She is one of France's leading actresses, so imagine the reaction when Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard was accidentally stabbed with a pin by the culture minister as he presented her with a prestigious award.
The accident happened as Frederic Mitterrand decorated her with the Order of Arts and Letters in Paris.
Mitterrand, who had praised Cotillard's "charm, natural grace and beauty", inadvertently skewered the actress as he pinned the medallion on her blouse.
The actress was back in France for the ceremony after spending much of her time in Hollywood since winning an Academy Award for her performance in La Vie En Rose in 2008 as singer Edith Piaf.
She appeared to suffer no lasting damage after the incident and burst out laughing as Mitterrand hastily offered his apologies.
US director Tim Burton was also honoured. The man behind new 3D film Alice in Wonderland will head the jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
