After James Bond actor Lea Seydoux reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of her appearance at the biggest global film festival in Cannes, organisers have dismissed fears of a COVID-19 cluster at the event.
After a positive COVID-19 test, Lea Seydoux, who stars in four of the festival’s films, has become the first prominent celebrity to be forced to withdraw from the event.
Even after being double-jabbed and asymptomatic, a spokeswoman for Seydoux confirmed to Variety that she had tested positive for the virus, and will now isolate in Paris.
It’s unclear if the actor will attend the event or not, with insiders telling Variety that she’s awaiting medical permission.
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Seydoux will feature in several films during the festival, including Wes Anderson’s latest film, ‘The French Dispatch’, which will have its global debut this week and has been tipped as a possible winner in the main category.
Organizers of the festival have been forced to play down rumours of an outbreak, with director Thierry Fremaux calling them “unfounded.”
On Saturday he said: “Yesterday we did more than 3,000 tests (on festival-goers) and we have no positive cases. We are having to say this to show that the rumours of a Cannes cluster are unfounded.”
Despite the current outbreak of infections in the nation, the event, which started on July 6 on the French Riviera, has attracted stars such as Adam Driver and Matt Damon.
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Although it will go ahead, the event will be substantially downsized this year, with fewer flashy Hollywood parties and a smaller audience.