Michael Marson

February 3, 2023

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FINDING A DIRECTION

Michael Marson

February 3, 2023

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LA born and bred, Alana Champion has posed for Sisley and 10 magazine, and was most recently spotted front row at the Zadig&Voltaire FW23 runway, in Paris. Nicknamed ABC, the model and director posts glimpses of her personal and professional life on Instagram which she does not take too seriously, capturing the Gen-Z approach of curated imperfection. We got to know Champion a little better during a shoot right before the Z&V show where she shared her love for cinema and the inspiration behind her work.

You were invited to the latest Zadig & Voltaire show, what did you think of the collection?

Loved the fire-in-water-fountain motif.

How do you think social media has influenced your career? And what do you see for the future of modeling within or outside of these spaces?

Social media is a funny thing. I'm quite mercurial about it. I find it fun and funny, but really can't think too much into it. It's a corny thing too, to promote yourself in a way, so it's hard to take seriously really. I love it for NBA highlights though.

You directed a music video for the band Dummy, what were your inspirations for the video and more importantly what drew you to music video directing?

Oh, that was a fun thing I had done back during COVID times. It’s something I really love doing, video making and directing. I got inspiration from window-peeping, voyeuristic thrillers like Brian De Palma movies like Body Double. Also I love using Craigslist as a way to find cool people. Most of the actors were off there.

And you seem to be quite the cinephile, can you recommend one movie that everyone should watch in their lifetime ? And why?

Definitely a certified cinephile LOL... I just recently saw a screening of what really is one of my very favorite movies ever The Last Picture Show by Peter Bogdonavich. Moody! Melancholy! Dusty, fabulistic mid-century America. Hard to think of a more beautiful movie…

Photography by Gregory Derkenne

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Alana is wearing Zadig&Voltaire

Michael Marson

February 2, 2023

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TELLING OUR STORIES

Michael Marson

February 2, 2023

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Ben Aldridge is feeling lucky about being able to play nuanced gay characters on screen. In Spoiler Alert, the adaptation of Michael Ausiello’s memoir, the British actor portrays the role of the author’s husband Kit who lost his battle with an aggressive form of terminal cancer. The film is a beautiful tribute to the strength of love – giving its audience encouragement to be vocal about their affection towards the people that mean the most to them. This week, Aldridge also celebrated the world premiere of Knock at the Cabin, a psychological horror from controversial director M. Night Shyamalan. As a gay father who is taken hostage with his partner (played by Jonathan Groff) and daughter by a group of strangers forcing them to make an unthinkable decision to seemingly avoid the approaching apocalypse, Ben’s character is faced with the question of what to believe before it’s too late. In our digital cover story, he talks about the themes that have been lately driving his acting choices, getting to know his Spoiler Alert co-star Jim Parsons over email and the physical aspects of starring in a horror.

Sweater and pants **Prada** & gloves **Thomasine**

“Spoiler Alert is a movie that makes you want to tell your loved ones you love them after you watched it.”

Your new film Spoiler Alert is based on Michael Ausiello’s memoir about his relationship with his partner Kit, who died of cancer a couple of years ago. Having read Michael’s book prior to shooting, what did you find most moving about their relationship?

What I found most striking about the book was just how honest it is about the foibles, pitfalls and challenges in their relationship. And with our film, the endeavour was to not over-romanticise it or make it a rose-tinted view – we wanted to show that love and loving someone over a long time is difficult. We’re so often fed, especially in movies, the notion of “the one”, of it enhancing our lives and everything being perfect once you meet that person. And I think that the film gives a more truthful portrait of that. Another thing was the sense of chemistry between them. Reading the book, I really felt that these were two people who were in an unusual way very well-suited – they had a real sense of playfulness between them and such a strong love for each other. Once I finished it, I wrote to Michael and said, “This book broke my heart, put it back together and taught me how to love better.” And I hope that the film does that as well – it’s a film that makes you want to tell your loved ones that love them after you watched it.

Full look **Miu Miu** & necklace **Boucheron**

What were the elements from the book that you wanted to make sure were explored within Kit’s story?

I wanted to make sure that his photography was more part of his character – I was trying to have him take photographs whenever I could. Actually, Michael kept several of Kit’s objects and his camera was one of them. So I got to use his actual Point & Shoot camera while in character! Kit was a very idiosyncratic and specific person. I was sent lots of video footage of him that was recorded on a Handycam during their milestones or trips. They were very lovely home videos, but they were quite overwhelming for me to watch at first because I was suddenly hit by the responsibility and pressure of really honouring him and doing his story justice. And also, I was going to be playing Kit in front of the person who loved him the most, as Michael was with us on set. So I knew that I didn’t want to do an impression or impersonation of him. Rather, something I wanted to get in there was his sense of lightness – his way of having fun and making light of any moment that he could. Another thing was his sassiness. Even though he wasn’t out to his parents for a long time, Kit really had ownership of his queerness, and I think that was really a part of him that I wanted to come through on screen.

Left Top **Ami**, sweater **Isabel Marant**, spikes scarf **Jordanluca**
Right Top and gloves **Dries Van Noten** & necklace and bracelet **Sweetlimejuice**

I read that prior to filming, Jim Parsons [who plays the role of Michael] and you would exchange long emails to get to know each other - what were the things that you have bonded over in these emails?

