When Ridley Scott announced he was making a historical epic about the French Emperor, everyone expected cannons, cavalry charges, and Joaquin Phoenix looking moody in a bicorne hat. They got that. But what actually anchored the 2023 film wasn't just the tactical genius of Austerlitz; it was the volatile, strangely modern domestic war between Napoleon and his Empress. Vanessa Kirby took on the role of Joséphine de Beauharnais, and honestly, her performance is the main reason the movie feels like more than just a history textbook brought to life.
She didn't just play a "wife."
Kirby’s Joséphine is a survivor. Most people don’t realize how close the real woman came to the guillotine. Her first husband was executed during the Reign of Terror, and she was literally five days away from her own execution when the regime fell. That kind of trauma creates a certain "mercurial energy," as Kirby described it during her press rounds. She isn't a victim; she's a shape-shifter.
The Napoleon Movie Vanessa Kirby Dynamic: A Pact of Spontaneity
The chemistry—or lack thereof, depending on which scene you’re watching—between Phoenix and Kirby wasn't just scripted. It was a conscious choice. They made a "Napoleonic treaty" before filming. Basically, they gave each other permission to do whatever they felt in the moment to avoid the stuffy, "museum piece" vibe of typical period dramas.
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This led to some of the movie's most talked-about moments. The infamous slap during the divorce scene? That wasn't in the script. Kirby told Phoenix, "Look, whatever you feel, you can do." He took her at her word. The result is a relationship that feels less like a royal romance and more like a toxic, high-stakes power struggle.
Why the Age Gap Actually Matters
There was a lot of internet chatter about the age difference. In reality, Joséphine was six years older than Napoleon. In the film, Joaquin Phoenix is nearly 14 years older than Vanessa Kirby.
Critics pointed this out immediately. Some felt it erased the specific "older woman" dynamic that defined their early years. However, Kirby’s performance manages to bypass the math. She plays Joséphine with a weary, knowing power that makes her feel like the adult in the room, even if the birth certificate says otherwise. She has a way of withholding her emotions that drives Napoleon crazy. He can conquer Egypt, but he can't quite "own" her.
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Researching a Cipher: How Kirby Prepared
Vanessa Kirby is a self-admitted "theater nerd." She spent her 2021 Christmas break reading every contradictory account of Joséphine she could find. It wasn't easy. Historians have painted Joséphine as everything from a shallow socialite to a shrewd political operative.
- The Visit to the Tomb: Kirby traveled to Rueil-Malmaison to see Joséphine’s house and her final resting place.
- The "Mercurial" Mindset: She realized that because everyone had a different opinion of the Empress, the most honest way to play her was as someone who changed for every person she met.
- Silent Power: A lot of Kirby's best work in the film is non-verbal. It’s a raised eyebrow or a look of pure boredom while Napoleon is bragging about his conquests.
The makeup department, led by Jana Carboni, helped tell this story too. Early on, Joséphine wears heavy makeup to hide the pain of her past. As she becomes Empress, the look shifts to something more "modern" and indomitable, featuring strong, untamed eyebrows.
A Legacy Beyond the Battlefield
While the Napoleon movie Vanessa Kirby starred in received mixed reviews for its historical pacing, her performance was almost universally praised. She brought a "quiet power" to a film that was otherwise very loud.
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Historians like Zack White have noted that the film misses some of Joséphine’s actual power—like the fact that Napoleon left her in charge of the government when he invaded Russia in 1812. She wasn't just waiting around for letters; she was signing edicts. Even though the movie focuses more on their messy love life, Kirby ensures she’s never just a background character.
What to Watch Next if You Loved the Performance
If you’re a fan of Kirby's work in this film, you should look into the "Director's Cut." Ridley Scott has long promised a version that's over four hours long, which reportedly delves much deeper into Joséphine's life before she met the General.
Next Steps for the History Buff:
- Watch the Apple TV+ Extended Version: If it’s available in your region, this cut adds nearly two hours of context, much of it centered on Kirby.
- Compare with "The Crown": Watch the first two seasons to see how Kirby handles a different kind of royal rebel as Princess Margaret.
- Read "The Rose of Martinique": If you want the real story of the woman Kirby portrayed, Andrea Stuart’s biography is the gold standard.
The film might be named after the man, but the soul of the story belongs to the woman who stayed on his lips until his final breath at St. Helena.