THE SOUND OF AMORE

It’s clear that 2021 has been the year of Italian dominance, whether it comes to camp music competitions or massive football tournaments. That’s why there was no better time for Aaron Altaras, an actor known for his roles in Netflix’s hit show ‘Unorthodox’ or queer love story ‘Mario’, and his younger brother Leo to explore their Italian roots through their new musical project ‘Alcatraz’. Although the brothers were born and brought up in Berlin, they were always fascinated with their heritage (their mother is Italian) and decided to celebrate it by taking inspiration from the country’s iconic Italo Disco genre. A few days before the release of their first single ‘Amore Unlimited’, we spoke to Alcatraz about what’s the best part of collaborating as brothers and their dream set location.

How did this project come about?

 Aaron Altaras: My brother and I have been thinking about it for a very long time. He started to produce music when he was very young and we have a very similar music taste, so we knew that we wanted to do something together. I was always quite busy with shooting, but then Corona happened, and we finally got a lot of time to work together on producing and recording.

 Leo Altaras: Yeah, I started producing about six years ago. Aaron and I always had a dream of starting a bit kitschy duo boy band. And we thought that this would be also a nice way of mixing our Italian heritage with our home, Berlin, and the music scene there.

Why did you choose to name your band ‘Alcatraz’?

 Aaron Altaras: There’s a couple of reasons. Firstly, the whole album is about longing and desire and unattainable things, and that’s why the concept of the Alcatraz prison island really resonated with us. But also, ‘Alcatraz’ was my nickname at school – a lot of people couldn’t get Altaras right, so they would call me that. So we took it back and fucking own it now! [laughs]

The whole album is about longing and desire and unattainable things, and that’s why the concept of the Alcatraz prison island really resonated with us.

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What’s the inspiration behind the sound that you created?

Aaron Altaras: Our first single, ‘Amore Unlimited’ has been very inspired by the Italo Disco genre. But more generally, our sound is quite eclectic – there are some 2000-era disco, French electro or trance music influences. We also have a rap feature on one of the tracks.

 There’s a strong sense of Italian pride in the project. How important was it for you to explore your Italian heritage?

 Aaron Altaras: Well, it’s funny for us because we’ve always lived in this dichotomy of cultures – we were born in Berlin to a German father and an Italian mother, so we always ask ourselves whether we are allowed to own our Italian side or not. It’s that classic thing that I would assume most people with parents from different backgrounds have of questioning which side they are drawn to and which not, and for most families, those discussions never end. For us, the project has been a chance to negotiate and explore that exact struggle.

What’s the best part about working with on this project as brothers?

Aaron Altaras: I can recommend it to everyone who has a sibling, it’s the most beautiful thing to collaborate on something together. We understand each other very quickly and we have different strengths. We also fight a lot because we’re both very stubborn. But the great thing is, even if we scream at each other and someone leaves the room, we don’t have to worry that it will jeopardize our relationship because we have been fighting for 20 years now and we know how it goes. [laughs]

What is your dream club or place to play your music at?

 Leo Altaras: Panorama Bar!

 Aaron Altaras: Or on a little lido, somewhere between Napoli and Rome.

You launched an Alcatraz OnlyFans account. What can we expect to see on it?

 Aaron Altaras: You should go subscribe and see! 

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 ‘Amore Unlimited’ is out now.

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Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Pictures by Noah Kleist

FEELS LIKE HEAVEN

Dyllón Burnside is a man of many talents. Just in the past year, he played Ricky in the final season of the cult series ‘Pose’, released his new song ‘Heaven’ and hosted an Emmy-winning special ‘Prideland’, where he interviewed members of the LGBTQ+ community fighting for change in the American South. Now, Burnside is stepping into the Ryan Murphy universe once again – he’s starring in an upcoming episode of American Horror Stories, a spin-off anthology series based around the scary and camp classic franchise American Horror Story. We spoke to Burnside about his fondest memories of shooting ‘Pose’, his favourite season of AHS and what to him feels like heaven.

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 Your special ‘Prideland’ has just received an Emmy, congratulations! What were some of the biggest lessons that you’ve learned while working on this project?

 One of the major themes for me was thinking about the idea of ‘home’ – what ‘home’ actually means and what ‘family’ actually means. I left my hometown of Pensacola, Florida nine years ago and moved to New York City, where I started to create a home for myself, and really found a community and built my family there. This idea of a chosen family is something that connects both ‘Prideland’ and ‘Pose’ – both of these projects show how important it is for the LGBTQ+ people to have a community like that when so many of our families have rejected us. I also realized how important it is for us to sometimes stay in the place where we grew up, stand up for our rights, be proud of who we are and where we come from. There’s a value in that just as there is a value in going out and finding life in the big city. It was really inspiring to meet all of the people who decided to stay in their home states in the South and see how they are sparking change.

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 You mentioned ‘Pose’, which premiered its final season earlier this year. What have been some of your fondest memories of shooting the show?

 There’s been so many! All of the dance sequences that I did pop into my mind immediately. I’m a dancer, but I never thought that I would be asked to dance as much as I did on ‘Pose’. That was always very exciting and challenging, but also hard on my body. I also think back to the scene where Ricky finds out that he’s HIV-positive, and his love scene with Pray Tell [played by Billy Porter] – those two were monumental for me as an actor. The scene with Billy was also a huge moment for television – having two black characters who are HIV-positive make love on the screen and it being shot in such a beautiful manner. In the series finale, there was a number of beautifully written and directed scenes that I was very grateful to be a part of – the choir scene was a moment where I think I was the most grounded in my character since the beginning of the show.

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 Up next, you’re starring in American Horror Stories. Is there anything you can tell me about your character?

 My character’s name is James. [laughs] It was super fun to shoot and enter that world of horror, which was a big departure from my work on ‘Pose’. The fans of the AHS franchise love the show so much and are so invested in it – they create this whole zeitgeist around it and it’s really cool that I get to be a part of it now.

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 Which season of American Horror Story has been your favourite so far?

 I really liked the ‘Cult’ season for its political and cultural commentary. And I’ll say that there is definitely some cultural commentary in American Horror Stories as well.  

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“I wanted to express the feeling of euphoria – what in my mind feels like heaven, which is the act of lovemaking and being in love”

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Are you a fan of scary films and shows in general?

 No! That’s also probably why ‘Cult’ was my favourite season – I could watch it without squirming. I get very squirmish and I’ll watch them only if I have a bunch of friends by my side. It’s a lot for me. [laughs]

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 What’s your worst horror movie experience? Something that traumatized you for life?

 I think when I saw ‘It’ as a kid and the fucking clown came out of the sewer. [laughs]

Shirt SUPREME + NIKE shirt, coat and pants MM6, boots SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 You also recently released your single ‘Heaven’. What is the story or emotion that you wanted to showcase with this song?

 I wanted to express the feeling of euphoria – what in my mind feels like heaven, which is the act of lovemaking and being in love. It’s a counter-narrative to everything that I’ve been taught about same-sex relationships when I was growing up through all of the dogma that comes with being brought up Christian. But for me, love has been such a euphoric experience and something that helps me become more of my higher self. If we think of God as love and if God is the pathway to heaven, then love is the pathway to heaven. And so I think love is actually the key to bringing heaven on Earth.

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Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Grooming by Annette Chaisson

Barber Parris Wagner

THE PERKS OF BEING A ROBIN

The secret’s out: Gossip Girl is back and there’s about four of them! The iconic show has been reimagined by its original creators and brought back in a format fit for the modern landscape, with a focus on showcasing diversity and tackling the reality of living with social media (and plenty of signature Gossip Girl ‘OMFG’ moments).

 In the new iteration of the franchise, the role of the all-knowing blogger is taken on by a group of teachers who relaunch the page on Instagram in order to seemingly regain authority over their privileged and irreverent students. One of them is played by Adam Chanler-Berat, an actor best known for his work on Broadway in productions such as ‘Next to Normal’, ‘Amélie’ or ‘Saint Joan’. Over the course of the first season, his character, a computer science teacher named Jordan, quickly becomes the go-to source of comedic relief and many memorable quotes that are too good to be spoiled here.

We spoke to Chanler-Berat on the eve of the Gossip Girl’s premiere on HBO Max about the show’s inclusive attitude, his most memorable shooting experience and being in a book club with his co-star and off-screen pal, Tavi Gevinson.

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Were you a fan of the original ‘Gossip Girl’?

 Yes! I remember watching about four seasons of the show when it initially aired. Also, I rewatched it soon after I got cast in the new show. We had to stop the production for a while, and I was like, ‘What should I do with these six months before we start shooting?’ And it was a perfect thing to watch during quarantine. 

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 What did you love about the show?

 I think one of the loveliest parts of the show is how much of it is such a celebration of New York City, and also a celebration of New York actors – it was such a treasure trove of some of my favourite theatre actors in the city. Watching them on the show brought me a lot of joy and, in a way, made me think of it as a certain right of passage for the community. It’s almost as if it wouldn’t be right if I went my whole life without being able to be on ‘Gossip Girl’. [laughs]

Who was the character that you related to the most?