We were completely honest and transparent with each other. We spoke about our families, we spoke about grief. We spoke about our own sexuality and what our coming-out stories looked like. We spoke about shame. We spoke about our relationships. We spoke about our first-ever experiences performing. And we made a lot of jokes! It was funny because, on the first day of filming, I knew so much about him already – that really meant that we didn’t have any of that awkward moments of trying to get to know each other. We were straight in there and the conversation just continued, we just continued chatting the entire time. And we’re still in contact with each other a lot. It’s a really lovely friendship.

Up next, you’re also starring in the psychological horror from M. Night Shyamalan, Knock at the Cabin. What drew you to this story?

I think that the film talks about something that has been quite a theme in my acting choices over the last three years or so – exploring both belief and faith, as well as lack of it. In the movie, M. Night is throwing up some really big questions about what belief and “truth” are, and whether believing in something makes it real. And in an age when we all believe such different things politically and ideologically, I found it really compelling that the story is bringing those themes to the forefront. Also, it’s a film about love and family, a single-sex partnered family. And I was really interested in the way it handles that on the page – the movie does deal with their identity, but it’s also really relatable and this could be any type of family. Finally, what drew me in is that M. Night makes a good film! He knows how to make a blockbuster popcorn movie that at the same time gets people thinking – you usually leave the cinema being like, “What just happened? What do I think about that?” He’s quite a controversial and iconic director and I was really intrigued to go on that ride with him.

Full look **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello** & necklace **Cartier**

“In Knock at the Cabin, M. Night is throwing up some really big questions about what belief and “truth” are, and whether believing in something makes it real.”

Is this your first foray into horror?

Yes, it is!

What surprised you the most about how horrors are made?

How affected I felt by having to play high stakes, tension, fear, anxiety and anger for eight weeks. I really didn’t bank on that affecting myself off-camera. That said, we made sure to have a very playful atmosphere on set – it felt a bit like going to summer camp and a bit like doing youth theatre. It was very communal. The content within that cabin that we were in for so long was so heavy, so we made sure to have a lot of fun off-set. But yeah, I was jumpy and on edge for the entire time we made the film.

Left Full look **Louis Vuitton**
Right Shirt **Bluemarble** & waistcoat **Kenzo**

Even if what you’re doing is not real at all, it still affects you…

Yeah. Because what you’re doing as an actor is asking your body to believe if you want to try to be as truthful [in your behaviour] as possible. So you end up getting yourself worked up – my heart rate would be up all the time and my breathing would be up all the time. You’re doing something on a kind of cellular level and I think your body gets tricked by it.

Are you a fan of watching horrors?

Yes, I quite enjoy feeling scared.

What’s the film that scares you the most?

Sinister with Ethan Hawke. I couldn’t make it through and I had to turn it off twice now!

…

Discover the full story in our upcoming SS23 WILDSIDE Issue - End March release.

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Jack Snell

Fashion by Steven Huang

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Grooming by Linus Johansson

Set design by George Lewin

Photographer’s assistant Freddie Hare

Stylist’s assistant Nathan Fox

Set design assistant Anna Minchell

Michael Marson

January 29, 2023

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PLEASURE & PAIN

Michael Marson

January 29, 2023

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Tom Prior has carved out an enviable career so far with supporting turns in Kingsman: The Secret Service opposite Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine, and as Eddie Redmayne’s son in the 2014 Oscar-winning biopic The Theory of Everything.

The British actor’s career kicks into an even higher gear, however, with his breakout role in the film Firebird, where he’s introduced to a global audience as Sergey, one of two Soviet Russian military officers entwined in a forbidden gay love affair at the height of the Cold War.

Here he talks to us about filming love scenes in the freezing Baltic sea, and how Wim Hof and Adele are his motivational life coaches.

Firebird follows a true story of forbidden love between two men which is based on the book The Story of Roman. How did that role come about for you, as you were both the star, co-writer and producer?

I was approached in 2014 while in LA having finished shooting Kingsman and The Theory of Everything in which I play Eddie Redmayne’s son for about 3 seconds, and it was a meeting with a film financer and producer who had just read Peeter Rebane’s first draft of Firebird, and she thought I would be a good fit for the lead role. She connected Peter and myself a few weeks later in London and he sent me the script, and we agreed that I would play Sergey for a few scenes to help raise financing for the film. Peeter was very gracious in allowing me to make some suggestions on how the dialogue could be tweaked here and there, and then literally the next two and a half years we ended up totally rewriting, restructuring and redrafting the whole screenplay and doing a deep dive into all the sociological and political contexts of the time, and going to Russia and meeting the real Sergey and others who had served in the Soviet army at the time.

How did you connect with your character Sergey, besides obviously being a human who experiences love?

Meeting the person you’re going to play invariably writes the rest of his life, and I had this very strong instinct that I didn’t want him to be very downtrodden or internally suffering, as I didn’t really get that from the book. When I met him in real life, he was amazingly warm with a funny persona and very positive outlook, considering he had lived through some pretty horrendous times, particularly in following love and his heart, and he was pretty relentless in being himself which was so beautiful. I asked him so many questions about how he had scaled the relationship, especially as this was a time when there were no words to describe such a relationship, so much was done in the silence of the eye contact and physicality between people to discover how to connect in that way.

