Hortense Gaillac is a complex character whose motivations are driven by power and repressed desire. Her deep, obsessive infatuation with the brothel's star courtesan, Véra (played by Anne Charrier), drives much of the intense, emotionally charged intimacy in the first season.
Karsenti's performance as Hortense is widely regarded as a masterclass in complexity. She masterfully balances two opposing sides of the same woman: Maison Close: Season One Clip - Sneak Peek