 I think I related the most to one of Blair’s minions. [laughs] I’m more of a Robin than a Batman, which actually correlates well with the character I play on the show.

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 That’s so true! How did you get the role of Jordan?

 It was all thanks to Joshua Safran [the show’s creator], who is a huge fan of theatre and a great champion of theatre actors. In 2019, I got an offer to be on an episode of his Netflix show ‘Soundtrack’ and once we met on the set, we became fast friends. When he told me that he was in the process of writing the new ‘Gossip Girl’, I said jokingly, ‘Can you write me a part?’ And he just replied, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that!’ Then, a couple of months later, he actually sent me a photo of my headshot on the wall and was like, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but I’m writing a part for you.’ I still had to audition for it and do test shoots, but that’s how it all came about.

 Another crazy circumstance is that at the time, I was in rehearsals for an off-Broadway production of ‘Assassins’ with Tavi Gevinson [the production didn’t run due to the pandemic]. We were supposed to sing a duet in that show and I guess you could say that metaphorically, we are doing it now on the screen.

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 You and Tavi have great chemistry and there’s a very palpable feeling of comradery between you two. Are you close in real life?

Yeah, we’re really great friends. A few years ago, she did a production of ‘The Cherry Orchard’ with my boyfriend on Broadway, so we have been in each other’s circles for a while. And now, we’re thick as thieves. We’re also in the same book club – we’re currently reading ‘Playing in the Dark’ by Toni Morrison.

“I think I related the most to one of Blair’s minions.

I’m more of a Robin than a Batman, which actually correlates well with the character I play on the show.”

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What in your view is the biggest strength of the new ‘Gossip Girl’?

It provides all the joys and delights of the original show, but it also has a fresh outlook and the underbelly that the first ‘Gossip Girl’ didn’t tread in. I think the show creates a really interesting discourse about ways in which social media impacts our lives. It’s also much more inclusive and queer, as well as much more self-conscious, in a good way. And I think this is the only way to bring the Gossip Girl universe to 2021.

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What scene for you has been the most memorable to shoot so far?

The shot that’s in the first episode when I’m in the rain and taking a photo. It was November, I was standing by the East River in Dumbo getting hosed down and I honestly couldn’t have been happier while being frigid and wet. I was just thinking about what an amazing thing it was to shoot this show in New York and for it to come back at such a pivotal time when the industry and the globe is recovering from the devastation. We had an in-person premiere last week and it felt like we were not only celebrating the work that we’ve been doing on Gossip Girl, but also the resilience of people who are providing jobs in the industry. It made me really think about all of the theatre actors that the show is giving work and healthcare to, and made me feel so proud to be a part of it.

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If you would ever end up on Gossip Girl, what do you think it would be for?

I honestly don’t think I would be on Gossip Girl. I would be the fingers typing. [laughs]

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Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by JJ Geiger 

Fashion by Michael Cook

Grooming by Anthony Joseph Hernandez 

THE TOTALLY JUDGING BREAKFAST CLUB

JANUARY 2021

It’s morning in NEW YORK as Thomas Doherty wakes up alone in his room. No wild brunches here, the actor is self-isolating as part of the health and safety procedures ahead of filming an intimate scene. Halfway across the world, it’s wine o’clock and I’m ready for the tea to be served on his musical abilities, that comment from the Pope and why he’s on a remake bender. What else did we talk about? That’s a secret I’ll definitely let you in on in this interview.

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After the remake of High Fidelity, now Gossip Girl. Are existing frameworks something that you particularly enjoy?

[laughs] It does seem that I'm always in a reboot. I do think it's very interesting to see how the framework and the nature of the times, be it politically, economically, socially or culturally, can be transposed into later times, and see how those play out. With High Fidelity, the gender reversal was really interesting in light of how the power dynamics have shifted, and how prevalent the topic is in our society. With Gossip Girl, the original wasn’t so long ago but the world has changed so much since.

 So has the ability to play Boyz II Men on the guitar come in handy to seduce anyone after that?

No…

 That’s a very wistful “no”.

I don't think I ever will. The older I get, the creepier it will be, so I think my time with Boyz II Men on the guitar is done. I did learn to play a couple of songs on the guitar though, and I loved it.

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 Any temptation to take those new skills into a new career?

Funnily enough, no. I’ve tried to pick up the guitar again. But either you have it, or you don’t. And right now, I’m pretty sure I don’t. But I love musical theatre and want to do that so bad.

 Maybe Gossip Girl is your chance for that, given how musically inclined your castmates are. Starting with Eli Brown, who is also in this issue.

Yeah! I walked into his apartment where he’s got like 7 or 8 guitars. He’s very passionate about music, phenomenal with the guitar. All the cast is.

  It does also play into the idea that the human experience has some fundamental similarities, but that you live, learn and adapt to a given framework. That it’s what you make of it: how you write your own take on life is what matters.

Yeah, it's like continuous, isn't it? Yeah, I never thought about it that way before. But yeah, it is. I mean, obviously, my reservation about reboots is that you’re working with classics, or a cultural icon, so it’s filled with nostalgia for so many people. There’s always that kind of worry, but with a rebirth it’s about different generations coming along and appreciating the different “ages” of a story.

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 Do you let this past of the narrative affect how you play? Or do you just take it as it is, and interpret each character as a standalone?

Definitely the latter. I have to kind of blank that, otherwise it would just be replicating something. For High Fidelity, it never crept into my mind, although there’s a comical side of being intimate with Zoe Kravitz, knowing that I was playing a character her mother had plaid. For Gossip Girl, it took me a minute to put it aside because there were all these expectations and also the comparisons to Chuck Bass who was such a massive character. My character is perhaps a bit similar to his, so I needed to shake off those expectations of what you associate with him in order to find my own character.

 After Ed Westwick, you’re continuing a proud tradition of handsome Brits playing decadently wealthy Americans.

You’re welcome, America. [Laughs.]

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 On a scale of 1 to “alumni”, how close was your high school experience to St. Jude’s and Constance, especially with British boarding schools?

Although I went to the Royal High School in Edinburgh, the similarity stops at the uniform of a shirt, tie and blazer that I had to wear. But what’s weird is how different things are. When I was in school, just 8 years ago, I was just a schoolboy, making fires in the woods with my friends and just causing a bit of trouble. No social media, except maybe Facebook near the end. Whereas now I feel that they’re adults. I feel like the social media craze is robbing kids of being kids, or young teenagers. My Gossip Girl character feels like a 45-year-old man stuck in a 17-year-old’s body. He’s sophisticated in so many ways, like his taste in food for example, but at the same time, he’s still not centered as a human because he is only 17 after all. And that’s a bit heartbreaking because it’s like we missed the fun years of wearing rubbish, terrible clothes. They can’t look back on pictures, being so conscious of the world and being inundated with information. It’s kind of sad.

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 How different is the Gossip Girl universe and its “all-seeing” narrator from the experience of being a public figure in the social media age?

I have not been on Instagram for over two weeks. I'm just done. Too crazy and so addictive. It creates this invisible all-seeing eye that doesn’t exist but still perpetuates itself. And it's growing arms and legs, getting worse. To have to do social media just to fit in feels crazy. And I'm not taking any moral high ground here at all. I definitely indulge, both for my career and to connect to others. But on the whole I feel that despite an initial positive intension, it has just cascaded into something incredibly poisonous.

 When you say it like that, it’s like the Black Mirror version of the promises of social media.

Yes, Jesus, it is. It's some cancerous psych tumor that keeps growing. And there's no end in sight.

 Look at us complaining about the young(er) and social media like old biddies. Add to that the fact that the Pope recently said gossip was a plague worse than Covid. Should we listen to His Holiness?

He’s probably had enough of hearing about the disgusting behavior of some members of the church. Oh, don’t get me too heavy. And I was brought up very Catholic, too.

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 Then we can’t be friends! My father was a Protestant from Glasgow.

A Ranger’s man, then…

 We are heading into very controversial territory, Mr Doherty!

Here’s another controversial thing: people need to stop using God and religion as justification for committing evil and inflicting sadness on others. I think that you shouldn't teach religion to children until they're 18. And then, they can figure out for themselves if they want to be religious or not. In that way, people would be more in touch with their spiritual side and their true nature which I believe is fundamentally about compassion and love. Because the age-old conversation about God and about religion feels like it's just been completely misinterpreted and exploited, with those who are more concerned about “doing good to go to Paradise”, rather than doing good because it’s the decent, humane and right thing to do.

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 Isn’t that what 2020 brought us, in a way? An opportunity to sit for a moment and consider our life choices.