The unfolding storyline really shines a light on the freedoms the LGBTQ+ community have today in just being visible and having a voice and role models to champion the cause. What’s been the takeaway for you from being part of the story?

Well I don’t identify, and that’s a conscious decision. I believe that labels have absolutely had their place in allowing such progression to happen in the world and really being able to scale a very complicated and tormented history of being able to be yourself. But now I resonate most strongly with allowing myself to fall in love and experience people for who they are, and it’s not defined by the sexuality of the person alone, and that’s the future really, a world where people don’t have to justify or identify who they are, but an allowance and acceptance of exactly just how it is.

Doing the film made me look very deeply at myself and following my heart and the true calling of that, as Sergey was such a champion in doing that himself in an environment where he was risking his very life to be who he was, but he followed his heart and feelings, he didn’t have to identify in a certain way. In time we’ll all yield to the calling of our hearts, and we can try very hard to avoid that, but like trying to push a beachball under water, it will just keep bubbling up.

Left Necklace **Givenchy**
Right Full look **N°21**

A lot of LGBTQ+ up-and-coming actors are still encouraged towards a closeted blank canvas though, in order to appeal to mass audiences. How can we shine a light on being authentic and proving anything is possible, regardless of how you identify?

It’s a very slippery slope, as some people have already proposed to only cast gay actors to play gay roles, but then at what point do only straight actors play straight roles you know? There’s been some heavy pushing for me to identify, and I don’t want to be pushed into any box as that’s not true to myself. Sexuality and identity at the end of the day ends up being a process of self-discovery, self-authenticity, and that’s what I’m interested in, and the way that I present myself to the world is being authentic. My job as an actor is to present the truth, and if somebody wants to know details about my private life, that as an actor will interfere with the audience’s believability into what I can play, so in my life I present in a very open but a very unspecified way. I believe sexuality is in the spectrum, who I am, or who I’m with today, might not necessarily be who I’m with tomorrow or in a month or a year from now, it can be limiting to have to define yourself a certain way.

“I resonate most strongly with allowing myself to fall in love and experience people for who they are, and it’s not defined by the sexuality of the person alone.”

Let’s talk about shooting the film, as there’s a love scene in the freezing cold Baltic Sea. That must have taken some mental preparation?

It was actually a huge learning point for me to go and confront the cold in my own life, and through shooting the film, I went and started doing some work with Wim Hoff, and then meditation and self-improvement and self-awareness. The scene itself was one of the most memorable days of shooting, as having to do an intimate scene helped established that close connection, like breaking the ice, in terms of the cast and crew. A sauna was built on the beach which was just brilliant and some of the costume girls were ladling hot water down my pants to keep us warm!

Tell me more about working with Wim Hof, he’s so inspiring and transformative for the human psyche?

Totally, it was very transformative to me. I went to Iceland to do a workshop with him, and Iceland has a very dear place in my heart anyway, I love the country and it inspired me to go and push the boundaries of what’s possible. I’m fascinated by alternative forms of healing, that aren’t just traditional pharmaceutical cut-it-out-under-surgery ways, and you know he’s rewriting medical journals as a result of what he’s doing, with his amazing breathing technique and cold immersion. In Estonia in February, I was going into the sea and it’s minus 25 outside and the sea is at 0.5 degrees, and it certainly makes you feel very alive. There’s an amazing switch that happens from the days when I’ve been in a kind of a low mood and I look at the sea and it’s almost calling me into it, and literally 90 seconds in water that cold really does something like a shock therapy reset, both psychologically and physiologically. The health benefits of it are amazing.

Wim certainly has an interesting life story, and I’m keen to know, are there other true stories that you would love to adapt for the big screen, or star in?

I’m fascinated by telling more true stories that are about overcoming impossible situations to get out of, and within that, challenging the physical capabilities of what people would say the human body is capable of doing, stretching the human body to a limit. I’m fascinated by superhuman capabilities, but I’m not talking Marvel!

Was there a moment growing up when you saw yourself reflected in a character in TV or film, which inspired your journey into the industry?

I grew up watching Jason Bourne and James Bond and reading Tintin, and that was always a massive calling for me. I’ve been asked if I would play James Bond and I always say yes absolutely. But at the same time there’s a newer part of myself that instinctively feels I could play characters like that, but with an added extra that violence doesn’t always have to be the answer. Playing more characters where there is an alternative to the killing of the enemy which has always been the narrative – instead outsmarting them, or disarming them, like the qualities Jason Bourne had, he didn’t kill people unless he actually had to. That’s one of the things I love about Tintin too, he’s not a killer, but a disarmer and a hero for change, which I think heroes in action films should be more about now.

Speaking of heroes, who would you love to work with?

One film that’s completely changed my life is seeing Everything Everywhere All at Once, I think it’s just phenomenal and the depth of the message is done in this lightness that doesn’t feel like a bitter end, but more a means to an end, and I would love to work with Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, as directors they’ve made something so deep in meaning but so accessible to a wide audience.

I would be fascinated to work with Sam Mendes too, a director who can do scale really well and high stakes. I was lucky enough to work with Colin Firth on Kingsman, and he’s an inspiration as he’s had such a varied career.

