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Cannes boss and Lumière Festival director Thierry Frémaux issued something of a light warning prior to Sean Penn’s masterclass: this year’s guest of honour isn't a fan of talking about himself.

“It's not something he does very often. He's can be very shy and embarrassed,” explained Frémaux.

Maybe he was still not over this year's opening ceremony and the ensuing schmaltzy karaoke, which by all reports left the Oscar-winning American actor and director... shall we say, bemused.

Still, it’s no secret that the 65-year-old artist is reserved and not fond of too much adulatory hoopla.

He joins Terry Gilliam in this respect, who told Euronews Culture during his visit to the Lumière Festival that the customary pleasantries when it comes to these film events are not his bag.

“I do love celebrating cinema, but let’s not make more of a deal of it than it is!” Gilliam shared with us, with a twinkle in his eye. “Yes, movies are great, but there’s no use overdoing it – we’re not that great! Just show the fucking film already!”

No doubt Penn would agree.

Starting off with his head bowed, slightly hunched and routinely chewing on a toothpick, the actor best known for his acclaimed roles in Dead Man Walking, The Thin Red Line, Mystic River, 21 Grams, Milk and The Tree Of Life - among other classics - was generous with his answers, and did warm up as the event unfolded. That said, this is clearly not an exercise he enjoys too much.

He even asked for a vodka and tonic at one point...

“Can I get a vodka tonic? ... But like, can I?”

It never came.

Had the festival organisers not seen him steal the show in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest opus One Battle After Another, in which he plays the menacing and gravelly voiced Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw?

After watching one of this year's best films - which we're betting will land Penn another Academy Award - one thing is clear: When Sean Penn asks for a vodka tonic, Sean Penn gets a