Behind the scenes of the Chanel No5 Christmas campaign

It’s a match made in perfume heaven: the most famous French screen siren of the 21st century is flying the flag for the most famous French fragrance. Marion Cotillard is the new face of Chanel No5 and we have an exclusive look behind the scenes of her first campaign. Because let's face it, there's nothing quite as magical or decadent as a Chanel No5 Christmas film...

The heroine of the new Chanel No5 Christmas campaign is empowered and independent - traits that really resonate with Cotillard.

‘She is a character who lives fully in the present,’ she says. ‘And that is something that I aspire to do. The woman in the film lives in the moment – without nostalgia for the past or fantasies about the future. I try to follow a path of joy, positivity and freedom. I don’t know if I have gotten there yet. But I am working toward it.’

Wearing a gold embellished dress, rumoured to feature over 10,000 hand-sewn sequins, Cotillard dances with a man in the moonlight.

‘I have made it a personal rule to sing, dance and laugh at least once a day!' she says. 'I dance a lot with my children. During these moments, I feel every cell in my body vibrating. I think that people like to dance because it is a moment where we feel alive.’

The campaign certainly has a wonderful modern pulse to it. Important given that it marks the release of the Chanel No5 Holiday collection, which re-imagines the classic fragrance as a body cream, lotion, shower gel, hair mist and deodorant. 

Chanel No5 Eau de Parfum Spray with Gift Box, £113, Boots

This chic classic is dressed up for party season with a new gold-embossed sleeve. If you're on the hunt for the best perfume for women to gift this Christmas, this one's top of our wish list.

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Chanel No5 Shower Gel, £42, Feelunique

A creamy, foaming shower gel that lightly scents as it cleanses.

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Chanel No5 Body Lotion, £48, Boots

Enriched with nourishing rose and jasmine extracts, it envelops skin in a delicate veil of scent and a feather-light moisturising formula.

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Chanel No5 The Hair Mist, £48, Feelunique

A surefire way to make your hair smell more expensive, this also nourishes while leaving behind a scent that lasts.

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Chanel No5 The Deodorant, £40, Feelunique

Everything in the Holiday Collection is designed to complement the florals in the Chanel No5 Eau de Parfum - down to the subtle fresh notes in this deodorant.

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So you can not only dive into Chanel No5's compelling mix of rose, jasmine, ylang ylang and vanilla. You can also intensify the scented trail that continues to give a rush of pleasure long after you’ve left a room.

One word: perfection.