Bérénice Bejo, Léa Drucker Among 4000 French Actors Slamming AI
Variety
by elskesFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Thousands of French actors, including Oscar-nominated Bérénice Bejo and Lea Drucker, have joined forces to denounce the misuse of AI in their profession, calling it a "systematic plundering" that threatens their livelihoods. Backed by Adami, an organization protecting performers' rights, these artists signed an open letter urging urgent political action to address issues like unauthorized voice cloning, image scraping, and undervalued AI licensing deals. The letter highlights how AI tools, while valuable for some industries, are exploiting actors' unique attributes—such as their voices and faces—for minimal compensation or without consent.
The actors emphasize that this exploitation is not hypothetical but happening now. For instance, an actor was offered just €250 to authorize the use of his image in an AI-generated ad campaign, replacing two full days of filming. This has led to legal action, with eight French dubbers suing AI companies VoiceDub and Fish Audio for exploiting their voices. The letter also points out that lesser-known actors often feel pressured to sign contracts granting AI rights, even though this risks their image and future.
The French entertainment industry is at a crossroads as the European Union's AI Act rolls out,
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Originally published on Variety on 2/23/2026