Besse had no prior acting experience. Her performance is raw, natural, and extraordinarily bold for her age. She appears in several scenes that are sexually charged, including partial nudity and a famous scene where she tries to seduce her stepfather while wearing only an unbuttoned shirt.
The most striking and controversial element of Beau-père is the actress playing Marion: . At the time of filming, Besse was a complete unknown. She was born in 1965 (or possibly 1966, sources vary), meaning she was either 14 or 15 years old when she played the role. Director Bertrand Blier chose her after a massive casting call, reportedly because she possessed a unique mixture of childlike innocence and a precocious, unsettling maturity.
Background: A Controversial French Classic