Definitely. Being from capitalist societies, we’re constantly chasing after the next thing, feeling like you’re just a step away from something. Think about it: when we’re small, we go straight into a system, practically from the minute we’re born. Learning the alphabet, then math. Onwards with primary, middle then high school. From there, you’re thinking about college, then about getting a job. After that, white picket fence. This whole time, we’ve not stopped one second to think about who you are or what you want to do with that life. No self-exploration, no self-expression. That’s not being present. What you need is to stop, connect to yourself and flow from that place as opposed to constantly trying to manufacture your life.

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 Is that what you were doing, too?

For a long time, I felt like I was doing the wrong thing, almost trying to fit myself from the outside. But I found that if I connected to myself, the right things started to happen. Sure, to some extent, I was filling needs but always to build a certain foundation of connectivity to myself. Looking at myself, I felt conscious that I’d put myself in a bit of a safety box of being that schmoozy, smoldering thing because I saw that it worked. But I’m definitely ready to shed that skin. I’m very fortunate, especially with working on an amazing show, but what I really want is just to get to know myself with no other incentive to gain other than knowing myself. At this point in my life, I’m focusing on myself, not what I can get or make or what my goals are. And I might be a complete asshole, but at least it'll be me.

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Full feature in our Issue 10 SS21

Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Casting & production IMAGEMAGINE cs

ONCE MORE WITH RICKY

Even if our lives are wildly different, there’s one thing we all have in common with singer, songwriter, and actor Joshua Bassett: an admiration for Harry Styles, whom he recently described as a cool, classy and hot man. But between his magnetic presence on “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, his broad repertoire of instruments and the fact that he’s lived through “5 albums worth of life circumstances in the last 12 months” (his words, not ours!) there was so much to go through as we caught up with him on a self-care Sunday in his new New York pad. 

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“Honesty” is a word that comes back a lot when people talk about you and your music. What does being honest mean to you?

 Art and honesty are inseparable. I always say that while context and story may change in the process of making art, as long as you’re honest about how you feel, you can’t go wrong.

 Working on HSMTMTS, I’ve realized the importance of being unapologetically authentic. So often people seek something outside themselves to make them like-able, good enough, etc. We forget that who we are is more than enough. Not only that, it’s who we’re supposed to be! How boring being a carbon-copy of everybody else? You are here to be YOU, so own it!

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 Why did you find Ricky so relatable?

 Ricky is an idiot; I am an idiot. Ricky has many blind spots; I have many blind spots. Ricky is impulsive but will stop at nothing to make things right; I am impulsive but will stop at nothing to make things right. Need I say more?

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 Throughout the show, he grew in confidence and into himself. What about you? How did you get your “sea legs” for stage, whether as an actor or as a musician?

 I think in the same way Ricky was forced to learn through experience, I myself have learned through experience. I started doing musical theatre at a very young age, so I guess I had lots of practice with that! But no one ever really knows what they’re doing; everyone at some point faked their way through whatever they had to in order to end up where they are!

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 What is your creative process? 

 Ha! I wish I had a better answer for you here; I’m all over the place. I write songs either in 20 minutes, or 3 months. Sometimes over a year. It’s a mystery to me still, but I’d like to get into a more disciplined routine of creativity; which sounds contradictory but in reality is something I hear from every successful creative I look up to.

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 What’s the best thing about coming from a musically-inclined family?

 They pick up the slack! You will never be in public with your family without at least 2 backup singers (and potentially dancers) on standby!

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 Do you go to them with your new pieces? 

 I often send my music to my sister Ashley and my Dad. My sister Ashley is always a good ear to bounce-off, and my dad appreciates music more than anyone I know!

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 When you’re not working (given your film and music career, that must amount to what… half an hour a week? ;-) ), what’s your go-to relaxation activity?

 Honestly, it’s reading or TikTok. Reading is healthier, but I learn so much on TikTok it’s hard to put it down…

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 I also hear you’re an avid reader. What’s the latest book you read? The one you’d take on a desert island? 

 Ha! Genuinely had not read this question when I answered the last! Latest book I’m reading is “How to Do the Work” by Dr. Nicole LePera. Desert islander would be either “The Untethered Soul,” “Big Magic,” or “The Power of Now.”

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Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Grooming by Drew Schaefering using Cruxe

Casting and production by ImageMachine_cs

EXPLORATIONS

Escaping definitions and usual conventions is something Shaun Ross has been doing since he was a teenager. If the multifaceted American is known within fashion circles as a successful model challenging traditional notions of beauty, Ross is also a talented musician, actor and singer.

Last month, he released his debut album entitled ‘Shift’, a surprising RECORD with a soulful and dreamy quality. Ross does in fact quote Soul as one of his key musical influences, which he seamlessly pairs with electronic elements. 

In this exclusive interview, Ross evokes one of his best fashion memories, developing as an artist and why the ALBUM freed him creatively.

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Where are you right now?

 My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to New York, my hometown, for my 30th birthday. I thought I was just coming here to visit my family, particularly my mother whom I hadn’t seen for months, but he had been planning this surprise thing all along with some of my friends.

“I feel liberated, because my entire mission with this album was to have something people could resonate with.”

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‘Shift’ is a beautiful album and an achievement as well. Can you tell me more about your creative process?

 I’ve been doing music for the past 5 years now and the idea you usually start with for a song keeps changing and evolving until you actually get there. Putting this album together and working with different people felt really exciting and fun. I learned what my style was and how to behave in the studio, too. Coming from fashion, I had to learn what certain things were and how to talk to people within that context. 

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 Is the learning part as stimulating as the creative act itself?

 Definitely. When the pandemic started last year, I decided to learn how to play the piano by myself, which was also new for me. 

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 Which similarities do you see between fashion and music?

Fashion and music are quite similar. A form of yourself goes out there within both disciplines so you have to make sure you are comfortable with whatever that form may be, meaning that execution’s a big thing. Designers put collections together, but an album is also a collection of sounds. The process behind perfecting a garment until it’s finally complete is very much the same as refining or tweaking a song. You may add different textures to it, or take some of those layers away. Once your music is out in the world, people will judge it, too, the same way critics judge designers.

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 It does feel like you’ve put yourself out there. Is that scary or liberating?

 I feel liberated, because my entire mission with this album was to have something people could resonate with. That’s also a statement about my identity. It says who I am. 

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 Sounds pretty empowering. As a model, what are your best memories of this industry?

 God, there are so many… I mean I’m 30 now, which isn’t old at all, but I was already traveling the world as a teenager. I got to experience so many different cities and cultures, which is something I’m very grateful for. Being older, I’m more conscious of this and appreciate it even more. I have a great memory of one Life Ball in Vienna, which was just incredible. I think it was in 2014 and Franca Sozzani’s last time doing the ball. She was such a warm and sweet woman, and I remember meeting Jean Paul Gaultier there and partying with David LaChapelle, Natalia Kills and Naomi Campbell afterwards. 

“My own style is still developing, which I’m excited about.”

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Tunic SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants FERRAGAMO and shoes PRADA

 Did you enjoy modeling as a career or was it challenging?

 Honestly, I enjoyed all of it. I can remember my start like it was yesterday, my first test shoot, first runway show or first time in Paris when all my freaking luggage got lost…

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 That is the ultimate Fashion Week nightmare.

 I was so annoyed, didn’t speak any French and had no money either. It was a complete culture shock. My mom cheered me up and I started to embrace Paris, which I’ve loved to this day.

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Suit and shirt VALENTINO, sandals SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

How would you describe your musical style in a few words?

 I’d say Soul Electronics. My own style is still developing, which I’m excited about. There will be many more albums to come, that’s for sure. 

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Interview by Philippe Pourhashemi

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Grooming by Candice Birns

A DAY’S WORK

Why sign up for a mercenary mission when your signature weapons are a fork and a spoon? For Dieter, the happy go lucky safe-cracker played by Matthias Schweighöfer, there are 250 thousand reasons, but for the German actor, it was Zach Snyder’s generosity in letting him spin his own funny ad lib that cinched his agreement to experience the ultimate very bad day at work (to find out why, Army of the Dead is now out on Netflix). But after our interview is interrupted by a personal call, it’s not the zombie apocalypse that Matthias has most to fear: it’s coming home empty handed, or worse, with something uncool. 

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Is everything alright?

 Everything’s great. That was my daughter. I’m driving back for her birthday and she just asked me for a college jacket. So I asked her what kind. Her answer? “A cool one.” Uh-huh. 

 That sounds like the premise for another kind of road movie! 

 (Laughs.) That’s very right. And it’s called “Puberty, Reloaded.” 

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You better be careful because shoppers are way more ferocious than zombies, after this last lockdown. So what’s your hunting perimeter? 

 Well, I’m in London for work. It’s going to be a long journey [back]. Border is like this kind of stasis. It took us four hours, but thankfully, we only have to do 5 days in quarantine because we come for professional reasons. 

“Zack and the team asked me if we have experience with weapons in Germany, and I said “yes, I have a fork and a spoon at home.”

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I hope it's a nicer setting than the Las Vegas refugees we meet at the beginning of Army of the Dead.

 Yes, thank God!

