Bridgerton star Genevieve Chenneour has revealed she thought she was 'going to die' before narrowly escaping a suspected building collapse at an exclusive Cannes Film Festival party.
The 28-year-old, who shot to global fame last year when CCTV footage went viral of her fighting off a violent phone thief in London, admitted she feared for her life when explosive noises rocked the rooftop venue during a star-studded Variety magazine event.
Terrifying Moments at La Terrasse
'There was this massive bang and the floor almost gave way on the rooftop,' Genevieve told the Daily Mail. 'We ran out screaming. It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced. It was genuinely insane.'
The incident occurred at La Terrasse by Albane on top of the JW Marriott hotel on Wednesday night, where around 250 guests had gathered for a 'Welcome to Cannes' party honouring festival director Thierry Fremaux.
Fast and Furious star Jordana Brewster, 46, was among the A-list attendees, alongside actress Diane Kruger, 49, director Renny Harlin, 67, and Oscars President Lynette Howell Taylor, 46.
First Cannes Experience Turns Dramatic
Genevieve, who was attending her first Cannes Film Festival, described the terrifying moment the structure appeared to give way beneath their feet. 'I was with a friend and we just had to sprint out and run down the exit. It was so loud, I was convinced it was a terrorist attack or that the ground had fallen through.'
The actress, who played gossipy debutante Clara Livingston in Netflix hit Bridgerton's third season, said an architect at the party told guests 'the structure was giving way'.
'I was like, we're going to die', she revealed. 'The whole ground shook beneath our feet. It was an aggressive shake and loud sounds, like something breaking. It was like something you hear in a film, ironically.'
Chaotic Evacuation
The actress added that she had been deep in conversation with a film producer when disaster struck. 'The event itself was amazing. I was having an amazing conversation when it happened,' she said. 'I got given a business card 20 seconds before it happened, about a film, from a producer being like, yeah, email me and then... Absolutely insane.'
Genevieve went on to describe the chaotic evacuation as terrified guests fled down emergency stairs. 'We ran down the emergency exit stairs - I was in heels and a dress!' she said. 'We just started running and then I screamed, like, everyone, get out! Some people were right by the edge. That must have been terrifying because the floor did actually move.'
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The incident caps a dramatic first trip to Cannes for the rising star, who revealed she had also suffered an allergic reaction just 24 hours earlier.
'I was out for dinner. I'm allergic to seafood and I got given seafood - we managed to sort it out because I only had one mouthful,' she said. 'Then the next day, this happens. I'm having a great time, though.'
Despite the drama, Genevieve insisted she was unhurt and determined to continue networking at the prestigious festival.
'I'm fine, thank god,' she said, adding she was looking forward to meeting a big film director the following day. 'It's going really well. Hopefully no more disasters.'
The actress is in Cannes with her friend, producer and actor Alexander Johnson, and a publicist to discuss a film project they are developing together.
Background on the Venue
La Terrasse by Albane, a temporary restaurant run by three-Michelin-starred chef Maura Colagreco, had become one of the most sought-after event spaces during the festival.
Organisers had warned attendees before the event that 'entry is first come, first served' and that if they arrived 'after we have reached capacity, you are not guaranteed entry'.
One guest told Page Six the apparent issue was overcrowding on a temporary wooden dais.
From Viral Fame to Advocacy
Genevieve became an overnight sensation in February last year when CCTV footage emerged of her fighting off teenage thug Zacariah Boulares, 18, who grabbed her phone at Joe & the Juice in Kensington, west London.
The dramatic footage showed the former Olympic artistic swimmer - who represented Team GB at international competitions including the 2015 European Games - pursuing the thief and hitting him over the head with her phone after retrieving it.
Genevieve later revealed Boulares' accomplice had threatened to stab her 'multiple times' during the terrifying ordeal, which left her concussed.
The actress was attacked again in November last year when a man assaulted her near Oxford Circus just minutes before an audition, leaving her in tears.
The repeated attacks forced Genevieve to move out of London to live with her mother, though she has since become an advocate for women's safety in the capital.
Born in North Yorkshire and raised in Oxfordshire in a military family, Genevieve competed internationally as an elite artistic swimmer from age 15 before a hip injury forced her retirement in 2016.
She transitioned into acting, training from 2018 and landing her breakthrough role in Bridgerton after the pandemic.
