Clint Eastwood made French commander
Story by Jack Foley
HOLLYWOOD icon Clint Eastwood has been made a commander in France’s prestigious Legion of Honour.
The decoration was bestowed upon the 79-year-old actor and director by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his contribution to cinema.
In presenting the accolade, President Sarkozy described Eastwood as “a myth” and “a giant” as well as “an example of the admiration we have for American culture”.
In a career spanning five decades, Eastwood has starred in seminal movies such as the Spaghetti western trilogy, Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven.
He has also directed classics such as Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino.
He’s currently in France filming his latest, Hereafter, with Matt Damon, having recently completed Nelson Mandela drama Invictus.
Eastwood said receiving the honour was a “wonderful honour” and a “great pleasure” for him.
“I love France. I love movies, and I love the appreciation that the French people have for movies,” he said.
He also promised he would be fluent in French the next time he returned to the country, before joking: “As a commander of the arts and letters, I think I will go out on the streets of France today and throw my weight around.”
France’s Legion of Honour award was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognise outstanding merit. It recognises military, cultural, scientific or social contributions to France, including those made by people who are not French citizens.
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