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 Dieter gets offered 250 thousand dollars for a day’s work. What’s your going rate these days?

 That’s my going rate. I’m known for that. And given I usually have 110 shooting days on a film, life’s great. (Laughs.)

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 Definitely enough to get the coolest of cool varsity jackets!

 Right. But 250 grand for a day? That’s a lot of money. It’s crazy.

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 Depends how bad the day gets, even with that badass bat with metal spikes. Everyone else has guns, so what gives? 

 I am so proud that I have a bat in that scene. Zack and the team asked me if we have experience with weapons in Germany, and I said “yes, I have a fork and a spoon at home.” That, I can handle. Or something made of wood. So I got pretty lucky to have something that gangster version of a bat.

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What happens after the zombie apocalypse? 

 I’m working on this film called The Swimmers. It’s based on the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, two Syrian sisters who swam across the Aegean sea 5 or so years ago, pulling a boat. They saved something like 20 people. After that, as they were both professional swimmers, they came to Berlin to train for the Olympics. Yusra eventually competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, in the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team, at the age of 16. I play Sven Spannenkrebs, her trainer.

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Are your swimming skills up to the task to measure up to swimming across a sea?

 I’d love to say that it’s my genuine expertise. I think I’m a decent swimmer but would perform best in a calm setting. You know, a pool. 

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Army of the Dead is currently airing on Netflix.

Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Letizia Guel

Fashion by Fabio Pace

All clothes BALENCIAGA

Grooming by Paolo Ferreira

Casting by ImageMachine_cs

Production by Agnes Virag

Stylist’s assistant Lucas Avid

MORNING AFTER

A golden glow surrounds Rebecca Dayan on the New York morning where we talk. But this time, it’s not a halo of holiness left from her unforgettable role as a nun in the 2017 film Novitiate. It’s the after-party aura of Studio 54, where the French-born New Yorker stars as Elsa Peretti in Netflix’s Halston. 

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Right Suit FENDI

Since we still have to live vicariously through our screens for the time being, how did it feel, hitting the Studio 54 era with Halston? 

 It was really fun – the sets, the costumes, everything was amazing. Obviously, it’s a very exciting period to portray. To play a character that evolved during that time is very enticing and felt very liberating in a lot of ways. 

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Left Top, skirt and belt CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE , coat vintage

Right Full Look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

Was it jarring to have the real world turn into this quasi-monastic existence for most people while you were living the ultimate party epoch?

 We started filming before the pandemic, so Daniel [Minahan] had been very good about getting us to spend time together. He took us all to lunch at Bergdorf’s. We went to visit all the real locations the show mentions but where we wouldn’t be filming, like the original studio. It built a form of complicity, and it’s definitely what kept us going.

 Most of the show was filmed during Covid-19 so it was very interesting to experience this dichotomy between the world we were experiencing off-camera and what we were bringing to life on screen. The gap between the two worlds wouldn’t have felt so different, for sure. But this friendship that had really developed [between cast members] really helped, and I think it really transpires in the show. 

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What was your favorite part of the whole project? 

 Definitely the scenes where you have all of us, and see us as a crew, being this Rat Pack of weird misfits that are both crazy and super fun to be around. 

Did you have any apprehension slipping into the fabulous skin of Elsa Peretti?

 Although I knew her work, I had never delved into her personal life or the details of her career, so it was exciting. Watching interviews, reading what others have said about her, all that was fascinating. You know, one of the best parts of a project is that you get to dive into worlds that you’re not familiar with and where there’s always things to learn.  

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Right Full Look CHANEL

Is the coming summer going to be a “hot fun summer” or a studious one for you?

 Usually, I spend my summers in Europe, especially the South of France where I’m from. A Mediterranean summer is always something to look forward to. But given that I spent around two months away in Mexicorecently, I’m rather hoping I’ll be working this summer. Right now, we are trying to find a home for Born Free, a documentary I produced and which speaks about the rising maternal mortality rate in the US. How is it possible in one of the richest countries in the world? We explore all the possible causes, from women’s rights and [access to] healthcare, to racial bias. 

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Suit FENDI & shoes LOEWE

At a moment where women’s rights have taken a hit – a step back worth decades – due to the pandemic, it’s a crucial topic. 

 Yes, it's a sobering thought. A crisis like that can happen and boom, we’re back to 1955 or something. So one of the main goals of the documentary is to educate people, without pretending to know better but by sharing information and giving them all the facts to make their own informed choices – whether I agree with them or not. 

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Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Martina Keenan

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Make-Up by Misha Shahzada at Kalpana

Hair by Seiji at Forward artists

OPEN YOUR HEART

With his vibrant and moving portrayal of Lil Papi in FX’s drama series Pose, Angel Bismark Curiel’s talent, and incredible skills as an actor, came to the fore.

Growing up in Liberty City, a rough and dangerous part of Miami, Angel’s life would have been quite different if he hadn’t embraced drama and developed his own creativity. With an exciting future ahead of him, the young actor is eager to take on new projects and challenge himself.

We caught up with Angel to discuss the profound impact the series has had on his life, creating a family unit on set, and how Poseencouraged him to be bolder when it comes to his own clothing choices.

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Jacket VALENTINO

 Pose has been an incredible journey for you. How has it transformed you as an individual?

The show centers on black and brown people, and we are the heroes of our own stories. I love the fact that in Pose you get to see black trans women shine, in a society that deems them unworthy. I understood over time that being part of a show telling a love story between a cis dude and a black trans woman was in fact radical and revolutionary. 

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Left Tank top SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, pants LANVIN & shoes VALENTINO GARAVANI

Right Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, bracelet & necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY

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Jacket and pants EDEN HIGH BY MCQ, tank top Angel’s own, necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY & bracelet DAVID YURMAN

Why does transphobia still exist in our societies?

Anything you don’t understand, you’re fearful of. Individuals need the right education on gender and sexuality, in order to understand trans people. There is obviously no excuse being transphobic or homophobic today, regardless of how knowledgeable you may be. 

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 Did you know a lot about ballroom culture before you started shooting?

Not at all. The production was really helpful though and held a couple of courses on ballroom for us. I also watched Paris Is Burningin order to get more of an insight into that community. I learned a lot from my other cast members while shooting and just listened to their stories, particularly Dominique Jackson’s. It was an amazing experience.

“We were playing a family, which means we spent a lot of time getting to know each other on set. It was deep and intimate.”

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 The concept of family is obviously very important throughout Pose. Was there a similar sense of belonging for you while you were on set?

 I think that manifested itself quite organically. I came in feeling like a kid, I was scared and excited. Everyone welcomed me with open arms and I felt at ease almost instantly. We were playing a family, which means we spent a lot of time getting to know each other on set. It was deep and intimate. I think we were just open and willing to give everything we had.

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Jacket, tee and denim pants VALENTINO, belt BALENCIAGA, necklace & bracelet ATELIUM JEWERLY

 There is so much love, passion and heartache in the show, which makes it very moving.

I think people truly engage with the show, not only because it deals with ballrooms, runways and categories, but also because it celebrates a space that allows people to be themselves completely.

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Left Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO & necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY

Right Full look AMIRI

Did Pose encourage you to be more adventurous when it comes to fashion?

Definitely. I see clothing as a form of artistic expression. My stylist Jason Bolden, whom I love and consider a true friend, picked this amazing Lanvin outfit for the Season 3 Premiere, and when I saw shorts I was worried that people would make fun of me, but he was pretty convincing and when I tried everything on I felt great in it. Sometimes you just need to be open-minded and trust someone, and something clicked when I put it on. And I got to wear sneakers, too, which was so comfortable. Pose gave me room and allowed me to push the envelope more. I don’t need to be standard when it comes to my own personal style.

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Left Jumpsuit ISABEL MARANT & necklace DAVID YURMAN

Right Jacket EDEN HIGH BY MCQ & necklace ATELIUM JEWERLY

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Season three of POSE is currently airing on FX.

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Interview by PHILIPPE POURHASHEMI

Photography by NINO MUNOZ

Fashion by CHRISTIAN STROBLE

Groomer CYNTHIA ALVAREZ at The Wall Group

Casting by ImageMachine_cs

Market assistant DANE NIKKO ALVERO

Stylist’s assistant SHAYLIN PYLE

AMICI

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Directed and captured by AUSTIN AUGIE

Featuring Rockwell Harwood and Benji Staker at IMG

wearing full Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello SS21

Fashion by Michael Rosenberg

Director of photography Alec Nicholas

1st ac Sammy Levine

Music composer Alec Nicholas

Photographer’s assistant Massy Blakemen

Make-Up artist Mia Varrone

Stylist’s assistant Danielle Spadola

Production assistant David Friend

Special thanks to Sasha Kichigina

FOGUINHO_by Carter Smith

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Photography by Carter Smith

Fashion by Andrew Vottero

Featuring Felipe Caltabiano

THE REAL DEAL

“My call time has moved up so we only have 40 minutes,” said Ilfenesh Hadera over the phone the day before she wrapped the filming of the second season of Godfather of Harlem, where she plays Mayme Johnson, wife to Forrest Whittaker’s Bumpy Johnson and a rising force in her own right. For a press junket, that much time could feel like an age, but five minutes into the conversation, it’s clear that it’ll never be enough with Hadera. Beyond the screen she fills with magnetic presence, the conversation reveals the quiet philanthropist who favors concrete action to self-promotion; a great conversationalist who serves delicious “tea”; and the kind of genuinely warm human we should all aspire to be.  

