Cotillard can't compare life to new character's

Marion Cotillard can't compare any of her struggles in life to those of her Two Days, One Night character.

The French beauty takes on the role of Sandra in Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's latest feature. It follows the character as she tries to convince her workmates to give up their bonuses so she can keep her job after a long-term absence due to depression.

Marion is no stranger to emotional roles after parts such as Ewa Cybulska in last year's The Immigrant, but with Sandra it was a different story.

"She's an ordinary woman. A worker who knows what things cost, because she has to. She understands why some colleagues have chosen to pocket the bonus rather than for her to keep her job," she explained to the BBC.

"As an actor trying to work, I have to sell myself every day in some way, but me fighting for a job is a totally different situation, because for her it's a matter of survival. It's a matter of staying around to put some food on her family's plates. I could not compare it with any fight I have ever had on my hands; it would not reach her struggle for her dignity and her health."

Marion continued to address her alter ego feeling "worthless" during the movie. Since welcoming her son Marcel in 2011, who she has with partner Guillaume Canet, it is a sensation the 38-year-old star has left behind.

"It was a big question for me when I was thinking about these people who said they feel worthless. I'd ask myself, 'How can you feel useless when you have kids'

"But I do see there is also space inside all of us that needs to be useful and that can't just be filled with love," she added.