Your own fanbase is growing, so referring to what you were saying earlier about being your authentic self, is there another celebrity you really admire for keeping it real, so to speak?

Adele! She did this amazing performance on ITV and started a song and got about a third of a way through and told the band, oh stop, let’s start again, and I was like, yes, that’s amazing!! For me I’ve used that and her as an example a few times in my life, you know you can just start again, and having that permission from someone so well established is very empowering. We must celebrate those moments where we get real highs, like doing a great performance or get into really great shape for a photo shoot, but let’s also acknowledge along the way there’s also going to be tears, pain, exhaustion, grief, suffering, and that’s part of life, part of being human.

Well now I’m obviously going to have to ask you which Adele tune is the one that always gets you, the one you know you’ll forever sing-cry along to (we’ve all done it)?

Haha! I think the most significant one for me is When We Were Young, it’s amazing and she has such an amazing capability of being so out there in the world with so much exposure but remaining so true to herself. If I ever got to that level of fame, I would love to be able to just be, and remain that grounded, otherwise we’ll just become delusional and lost!

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Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Daniele Fummo

Fashion by Marco Drammis

Casting by Imagemachine Cs

Hair by Adam Garland

Make-Up by Jo Frost

Michael Marson

January 27, 2023

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CHRYSALIS STATE

Michael Marson

January 27, 2023

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Not content with just tasting the heights of K-pop stardom and all that comes with it, as part of girl band F(x), Korean American singer Krystal Jung is now switching lanes for the meantime, to focus on pursuing the acting life. The rising talent has appeared in K-dramas, including Heirs, Police University, Sweet and Sour and the Disney+ drama Crazy Love. We spoke to the San Francisco-native who’s winning us over with her charm, while navigating the world of her new-found fame.

What was the best thing about being in the hit K-Pop girl group F(x)?

I got to experience the music side of the entertainment industry through f(x) and it was one of my most special years throughout my career. Being able to work as a team and support each other, that itself I think is a very lucky thing to have, because sometimes you can feel a bit bored or lonely when you work alone. I miss those times.

Left Full look **Prada**
Right Full look **Ralph Lauren**

How did you first get into K-pop? Did you see it as a route to achieving your dreams?

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I was at a dept store and suddenly this casting director came up to me asking if I could do a camera test for their music label. My mom said yes and that was the moment when I stepped into K-pop. I was too young to know what I was doing so I just had fun but as time passed, I knew that was the route I wanted to go on.

In the K-pop industry, the notion of femininity is defined in a certain way, which can affect young and impressionable girls, particularly with the issues of body image and dieting too. Were you affected by that culture at all?

I can’t say I wasn’t affected because there were certain body shapes people wanted one to be. I had to follow the rules and somehow, I think it’s still going on a bit, but nowadays people respect each individual personality rather than certain appearances. The industry itself is changing I believe.

As are you, because you’ve now swapped music for the small screen. Do you miss being a pop idol, now you’re focusing on acting, and how did you find your feet going it alone creatively, after being in a group for so long?

I started acting right after I debuted in the group, so it felt natural for me to be in a different side of the industry too. I’ve enjoyed acting since then, and I’ve always dreamed of becoming an outstanding actor or singer.

Left Top & pants **Zadig&Voltaire**
Right Dress **Miu Miu**

Well, you’ve already starred in various TV shows, so you’ve successfully mastered the singer-to-actor transition. Do you have ambitions to star on the big screen too?

For me, being an actor is not just about starring on a big screen or being super famous. It’s about how much I enjoy and have fun working in different kinds of films.

So which actors do you admire for their skills and performance?

There are so many, but a few of my favourites are Saoirse Ronan, Lea Seydoux, Scarlett Johansson, and Lady Gaga. I’ve watched most of their films and I was always amazed by their performances. I think they are iconic in every single way and inspire girls like me to be strong inside out like them.

Talking of icons, you’re a big fashion influencer, helping to popularise last year’s tennis skirts trend and your fans just love to reference your off-duty style too. How would you describe your style?

I’ve always chosen simple, chic, classic style over trendiness. I want my style to be like whenever I look back to the photos of the past, there’s something I would want to wear again now. Timeless outfits.

Aside from acting and fashion, I see on your Instagram that you love being outdoors in nature too. What else do you do to have fun?

I love nature, I love sports, I love food, I love to travel, I love spending time with my friends and family. Going on a Summer vacay or a ski trip really includes everything I love. I try hard to make time for myself to refresh and recharge, even if it’s just for a short period of time.

Dress **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**

You’re really into an eclectic mix of music too, right? You share a lot of stuff you listen to on Instagram. When did that passion start, did your parents or friends introduce you to different genres?

I don’t exactly remember the moment when it started, but I’ve just loved digging new music since I was young. My friends and I used to exchange playlists because we had similar tastes, so it was easy for me to encounter new genres. I remember my mom was very surprised when she found out I enjoyed listening to Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang and Fleetwood Mac!

Left All **Polo Ralph Lauren**
Right All **Ralph Lauren**

I guess those musical influences could in part come from having grown up in the U.S where you were also born, as you’re now living in South Korea. Would you ever move back to the States?

Well, where I will live in the future will depend on where my work is based. Who knows what I will do in the future?! I just love and have so many memories in both countries so I hope I can move back and forth all the time.