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Ilfenesh, you recently took part in the first episode of The New Rules with Darnell Jamal Lisby, about your road to success as a creative, talking lessons learned, methods employed. Was there something you had to unlearn or leave behind on your way? 

 I wouldn’t say unlearn, but there’s a particular lesson that never stuck. In my 20s, successful men my age – people who’d never do favors but dished out advice on how to make it – kept telling me “walk into a room and own it”, “let people know who you are and be demanding” so that people would treat you like you’re someone. I’d question myself, because if successful people are doing it, there must be something in it, but I was pretty sure that wasn’t the right way. So the lesson to unlearn would be: just because someone else has made it doesn’t mean they have the recipe to your success. I think we all must figure out for ourselves what is authentic to us. 

The season’s not over. You could pull a diva move tomorrow before filming wraps. 

 That’s true. Maybe tomorrow I'll just go out in a blaze of glory and burn my trailer. 

But that might mean a return to that decade of waitressing.

 As wonderful as the friendships I made in the hospitality industry are, I'm very happy to not go back. People can be really awful. There was this one guy who got very upset that I wasn’t a magician who could materialize a table for him. The restaurant was full but he kept insisting that he was a guest of the hotel it was in. But unless he brought a table down from his room, there was no availability. So I offered to put him on the waiting list and, wait for it, he said “I should slap you in the face with my cock right now.” I called the manager over to deal with that. It’s one of those ridiculous moments where you’re like “wow, this meal is just that important to you.”

I’m speechless. Any current downsides to the acting? 

 I counted that since November 2020, I’ve had 53 Covid-19 tests. 

That’s… a lot. How are your nasal cavities holding up?

 It’s a necessary evil, one of those wild inconveniences that you’d have never imagined in a million years being part of your daily work life. But our nurse and technicians are so wonderful and gentle – so gentle in fact that you almost feel that they’re not getting what they need! I’m so happy to have them behind us.

Word on the street is that you’ve mastered the art of saying no. Can you please share the secret of this ancient art for those of us who always get roped into things? 

 It sounds really simple, and it’s something you probably already know, but you can get away with pretty much anything if you say it the right way. Delivery is everything, whether you want to turn down a dinner date because you need time to yourself at the end of a busy week, or you don’t want to read a script from a fan you’ve struck up a relationship with over Instagram. If you’re kind, honest and gentle, you can say no. Much more than if you flat out reject things with no good reason. 

 Do you think it’ll work on deadlines? 

 I don’t think so. Choose your battles. 

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 Is there anything that you say yes to, even though you’d rather refuse? 

 I don’t love press stuff. There’s an electronic press kit for shows, where you’ll sit down and they’ll give you questions in advance, but they can be really general questions. Let’s “there are so many parallels between 1960s Harlem and what’s going in today’s world” or “what do you think the audience will take away and love about the show?” You could really go off on a tangent answering these questions, especially for people like you and I – women who are wordy and like to talk a little bit – we can just dig ourselves into a hole. So I get a little anxious about things like that because I don’t want to sound like a bonehead. You always want to represent your show and yourself in the right way. 

Do you usually listen to that little voice that says “don’t do it” or do you throw caution to the wind?

 Well, when you have this feeling of wanting to say no to because you’re fearful you won’t be able to deliver, that’s when you have to pick yourself up and say “okay, I can do this” because otherwise, there’s no growth at all [if you don’t challenge yourself]. 

Preparing questions feels just as uncomfortable to be honest, because you want to come off as an ignorant newbie or like a total stalker. Or rude and intrusive. 

 I hadn’t thought about that from your perspective. In my case, nothing feels off-limits. If someone asked a really rude or intrusive question, I’d be like “well, that’s weird.” 

How weird are we talking? 

 When we were doing press for Baywatch, all the international press came to Miami where we were filming, and this German journalist asked me if I ever felt any pressure to get a breast augmentation for Baywatch. Can you imagine? And I was like “this is crazy… No, I have never felt any pressure to fix my tits for this one role, I'm sorry if that's not the answer that you wanted to hear, strange man.” (Laughs.) It was so surreal. People feel really free. 

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Let’s stick to the non-weird questions then. As you wrap up season 2, how do you feel Mayme has evolved? 

 You know, the creators of our show Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein really lay the groundwork for her to be a strong, solid, self-aware powerhouse of a woman in season one. But they were just setting the stage. This season, they really trusted me as an actor to bring her out. Because of the pandemic, we shot mostly on stage for health and safety reasons, so it’s really about character development an exploration about her home life, the relationship with Malcolm X. We will meet Betty Shabazz this season. So there is this dynamic. We really get to know Mayme, her interests, her hobbies, her passions in a way that wasn’t done in season 1. She’s the same woman, but further explored here. The civil rights movement is a main cause of hers and we see as a kind of activist, a community organizer. The seeds planted earlier are starting to grow. It’s a responsibility when a writer gives you something of substance that you can really sink your teeth into and hope you can deliver. I’m not saying that I have, but I feel good [about the work I’ve done]. 

If you take away the historic aspect, it could be events happening these days. 

 Yes and the parallels are just… It’s like history is repeating itself. This season is set in 1964 and it’s the year of the Harlem Riots that start because a police officer shot a young Black boy. Last summer, [the Black Lives Matter movement started with] the same story: the murder of an innocent Black man at the hands of the police. The Civil Rights Act and voting rights? Voter suppression is going on in Georgia right now. Did you know there’s now a law there making it illegal to hand out food and water to voters waiting in line? It’s medieval and it’s so clear what the intention of a law like this is. 

Not to mention the denial of access to health services for transgender youth. Community service and philanthropy has always held a central part in your life. Why is that? 

 I was born into African Services Committee which my father founded in 1981. My mother came on as a grant writer shortly after and went on to become co-executive director of the organization until she retired earlier this year. She and my father are still very much involved and invested in ASC, as am I. From campaigns aimed at getting the youth in the community engaged and involved, to spreading awareness about ASC and raising funds using the platform my career has provided me, I try to be of use to them in any way that I can be.  

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Is there a lesson that you feel all those who have not known the hardship of needing to leave their home or seek refuge should learn?                                                                    

That nobody puts their child in a boat unless the water is safer than land. And I know some people are gonna read that and roll their eyes but there isn’t a simpler way to illustrate the impossible predicament refugees find themselves in when deciding to stay or go. My father fled Ethiopia in 1979 because as a student activist during the Mengistu led “Red Terror” he knew his days were numbered. He left behind the only home he had ever known, his brothers, and sisters, his father who he would never see alive again. Now, 50 years later in the face ethnically motivated murders by Ethiopia’s own military, rape, and weaponized starvation there are an estimated 1.7 million displaced people in the Tigray region, many of whom have fled their homes to refugee camps in neighbouring Sudan, a matter of life or death. If people genuinely understood this, I think they’d feel compelled to help rather than judge.

Some may feel that a single person can’t make a difference. Where can each of us start? 

I think people can get discouraged by how much of the world needs helping and then be kind of paralyzed by the enormity of need in the world. I’ve always thought though that if we all took care of what was in front of us, no one would be left behind. So maybe that means doing something in your community, working at a local soup kitchen, or mentoring a child. Maybe that means making a donation to an organization that does work that resonates with you. And as far as money is concerned, people have to believe that a little bit truly can go a long way. 

What do we need more than ever? 

To dismiss the idea of otherness. The idea that men are so different than women or that black is so different from white. That cultural differences mean more than they actually do. We need to see ourselves in each other. 

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Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Rowan Papier

Fashion by Yael Quint

Make-Up by Georgi Sandev

Hair by Hos Hounkpatin

SUSPICIOUS MIND

In 2012, Tom Rhys Harries was named Star of Tomorrow by British film magazine Screen International. Nearly a decade later, tomorrow is here, and the British actor is definitely the kind of star that shines steadily through each role. From bit parts on longstanding TV series like Midsomer Murders or an appearance among the all-star cast of H&M’s Erdem hookup, to striking roles on Britannia and White Lines, he’s gone from strength to strength. For his next role, he joins Uma Thurman on Suspicion, the remake of Israeli thriller False Flag. So of course, the first question could only be...

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Left Blazer by VALENTINO, pants by LANVIN, vest by DOLCE & GABBANA and Boots by GRENSON

Right Leather jacket by BERLUTI

 What makes you suspicious, Tom Rhys Harries?

 Politicians? 

