‘I have a last costume and after that’s, there’s nothing more. This one is Who Wants The Skin Of Roger L’Intermittant?’ – a reference to the French title of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’

The actress had ‘no culture, no future’ written across her torso, and when she turned around, she revealed ‘Give us back art, Jean’ was written on her back – a direct appeal to the French prime minister Jean Castex.

While some audience members appeared shocked, they applauded Masiero’s stunt, which was sparked by the French government deeming cultural venues such as theatres and cinemas non-essential and not yet announcing a reopening date.

Cinemas were closed for 23 weeks in France last year due to coronavirus restrictions.

After her stunt, Masiero joked: ‘I don’t think I’ll be invited next year. We’ll see.’

Marina Fois opened the Césars with a speech celebrating the collective experience of moviegoing and criticising the government’s decision to keep cultural venues closed.

Stephane Demoustier also criticised the government while accepting a screenplay award, saying: ‘My children can go to Zara but not the cinema… it’s incomprehensible.’

Albert Dupontel’s dark comedy Adieu Les Cons (Bye Bye Morons) was the big winner at the Césars, taking home the awards for best film, best director, supporting actor, screenplay, cinematography and production design.

The film, about a seriously ill woman who tries to find her long-lost child with the help of a man in the middle of a burnout, was in cinemas for just one week before France’s second lockdown.

Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round won best foreign film, while Call My Agent! star Laure Calamy won best actress for Antoinette Dans Les Cevennes.

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