Left Dress **Miu Miu**
Right Top & pants **Zadig&Voltaire**

Finally, in this year of the rabbit, obviously I’m going to ask what your new year’s resolution is, that you’re determined not to break this year?

To watch more drama series and movies and read more books, so I can experience and understand various emotions and characters indirectly. Also, most importantly to maintain my health!

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Jenn Kang

Fashion by Jibin Yoon

Hair by Min Jung Kyung

Make-Up by Nakyeum Lee

Casting & Production by Mi Kim

Lighting’s assistant Sean Kang

Hair’s assistant Jin E Heo

Production assistants Kio Seol & Hyona Kwak

Michael Marson

January 23, 2023

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TEENAGE DREAMS

Michael Marson

January 23, 2023

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Mace Coronel has been building out his resume since the age of seven years old, from indie film shorts to bagging himself a role on Nickelodeon’s Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn at nine years old. He later starred as the lead in the 2019 coming-of-age short film Pocket, followed by the Netflix series Colin in Black and White. He’s racking up screen time in one project after another, and next up he’s heading back in time to the 1990s for new Netflix series That '90s Show!

I wanted to ask first about your obvious passion for photography, how did that all start, as you’ve put together a photo series called ALSAMO comprising of shots taken when you were in your early teens. Have you always carried a camera with you to document life around you?

Around the age of 12, I was gifted my first 35mm film camera from a good friend and legendary cinematographer/photographer John Simmons, ASC. He inspired me to start taking photos of what caught my eye and introduced me to the art of street photography.

What inspires you most to pick up a camera and shoot?

A gut feeling, the unknown.

Maybe a cinematographer is next on your to-do list?

If you are asking what filmmakers I want to work with, it would be a Gaspar Noé, Safdie Brothers, Daniels, or a David Lynch project. But if you are asking if BEING a cinematographer is on my to-do list, when I was 16, I made a short film (Gibson), that I shot, wrote, and edited myself. When I was 14, my talented friends Mishka Kornai and Zack Wechter, also cast me as the lead in their coming-of-age movie Pocket, where I was not only the actor but by way of the story, was also the cameraman.

You write poetry too, and I love the fact you do it on an old-fashioned typewriter. You come across like an old soul Mace! What drives those passions?

What drives me to make art and try out different avenues of self-expression is just a gut feeling.

Speaking of gut feelings, you started your acting career at just 7 years old. What made you want to chase your dreams at such a young age – were there films you saw as a kid that made you want to do this?

I loved improvisation and intuitively creating and expressing myself as a kid. I was inspired by life and the different ways to express myself.

Is there something you haven’t done yet as an actor that you really want to do?

The best is yet to come, I really enjoy film, and trust I will work with more independent experimental filmmakers with raw movie ideas in the future.

Your true love is really an Indie film. What kind of stuff do you find yourself looking for? Is it escapist stuff, or movies where you’re feeling feelings

I am drawn to authentic-surreal storytelling and would love to portray a complex or eccentric character.

“I loved improvisation and intuitively creating and expressing myself as a kid. I was inspired by life and the different ways to express myself.”

Aside from the short film Gibson you created, are there any other stories you’re really keen to take to the big screen, or other creative outlets you would like to try?

My journey as an artist has only just begun, I have dreams that exceed a big screen.

What about combining acting with your love of music too? Would you ever make playlists to help you get into character for a role?

I really keep an open ear and have an appreciation for all types of music. However, I will always appreciate the genius of pianists and thinkers such as Ahmad Jamal, Thelonious, and Bill Evans. What helps me get into character for a role is purely just studying or creating the psychology of a character's mind and personal truth, not really music. For me, acting is being. Although, if the characters' taste in music was a huge determining factor in personality, I would definitely use music to get into the role.

Let’s discuss your latest project, That ‘90s show. What can you share about the new Netflix series and your role in it?

My character's name is Jay, he’s a film buff, aspiring screenplay writer, and martial artist.

Nostalgia for '90s classic show revivals are at an all-time high, and this one is set in 1995. Did you have to familiarise yourself with the nostalgic novelties and clothing, music of the era for the show?

I didn’t have to familiarise myself with that era, I have friends and family who lived in the 90s and I grew up appreciating all types of art and forms of expression from different eras before my time.

One thing about the 90s though…. there was no Instagram, shock! With so much emphasis now on actors being on social media – what do you keep to yourself, what don’t we know about you that you don’t mind telling us here, as someone that’s grown up in the public eye?

I didn’t grow up in the public eye, my profession was viewed publicly, and to be frank, no one knows me and most likely never will, because getting to know oneself is a lifelong journey. I do not put an emphasis on social media. People only share what they want you to see. As far as anything I feel inspired to say or share with the world will be said.

…

Discover the full story in our upcoming SS23 WILDSIDE Issue - End March release.