(Laughs.) After the year, we’ve been through, I don’t feel like letting you off the hook because that sounds like an easy out. 

 I’m not very suspicious on the whole. I don’t really believe in any conspiracy theories. (Laughs.) I didn’t think you’d ask me that. We have this running joke on set that we’re all going to have to get Botox afterwards because obviously, we have a sort of perma-frown developing from all the suspicion. I’ve been practicing. (Tom makes a hilariously suspicious face at the camera.) That’s about the extent of my acting. 

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Blazer by FENDI, pants by MAISON MIHARA YASUHIRO, vest by DOLCE & GABBANA and boots by GRENSON

 Just like Zoolander and Blue Steel, all you need is one look.

 Exactly! That’s my bible. 

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Coat by BALENCIAGA, pants and shoes by LANVIN

So after that strenuous bout of frowning, what are you up to? Chillaxing at home in your loft under the eaves? 

 It’s got everything I need. But these windows here overlook a really lovely pub, which is a bit of a tease, since I obviously can’t go.

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Customised vintage t-shirt by MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA , pants by McQ and boots by GRENSON

 I can see it from here: you and your mates trying to break into a pub, hilarity ensues. 

Funnily enough, my friends and I have been talking about either sneaking into the pub, or moving into it. We’d get in trouble, wouldn’t we? (Laughs.)

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Left Vest by AMI, custom bleached jeans by stylist from NUDIE JEANS and boots by GRENSON

Right Knitwear and pants by MAISON MIHARA YASUHIRO

 Since we’re here talking, you can’t have gotten too much trouble today. What have you been up to?

I’ve been training, and writing some music. I’ve been working with a friend to try and finish some stuff.  

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Left Leather jacket by BERLUTI

Right Blazer by VALENTINO, pants by LANVIN and vest by DOLCE & GABBANA

Last I heard, you described yourself as “very bad.” Twelve months on, where are you at?

I’m getting better at structure, which is something I brought up. So I hope I can get something out soon. I’ve got all my kit here. 

Wow, that’s one sensitive microphone… If the music doesn’t work out, you could do ASMR. What else have you learned in the past year? 

 That you’ve just go to roll with the punches. There’s this quote I quite like: “The obstacle becomes the way.” No matter how organized and on top of everything you are, life – not just Covid-19 – gets in the way and it comes at you fast doesn’t it. 

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Left Coat and vest by AMI, track top by MAISON MIHARA YASUHIRO, custom bleached jeans by stylist from NUDIE JEANS and boots by GRENSON

Right Coat by LANVIN, blazer with hood, pants and vest all by DOLCE & GABBANA and boots by GRENSON

 Your latest Instagram post was Fran Leibowitz – she’s having a bit of a moment on social media. What made you think of her?

 For the filming of Suspicion, we stayed at this hotel just outside of London for the night shoots. It took us a couple of weeks to get the sequence, so during the day, we’re supposed to be sleeping. But I just couldn’t sleep and found myself binge-watching the Martin Scorsese on Fran Leibowitz. I can’t recommend it enough. Really, she’s so bold, confident, strong and self-assured. She just didn’t give a shit.It was like Fran’s love letter to New York – so funny, so smart and wish a really dry sense of humor. I started to feel like she became my buddy for the weekend.  And she smokes like a chimney.  

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Customised vintage t-shirt by MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA , pants by McQ and boots by GRENSON

Oddly enough, someone this week mentioned that artists are no longer as rambunctious or decadent as they once were. Something to do with being under a panopticon of public scrutiny and the constant injunction of being role models. 

 I’m sure they just have very good publicist. 

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T-Shirt by SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello and pants by SIMON JAMES CATHCART

Hmm… So how good is Simon at his job then?

 Very good.

I knew it. You have broken into the pub.

 Dude, I’m in the pub now. I’m smashed. (Laughs.) That being said, when you have a job that comes with notoriety – musician, actor, athlete – you didn’t set out to be a role model. Anybody’s field of work could put them in the public eye and open them to constant scrunity. All of us try things, experiment. We’re all humans trying to figure it out. And especially in times like now where it’s important to have conversations to ensure that causes that truly matter [like justice and equality] truly advance. 

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Interview by Lily Templeton

Photography by Gavin Bond

Fashion by Mark Anthony Bradley

Grooming by Tyler Johnston

Set Design by Chris Williams

FIGHTING A WAY THROUGH LIFE

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‘Strong’ is a literal and figurative way to describe Miguel Baeza, a professional fighter who’s wrestling his way through life in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

For this reason, you might wonder whether he has already achieved his largest goal in life at the age of 28.

A Q&A with potentially one of the most vigorous men on the planet.

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What made you want to become a fighter?

I’ve always loved fighting. My uncle was an amateur boxer in Puerto Rico and growing up, he showed me how to box. Me, my brother and my cousin would do drills with him. Sometimes he would even put on gloves and spar with us.

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 What do you find the most interesting about training: the building of physical strength, technique…?

I believe the most interesting thing about training is the techniques you learn. It’s amazing how the smallest detail can change the outcome of the technique you’re applying, whether it’s going to work or not. Anyone can be strong, but being able to handle another person with little effort because you made the right movement or placed yourself in the right position is incredible to me.

Do you have a large team of trainers or do you work with just a few close people?

I have a few sets of trainers. I have my main trainers, like my guys at MMA Masters. There is my first coach, who I’ve been with since I started. But I work with a few specialists as well, who teach me specific arts and disciplines: I have a boxing coach, a wrestling coach, a Muay Thai coach… There is someone for whatever skills I feel the need to improve. All the people I work with are all equally important to my success. 

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 Who are your personal heroes?

I’m not sure if I have heroes, but if I were to pick someone I admired growing up in the sport, it was probably Randy Couture. He always seemed to be the underdog, but every time he defied the odds and came out on top. I always liked his competitive spirit and toughness: he always found a way to win. I really respect his will.

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 What’s your ultimate goal in life? Have you achieved it yet?

My ultimate goal is to be a world champion. I haven’t gotten there yet, but god willing, hopefully I do one day. I plan to keep working as hard as I can until I get there. I know there are a lot of tough guys on their way to that goal, which won’t make it easier, but nothing worth having ever is.

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What comes after your career as a fighter? Do you have other dreams?

I’m not sure what comes after fighting. I’ve been focused on this for so long, I didn’t put too much thought into it. Maybe being a commentator or analyst for the UFC or ESPN? We’ll see what the future holds. Actually, my only other dream outside of fighting is to be able to take care and support my family and enjoy life to the fullest, however that comes.

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 How did you experience 2020 (and 2021 so far)?

2020 was great for me career wise. I fought and beat a legend in Matt Brown, I continued my undefeated streak and won two performance bonuses. Personally, it was a little rougher though; I lost my cousin early in 2020, which was really hard for my family to go through. It was so quick and unexpected. He was very important to us, he was loved by everyone and he was my biggest fan, which only made me push harder to get the win for him.

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What’s on your planning for the (near) future?

My plans for 2021 are to keep my undefeated streak going and embrace any opportunity as it comes.

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Interview by Laura Bonne

Photography by Cesar Buitrago

Miguel Baeza is represented by IMG

A PRINCE AMONG US

[Interior. Daytime] Harrison Osterfield appears on screen, sans George Clooney who directed him in the “Catch-22” mini-series, or the princely attire he’s donned for “The Irregulars,” his next project set in the Sherlock Holmes universe, which will drop on Netflix this weekend. And suddenly, a loud meowl is heard. 

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Tank top Raf Simons Archive SS ’96, denim pants Calvin Klein & belt Acne Studios

 The cat is ready to interview you now, Mr. Osterfield.

Love that. Those are the best Zoom meetings, when you've got a dog or a cat in the background. I will warn you, that's where all my attention will go.

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T-Shirt Ludovic De Saint Sernin & shorts Isabel Marant

We’re about to be locked down again in Paris. How’re things for you in London?

I'm in my flat in South London, and I feel like I've gone through every lockdown activity there is to do. Baking classes, yoga classes, zoom cocktail classes – I feel like I've done it all. I’m lucky that I have a bit of space so I can exercise outside a bit. 

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Left Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Right Vest Hermes & pants Givenchy

 What’s your forte then?

Definitely not the baking. I've tried that a couple of times and it hasn't turned out too well. So I’d say the cocktail making, but I can’t really remember them.

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Tank top Raf Simons Archive SS ’96, denim pants Calvin Klein & belt Acne Studios

 They must have been good then. Maybe ask Sherlock Holmes to give you a hand at sleuthing what they were?

A key part of investigation is remembering things, yeah. And I struggle at that. (Laughs.) So I'm glad I'm play acting it and not having to do it in real life. 

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So why become one of the Irregulars? 

