ISABELLE HUPPERT was honored Saturday night at the Rome Film Festival with a lifetime achievement award for acting. Italian actor Toni Servillo presented the award to Huppert before she sat down for a Close Encounter conversation with the audience.

Huppert praised Italian directors, saying, “Italians, although different, you are united by an aesthetic sense. I speak not only of the scenography, but also because you’re making social and political cinema.”

Huppert spoke with press on what the award meant to her, “I have faith in the authenticity and truth of cinema, and it is a great pleasure for me to receive this award in Italy.”

She spoke about her life’s work as an actress, repeatedly saying her love of the unexpected as what most appeals to her about her profession. “There is no need to be afraid of the unknown,” she said. “There is always a first time in the cinema, never the same thing. This does not scare me.”

She also spoke of returning to TV for Matthew Weiner’s “The Romanoffs” on Amazon. Huppert said she immediately accepted Weiner’s proposal to work on the series because she had long been a fan of “Mad Men.”

The Rome Film Festival continues through Oct. 28. Today, Martin Scorsese will also be honored with a lifetime achievement award in directing.

(SD-Agencies)