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Jake Sammis

Grooming by Zaheer Sukhandan

Casting by Imaginemachine cs

Stylist’s assistant Ariel Leon Couer

Michael Marson

January 16, 2023

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COMMUNICATION IS KEY

Michael Marson

January 16, 2023

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Australian-born Felix Mallard returns as Marcus, the troubled neighbour of Ginny in Netflix’s murderous mother-daughter hit Ginny and Georgia. Making room for conversations about mental health and more diversity in the industry, Felix describes the show as the portrayal of honest storylines which delves into race, disability and self-harm, without emphasising tokenism. “The biggest thing we wanted was audiences to feel represented and feel seen, and the fact that that many people watched the show just meant that we achieved what we set out to do,” says Mallard. As overwhelming as the response to Ginny and Georgia was - with his Instagram blowing up during the mandatory isolation - Felix comforted himself from the instant attention by putting his phone down and choosing to be present in his surroundings. “After all, I can go outside and get in the Ocean, you know?”

How has this year been for you so far?

I’ve had the best year! I’ve been so lucky and privileged to tell this story and revisit and reconnect with all my mates shooting Ginny and Georgia - that was such an amazing way to start the year. And as soon as we wrapped, I got to go over and film a movie called Turtles All the Way Down.

Turtles All the Way Down is an adaptation of a John Green novel - can you tell us anything about that project? How was your experience filming?

TAWD is this beautiful book that John Green has written that is so eloquent and really describes this journey of mental health and self-discovery in such a raw, respectful and honest way. On film, you have the time and the ability to really make more nuanced choices because you have a lot more time on scenes - you can sit with the stillness, which is such a great exercise, in acting, in storytelling. I feel like drama lives in those moments in between.

Ginny and Georgia’s first season premiered back in 2021. How did you prepare to get back into the role?

To get into Marcus as a character, I have a bunch of playlists that suit whatever mood he is in. Season 2 feels like you’re trying to force two magnets together, the truth is gonna come out no matter what and it's how these characters deal with it. For Marcus, to be able to live openly and honestly in this relationship, is such a sign of growth and change, for him to be able to be that vulnerable. But as with Marcus and with a lot of young men, all of those emotions become too much to deal with. He doesn’t know how or isn’t equipped to handle things when they get dark.

I was going to say that! There were all the clues pointing to Marcus not being okay, but he didn’t have the necessary tools to talk about it. It’s interesting to see the evolution of the characters - to see the parallels between Ginny and Marcus’ relationship versus Ginny and Georgia’s relationship. It’s very refreshing to watch a show that can go in this deep in just 10 episodes.

I know! They cram in a lot. And I think the irony with Marcus and Ginny is that the reason they’re together and the reason their love is so strong is because they see themselves in each other. They share all these vulnerabilities and these insecurities. To Marcus, she’s the only thing that makes sense which is just exactly the reason he feels he needs to let her go. He wants to be the one supporting her, the one helping her through these hard times because he knows exactly how hard she’s struggling and for him, the journey of season 2 is that he doesn’t believe that anyone else should be burdened with his problems. He doesn’t think that Ginny deserves that, he thinks she needs someone who loves himself enough to love other people.

Full look **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**

Another important theme was the tumultuous relationship between teens and parents, which is interesting to see from different perspectives. How did you feel portraying these themes which I think give a voice to teens?

What I love about this show is we want to make audiences feel seen - we want to reflect honest and truthful stories on screen, and that means we want to reflect an honest and truthful experience of what it is to be a parent and how hard that is. And also how hard it is to grow up and where those two things meet is where our show lives.

Okay, let’s be honest: Marcus often says the wrong things and slows down the eventual love story. What relationship advice would you give to him?

Communication is the key to everything else, which is why it’s so hard because it's so difficult to communicate when you’re feeling a certain way, or even articulate, or even recognise. For Marcus, that’s his learning journey - he is learning how to recognise in himself what is going on and how to communicate it in a healthy way instead of what most young men do which is bottle it up, ignore it or push it away. Because it will always come out in different ways, it will come out in ways that damage other people.

You grew up in Australia - how does it compare to Hollywood?

America was always in the back of my mind and it was always something that I wanted to work towards. Ironically, I felt like it would be a little bit easier to break out here than in Australia, because there’s less stuff being made [there] and by that virtue, less possibilities to be hired. In Australia, they like to hire the same ten/fifteen people for every project. I wanted to see what America was about and tell a bit more diverse stories. I think the industry is shifting as a whole, but it's just very slow.

We’ve seen the amazing lead roles played by Australians such as Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and more recently Margot Robbie and the Hemsworth brothers. How does it feel to see fellow Aussies succeed and follow in their footsteps?

I’d love to follow in their footsteps. You know, growing up as an Aussie artist, we are so far removed from the rest of the world that you can kind of subscribe to the tall poppy syndrome which is where you feel that if somebody is getting too ambitious, you cut them down. Growing up to have seen these people go overseas, to achieve the insurmountable, seeing Heath Ledger go and destroy every single role he went for in such a beautiful, honest and raw way, it communicated to me at least that it's possible. But more broadly that Australians have the capacity to tell stories with such innate depth and care, and this beautiful intimate quality which hopefully the world falls in love with.

Vintage top, shoes & necklace, pants **Kenzo**

…

Discover the full story in our upcoming SS23 WILDSIDE Issue - End March release.