Sherlock is really at the lowest of the low, and he's a shell of the man he once was. He can't solve these crimes that he once could. So out of necessity, Dr. Watson really turned to these five kids who get thrust into a series of investigations. They, or rather we, start taking on these sort of investigations and crimes, and start to realize that something much more sinister and possibly darker is going on. It's a very different Sherlock to the one that we've seen before. Our showrunner, Tom Bidwell, has done an amazing job of taking the may four or five lines out of Arthur Conan Doyle’s work that mention the Baker Street Irregulars and create this eight-hour episodic extravaganza.

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Left Jumper Loewe

Right T-shirt and shirt Celine by Hedi Slimanet & shorts Valentino

And if that wasn’t an excellent lockdown activity on his part, I don't know what is.

Yeah, exactly. I wish I could do that. I've just been messing up baking every day.

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Tank top AMI & necklace Federico Curradi

At least you went from baking to Baker Street. 

I will say that. That is a very good connection. I should have run with that.

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Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

 You mentioned you’d be the posh kid of the Irregulars. How posh are we talking? 

Not just posh. He’s actually a prince of England, Queen Victoria’s youngest son.  And in the first episode, he decides not to tell the other regulars that he is a prince. And I think that's because he wants to sort of be accepted as a normal teenager and not have these things that have been held holding him back his whole life. 

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Tank top AMI, denim pants Levi’s, socks Celine by Hedi Slimane, necklace Federico Curradi & belt Acne Studios

And let me guess: he has a gorgeous American actress wife in his future.

(Laughs.) Yeah, probably. Leo’s been kept in his room at Buckingham Palace for 17 years of his life, so he doesn't really have any friends his own age. So that’s why he wants to experience London and on his very first outing, he encounters the other Irregulars. 

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Jumper Daniel W. Fletcher & shorts Dior Homme

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Left Tank top AMI, denim pants Levi’s, socks Celine by Hedi Slimane, necklace Federico Curradi & belt Acne Studios

Right Full look MSGM

What about you? How posh are you in real life? Do you know your fish knife from your butter knife?

I definitely fell into that sort of princely thing quite quickly. My first day on set, I put on this incredible princely royal attire and just went “yeah, this is for me.” (Laughs.) In real life, I'm pretty posh but when I read the script and saw how well-mannered and well-spoken he was, I started taking notes whenever I spent time with my granddad, who is just the most perfect man in terms of being well-spoken and perfectly mannered. I can’t wait for lockdown to end, so I can take up the curry night tradition I have with him and one of my cousins. 

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Left Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Right Tank top Raf Simons Archive SS ’96

 So how’re you occupying your time until curry’s on the menu again?

At the moment, I'm gearing up for the release of the Irregulars. It's been a very big part of my life for the last two years. But as an actor, you have long stretches of time where you’re between roles, so I’ve set up a sustainable marketing company with some of my school friends. 

 It’s called Addvert, with the double D. You see the #ad hashtag on social media? Well, this is about going the extra mile to ensure the profits are going to charity or that the product we are supporting is a genuinely sustainable one, not just something that’s been greenwashed. We work on fundraisers for charities that we support or doing campaigns for sustainable products online or projects promoting mental health. It’s been really rewarding and fun.

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Vest Hermes & pants Givenchy

What's the product that we should all be paying attention to, then?

An amazing search engine called Ecosia. It’s very similar to Google, except that each search contributes to getting trees planted in Madagascar and South America. It’s quite an easy thing to put into your life and the benefits are there. So we've got quite a few projects like these coming up. They’re all under wraps at the moment, but I'm excited for the future.

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Left Hat Dior Homme, denim pants Levi’s, belt Acne Studios & underwear Calvin Klein

Right Sweater Our Legacy & pants Dior Homme

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Interview by Lily Tempteton

Photography by James Greenhalgh

Fashion by Marco Drammis

Casting ImageMachine_cs

EIC Michael Marson

Grooming Petra Sellge at The Wall Group

Stylist Assistant Lauren Glazer

CHAD

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CHAD WHITE at Soul Artist Management

Captured by Hadar Pitchon

Feature from our BTB9 FW20

CAKE AS KRYPTONITE

There's not as big a step as you might think between wanting to be the fastest man in the world and become an out-of-this-world actor. Just ask Aaron Pierre. 

 Ever since he made a remarkable and remarked debut on stage, as Cassio in Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe opposite Mark Rylance – arguably one of the greatest thespians of our time – the 27-year-old South Londoner  has been around the (acting) universe a fair bit, going from the dark days of the Roman Empire to the shining doom of Krypton. 

 But our hero's destiny was probably set long before that, when in 2004, he read the lines "Greetings, gang, and welcome to the ultimate superhero battle, the one comics fans have been awaiting for decades" in the JLA/Avengers comic book. And like any good superhero, ours has a dastardly weakness...

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Left Jacket GUCCI

Right Shirt ROCHAS

Word is that your career as an international athlete was derailed by an addiction to food, especially cake. For real?

Ha! I have a serious sweet tooth. Cake, cookies – that's my thing! Growing up I loved athletics. Particularly sprinting. 100m and 4x100m relay were my favourite events. There was definitely a time when I wanted to pursue athletics as a career! My passion changed around 14 years old. I wanted to share stories. I joined a theatre group in my area and the rest is history!

So what was on the menu during lockdown?

I cooked a lot during lockdown! There was a lot on the menu. My favourite thing I made was Caramel Shortbread. It didn't last long!

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Jacket LANVIN & pants DIOR HOMME

C'mon then, what's your all-time favourite?

That's a difficult question! I have many favourite dishes. I'm going to say Callaloo and Saltfish with Plantain and Rice!

From Krypton to Shakespeare’s Italy… What’s harder: stepping into a role that’s been around for centuries or going for an all-new character? 

Both may present challenges in their own unique way. When approaching a character, I do my best to discover what I believe to be that character's truth and see any challenges as positive challenges; an opportunity to grow.

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The Guardian’s Michael Billington says you brought vitality to Cassio, a “bookish wimp”. How do you breathe contemporary spirt and relevance into a role?

That's very kind. I'm not sure. As I said, I do my best to discover what I believe to be that character's truth – I believe that combined with thorough exploration of the text, conversations with the director and company will guide you in the right direction.

And which one are you in real life. The bookish shy guy type or the stylish rake?

Neither. Ha! There are times when I like solitude and quiet. There are also times when I like big social events! I think things can coexist.

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Tank top MAISON MARGIELA

What makes you say yes to a role?

The character and story. Saying yes to a role and story that you are passionate about is a brilliant feeling. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to experience that feeling a number of times in my career.

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Left Shirt ROCHAS & pants QUASIMI

Right Jacket GUCCI

What's next for you?

Two projects I can tell you about are The Underground Railroad (directed by Barry Jenkins) and OLD (directed by M. Night Shyamalan) – 2021! Stay tuned!

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Interviewed by Lily Templeton

Photography by Patricia Ruiz del Portal

Fashion by Marco Drammis

Hair by Ryona Rushima

Make-Up by Philippe Miletto

Studio Lucerne Studio

WISHING UPON A LONE STAR

Ever since he first discovered the thrill of the stage in his junior year of high school (thank you, unnamed guidance counselor who encouraged him to try!), Ronen Rubinstein has been lighting up the characters he portrays with a cocktail of passion, enthusiasm, and humility. Oh, and the smoldering good looks don’t hurt, either, especially in his role as T.K. Strand in 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Los Angeles, February 2021

Captured by Alex La Cruz

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 Behind the Blinds catches up with TV’s hottest firefighter (sorry Rob Lowe) between shifts for a chat. 

If your house was on fire, what’s the one thing you’d grab? All living creatures big and small being safe, of course.

What would I grab… Oh my god. That’s something I’ve never been asked before!

Seriously? You’re on a show about firemen! 

No, really, you’re the first one. Ok, but not to sound like a hero or anything, but I’d just make sure the living creatures were out. Everything else is replaceable. But I would really hope I had insurance! 

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What are you up to on your day off, other than talking to strangers on the phone?

You know, I’m used to it at this point. Whenever I get a day off, I take it easy to recover because our jobs are demanding physically. I try to take care of myself – sleep if I can, drink lots of water, eat something good for me. And then just focusing on not doing much, just laying out in the back yard or watching [movies].

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Isn’t that the hardest task you’ve ever had? 

It is! I have a hard time sitting around, so I really have to focus on just doing nothing. But I know I need to do it. 

What’s it like being T.K. Strand? Was it one of those roles that you have to think about picking up? 

How could I not accept the role? It’s like winning the lottery, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a TV show that is so gigantic, so epic. You’re almost guaranteed a massive audience, thanks to who is making the show and the network it’s on. One of the beautiful sides of T.K. is the family aspect. He's a very relatable character, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, loves his job, and puts his family before anything. So, a lot of people have connected to him as a family member – a brother, a son or even (chuckles.) a prospective boyfriend – because he’s a really good kid. 

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Does the TV format factor in this connection? 

Being allowed into the living room of our viewers creates this very intimate relationship, where you go through the experiences [that T.K. is living] together. That’s what special about TV. With movies, you go to a movie theatre with strangers and then you leave. For a series, you get cozy and you let these characters enter your life. So how can you say no to someone like T.K.? 

