Rie Rasmussen as Angela and Jamel Debbouze as André in'Angel-A'

Besson was so determined to land the former underwear model in his new film, he paid for French lessons and encouraged his star to hang out with Parisienne friends - to master the language in record time.

Rasmussen recalls, "I took a flight to Paris... and I submerged myself. I had a coach, and I found French friends."

But the frenetic pace didn't end there: "We shot the movie in six weeks. Luc made it for nothing, guerilla-style, camera on the shoulder."

Rasmussen will have to put her language skills to good use again in her next film, Human Zoo, which will be her directorial debut - it's set in Belgrade.

She adds, "I'm going to learn Serbian."

Source: WENN