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Jake Sammis

Grooming by Candice Birns

Casting by Imaginemachine cs

Michael Marson

January 6, 2023

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ME, MYSELF AND I

Michael Marson

January 6, 2023

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Under many aliases, whether Jung Jin Hyeong, Angelo or Jay_thewhimsical, K-RnB singer Jey retains his mellow voice that leaves fans wrecked. After quitting idol life, to become an independent soloist, the artist blesses his listeners’ ears in both Korean and English tunes, each of his songs showcasing his many personas. Releasing his most emotional project, Algorithm, last fall, Jey tells us about his latest EP, his collaborations and his perspective on South Korean music becoming popular overseas.

If you had to describe the concept of your EP the Algorithm in three words?

Me myself and I

What message did you want your listeners to take away from the EP?

I wanted this project to be a true form of self-expression, rather than just communicating to an audience. I wanted to make something that is truly representative of my emotions and the emotional baggage I carry, and release those through this project. I felt a sense of relief above anything else when the EP came out. I don’t think I’ll make an album like this ever again.

What were your influences for this EP?

The starting point of the song writing process for this EP was choosing a subject and thinking about the immediate thoughts or emotions that came to mind, more so than focusing on my own personal story. Honestly, it was a pretty emotionally draining process trying to translate all the different thoughts into lyrics and melodies.

Left Full look **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**
Right Jacket & pants **Loewe**, jumper **Moncler**

You have a huge international fan-base, can we expect an international tour soon, this year maybe?

I’m planning on it. Thinking about touring always makes me excited. You can expect to hear more about that in the near future.

If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing?

I don’t have a lot of other interests besides music, but if I were to pinpoint one, furniture design maybe?

Left Full look **Maison Margiela**
Right Full look **Givenchy**

Tell us more about ALFHA, which you and Goopy are involved in?

I don’t think ALFHA is something you can define into a single mould. Both Goopy and I are spontaneous people, so we’re just planning to do what we want at our own pace. I get very excited whenever I think about ALFHA.

Left Jacket, pants & shoes **Loewe**, jumper **Moncler**
Right Full look **Post Archive Faction (paf)**

Shirts & pants **Zadig&Voltaire**, shoes stylist’s own

Do you think participating in a survival show helped you navigate the industry better?

Yes, definitely. Through the show, I got a clearer picture of my goals and what kind of person I wanted to become. However, I don't think this experience is always necessary. It was a cruel reality to face.

How do you feel about Korean music becoming more and more popular in the West?

I think it’s a natural occurrence. It’s also a great opportunity for Korean artists. It surprises me every time when a foreign crowd sings along to my songs in Korean, and I think this moment was when I realised that I don’t need to set my boundaries to Korea only.

What is your guilty pleasure artist, to listen to? Korean or Western.

I listen to Lonely by Akon a lot these days.

You stated that you like to keep mystery as an artist, but is there anything you can tell us about your upcoming projects?

These days, I realised there are a lot of personas within me, and I’ve been trying to be more expressive of these different sides of my identity. If my persona in the past was that of an emotional youth, for my next project, I plan on returning as a more mature and stoic adult.

…

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Jenn Kang

Fashion by Hyun Kukseon

Grooming by Koo Hyunmi

Casting & Production by Mi Kim

Stylist’s assistant Jo Mikyung

Production assistant Kio Seol

Michael Marson

December 21, 2022

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REBELLIOUS SPIRIT

Michael Marson

December 21, 2022

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Jaden Smith’s powerhouse brand MSFTSrep is impacting in ways beyond measure, reflecting just how youth activism has pushed to the forefront of fashion, political and social discussion. Forge your own path and break boundaries using your mind as a tool through which to think, to inform, to dream, to connect with someone else’s reality, drawing from the past, reimaging the present and building a new future.

The label’s FW22 collection entitled Mystery School, traces its origins back to the sacred teachings of ancient Egypt, hidden from the masses, aiming to illuminate the mind. History, philosophy, maths, and science have informed the artfully curated unisex line which includes tailoring, hoodies, trousers, T-shirts, denim, skirts, bags and more, with all-over graphic prints.

We spoke with the 24-year-old designer and activist about the streetwear-infused and ethically made label that he co-founded alongside sister Willow, Moises Arias and his brother, Mateo aka Téo, in 2015. Imagine Smith as your teacher, seeking to cultivate inclusion and unity by rebelling against the status quo, and evolving the consciousness of humanity with positive insightful information, making the world a better place to live - one eco-friendly puffer jacket at a time.

Shirt & tie **MSFTSrep**, pants **Acne Studios**, shoes **Louis Vuitton**

Who does the brand represent?

Well, you know, we just want to put positive information into people’s spheres, because so much of mainstream stuff is just putting junk into people’s heads all the time, undirected information that’s not really moving them or the rest of the world in a positive direction. We should all be moving towards a collective goal of making the world better and it’s hard to find a place in life, and easy to feel alone, and to feel like a misfit, where you don’t fit in anywhere. That’s who the brand is for, those people who have been overstimulated by the nonsense and are looking for some kernel of something to believe in that’s real, true, and moving them in the direction that is better for the world.

The label draws on philosophical theories, history and science books, technology, spirituality, and education. What inspired this positive path and the trajectory that you’re on? You’re wise beyond your years!