So who are you letting into your living room? 

There’s “The Little Things” on HBO with Denzel Washington. And then catching up with all the Oscar-nominated movies of this year. Music-wise, it’ll be cycling through old favorites, like Kings of Leon and Frank Ocean. 

Which one will it be today? 

It’s really sunny so it’s a Frank Ocean kind of day, where I’ll probably lay by the pool and relax. 

Sunny day, lucky you! It’s a miserable rainy evening here in Paris. 

Well, I’d gladly trade places with you. I would love to see [a place] outside of American right now. You know what, it’s funny because I’ve been invited to a convention in Paris in June. I’m really hoping it happens because it’ll be my first trip there as an adult. The one time I went, I was about 6 years old. We went to Disneyland Paris and the Eiffel Tower, but beyond that, it’s very minimal flashes of memories. What I do know is that it’s a magical place and I think I’d lose myself there for sure. 

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Anywhere else? 

Portofino! Por. To. Fi. No. (Wistful sigh.)

How very Alexei-the-Russian-oligarch of you, Ronen. 

(Laughs.) More like Roman Emperor. I’m obsessed with Europe. Italy, France and Portugal are my favorite places in the world right now. But when I visited Portofino a few years ago… Have you ever had that feeling where you feel at home in a place you’d never been to before? In my mind and body, Portofino felt very right. It might be because it’s by the sea and I’m a big ocean person. But there’s also the culture and history. So I’m putting it out there as much as I can, so that it may happen one day: I’d love a little house where I can look at the ocean, drink my coffee and then walk down to the stores. Maybe learn some Italian. Just a beautiful, simple life. 

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Interviewed by Lily Templeton

Production & cast by IMAGEMACHINE CS

All clothes Erl

DEREK_by Alex La Cruz

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Derek Chadwick by Alex La Cruz

BLUE SCREEN OF LIFE

Anson Boon on learning life skills, whether to build shelves or a career

If acting had not called Anson Boon’s name, you might have found the British actor delivering your mail as a postman, a job he sees as “peaceful, bar the occasional run-in with rabid dogs”, he said. Instead, his daily route means facing down German soldiers in Sam Mendes’ World War I epic 1917, end-of-life issues in Blackbird and rabid journalists on press junkets. Before he embarks on his next project, he gives a peek behind the blinds, or rather, behind the blue screen he has in his garden shed.  

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Left Shirt QASIMI and necklace SWEET LIME JUICE

Right Full look SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

What’s that blue screen behind you? Are you on set?

This is the background I did the Blackbird audition in front of, actually. This is what I use from auditions. I’ve got this weird sort of wallpaper behind me in the garden shed and I’m recording myself doing acting things in front of it. 

Lucky color then.

Yeah, I need to touch it before I do every audition. (Laughs)

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Left Full look DRIES VAN NOTEN

Right Full look BOTEGGA VENETA

 Where are you really, though? Because with that, you could tell us you’re anywhere, secret MI6 bunker, Mars... 

I am about an hour north of London. As for what I’m up to… Well. I feel like a bit of a secret agent saying that, but I was working on something highly confidential and top secret before lockdown. Now, I am someone at home, auditioning, doing Zoom calls and trying to do everything remotely in this strange new world we live in. And I've kind of I've been picking up all sorts of new hobbies since lockdown so you can find me on the golf course a lot – something I never imagined I'd do, fishing or hanging out with my brother. 

Golfing, fishing, that’s very 1917 English countryside gentry. When’s the grouse shooting?

(Laughs) That's definitely not my thing. 

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Turtleneck RAF SIMONS

“Doing manual things keeps me grounded and reminds where I come from; regardless of how many cool places I visit in the world.”

So life of locked down leisure?

My grandfather is a potato farmer and I’ve been lucky to spend a lot of time with him during lockdown. Because I’ve spent so much time traveling or on set, I kind of felt like a hopeless person that had no manual skills. So when it was safe to go and see my grandfather, who is a potato farmer, outdoors at his farm, I leaned all these manual skills. I could now fix things around my house, in the car and build stuff with wood. I feel like I’m now better equipped to go forward in life. Doing manual things keeps me grounded and reminds where I come from; regardless of how many cool places I visit in the world.

And where DID you come from? Because how does one manage to be — at just 19 years old — at once a rising name on the big screen and at the National Theatre? Who did you bribe?

Well, funnily enough without money, I did kind of bribe my agents take me on. The agent I had at the time was the one who’d come off the little local drama school I did when I was little. I’d done an open audition for this Netflix series called The Alienist, where I was supposed to be an extra. But I got on really well with the director and he decided to keep me on for seven months, as a background character, giving me lines and incredible stuff like that. And so I decided it would be a good idea to email all the top agents in London and tell them that I was playing a lead role in this Netflix series, which was a complete lie… Clearly some idiots believed me and took me on. (Laughs.) I did a bunch of tests for a bunch of agents and this wonderful lady who is now my agent took me on, finding me all these weird and wonderful projects. 

“Fake it ‘til you make it” strikes again.

Exactly. You've got to find your way in there somehow. My parents definitely aren't actors and I didn't grow up in London, so I had no way into this in and I didn't go to drama school over so... Yeah, I had to lie at some point. (Laughs) 

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“It’s about living what you’re doing. It’s not about performing what you’re doing. ”

How have Blackbird and 1917 changed the way you see your profession? 

First, because it was the first time I worked every single day on a production. Before, I’d played smaller parts. So I went into Blackbird being used to slotting into a story that was already made. Here, I was building the story from the very start, helping create what you see on screen. And funnily enough for 1917, while I wasn’t one of the roles all the way through, Sam Mendes asked me to come in and help him, so I played every single role in the film during rehearsals. It was me, George [MacKay], Dean [-Charles Chapman] and another actor called Tommy. We’d come in every day, at the studios or at the location near Stonehenge, where in order for them to build the right meters of trenches, we would have to walk through these fields. I’d play Colin Firth or Benedict Cumberbatch or Mark Strong. So that was also an experience of being part of the creative process.  

Then, you know, I've been lucky enough that 1917, The Alienist or Blackbird were all incredible detailed in the production design. So it was not about acting, it was about being and that's certainly something that those jobs taught me about my profession. It's about living what you're doing. It's not about performing what you're doing.   

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Shirt QASIMI, necklace SWEET LIME JUICE and pants HERMES

Did 1917 feel like your family history was coming full circle?  

Yes. When I was growing up, my granddad hung his dad’s medals on the wall and would tell me stories about him. His own father was a bicycle courier in World War I. He used to carry messages for different posts along the trenches, like George MacKay’s character Lance Corporal Schofield. I actually wear his signet ring, and because it was relevant to the time period, they let me wear it in the film as well, which was a really nice touch for my granddad. It was really nice to give something back to my grandparents, who along with the rest of my family, have been incredibly supporting of what I’ve wanted to do since I was little.  

Both 1917 and Blackbird seem quite dark when you read the synopsis, but ultimately end up feeling like a beyond-all-odds celebration of life.

That's what I would love people to take away from it. Both stories might seem really dark and traumatic, but you actually get to watch people enjoy the last moments of a life and what it should really be about, which is about spending quality time with family and look at the real world, sharing the love. Blackbird is a celebration of life, and in many ways, so is 1917. It's really lovely to find the natural moments of light in these moments of darkness. 

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All SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

 You slip into the lives, and wardrobes, of your character but who is the real Anson Boon, when it comes to style? 

That’s a real question. But if we’re only talking style-wise, I’m as schizophrenic with my wardrobe as with the roles I play. Maybe because I feel like I have these different personalities. When I go watch football, I love to dress in the style of the football fans of the Eighties, so Fila, Adidas… but if I go with friends on a weekend, I like to wear cool new young designers with a bit of Vivienne Westwood thrown in. For a premiere, you’ll have me suited and booted, but then at home or for a walk with my mum or girlfriend, I’ll reach for sports clothes. So I don’t think I have a set style, which is probably every stylist’s nightmare to be honest. 

Or a dream. 

True. I’ll say yes to a lot of things because I’m always willing to try something new. 

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Left Shirt DRIES VAN NOTEN

Right Shirt QASIMI, necklace SWEET LIME JUICE and pants HERMES

Are you sure you’re willing to let that go on the record? 

(Laughs.) There’s a limit. But yeah, next thing I know, I'm going to be dressed in like this really outrageous Gucci dress or something. I’ll draw the line there.  

With that blue background, it could virtually happen over night, with a bit of spare time and CGI, so I’ll keep an eye out for that Dolce & Gabbana dress moment.

Yeah, you do that. You'll be waiting a long time. (Laughs) 

…

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Interviewed by Lily Templeton

Photography by Patricia Ruiz del Portal

Fashion by Marco Drammis

Hair by Ryona Rushima

Make-Up by Philippe Miletto

Studio Lucerne Studio