Thank you, that means the world! I really think what inspired it is being a student of the world and realising that there’s so much information out there, so much history that you can look at from the perspective of thousands of different people and hear all their stories. To see different sides of history, and the history of physics, and mathematics and art too. There’s so much to learn in this world that we live in, and I just feel like so much of the mainstream is just trying to pull us in one direction, when there’s a whole world of possibilities out there. There are other things we could be learning about, talking about, representing. People in history have made insane technological impacts, and in art and architecture and philosophy too, you know, things that can’t be forgotten. Science and technology and art and mathematics are the most insane tools of creating and manifesting things in the world, and I think that if we learn to use all those tools correctly, we can transform the world into a much more harmonised, beautiful, interconnected place.

I want to represent that type of world and future in my clothes, and the brand is for those types of people who feel the same and want to represent that in their clothes too. There needs to be a movement that really represents the future of the preservation of information, specifically for the youth and thinks about the capability of the human mind and spirit.

Full look **MSFTSrep**, shoes **Louis Vuitton**

“There needs to be a movement that really represents the future of the preservation of information, specifically for the youth and thinks about the capability of the human mind and spirit.”

The latest Fall/Winter 22 collection is heavily inspired by the mystery schools of ancient Egypt, and your interest in their sacred teachings and hidden knowledge. How do you all as a collective bring your ideas to the table when you’re deciding on a theme for a new collection?

We start with what I like to call “The Lowest Hanging Fruit”, and as we get deeper and deeper into the conversations, things become more complicated, so we just start with the simplest things that we know people can understand and that are obvious. Like the pyramids, people know about them, they know about the scientific struggles surrounding the pyramids. Then the next one was cymatics, and how sound vibrations affect physical molecules, and how you can manipulate matter with sound frequency. People can understand sound frequency, like when they go to a concert, the bass moves their clothes, and they feel the vibrations in their bodies. So that’s how we pick our topics for the collections, it’s about what we’re learning, what we’re talking about, what’s always been in our heads.

Do you have any philosophers you often cite from in terms of inspiration too?

I can’t choose just one person, and that’s the thing about Mystery School, in that we’re learning about new people who inspire us every day, so let’s get out there and learn about as many philosophers as we can. I mean, I love mathematics, so I’m into Pythagoras, but someone might love someone else and it’s important to have all these different ideas in the pot.

The graphic prints in the collection range from pyramids and UFOs to symbolic scientific or mathematical equations too. How did you decide on the visual process?

I’ll sit down with the design team and start to create logos, then hoodies, then maybe skateboards. Basically, we start with one piece and then extrapolate that design over multiple pieces so we can make sets that go together that people can collect.

What are your favourite pieces from the collections, and do you love seeing people wearing and styling up your designs their own way?

I think maybe the Anti Federal Reserve puffer jacket is my favourite piece, and the UFO denim pants and the Jekyll Island hoodie. I love watching the way people customise the pieces and style it on their own and edit it all. Seeing people wear the clothes is amazing because I feel the messages are so important.

Your Sister Willow is one of the co-founders of the label. You have such a great sibling dynamic, have you always been so close and in-tune with one another?

Yes, Will and I have always been really close, she inspires me and she’s amazing.

If some of your peers came to you and asked for recommendations on authors or books to enlighten them, what would you tell them to be reading right now?

Well, we have a Mystery School platform on the website with educational videos about the science of consciousness, history, health, mathematics, technology, and there’s a list of books there so people can find out whatever they want. But one book I would suggest people reading right now, is Atomic Habits [by James Clear], because we fully start to realise that our personality and the type of life that we build, and the parts that we love or hate about it, are based off our habits. So, if we can become better at building specific habits for the type of person you want to be, then that’s a way of getting you to where you want to be. Building habits in your life means you don’t have to consciously think about doing those things, you just get used to doing them, it’s like being an architect for your life, to be good at the specific things you want to be good at. I think our MSFTSrep clothes can be triggers for people’s habits.

Shirt, hoodie, pants **MSFTSrep**, leather shorts **JW Anderson** & shoes **Louis Vuitton**

“I love watching the way people customise the pieces and style it on their own and edit it all. Seeing people wear the clothes is amazing because I feel the messages are so important.”

Where do you see the brand in terms of the future of sustainable and digital fashion? Such as metaverse-related AR/VR experiences?

I think that AR/VR is really cool, and I think MSFTSrep will eventually find a way to do it in our own way, because those things are so amazing. When it comes to sustainable fashion – besides trying to innovate with vegan materials and animal-based products and getting away from leather - I think that we’re rolling in a heavy direction with recycling collections. So, taking old clothes that already exist and reorganising them and then putting them back into the market. Now that we have our store here in Calabasas in Los Angeles, we’re going to make old/new collections, because I think it should be totally acceptable to release a new collection of completely old existing clothes from other brands and vintage stuff, reimagined clothes. It’s about pushing the needle forward in sustainable fashion, and that’s what MSFTSrep is here to do.

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Cameron McCool

Fashion by Jonathan Huguet

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Production by Sink or Swim Creative

Stylist’s assistant Rocksanne Ramirez

Groomers Christopher LeNeo & Pircilla Pae at A-Frame Agency

Production designer Rickey Ramirez

Art Team Thrift Shop Studios

Location Thrift Shop Studios

Michael Marson

December 17, 2022

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THE ACTOR AS AN ARTIST

Michael Marson

December 17, 2022

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After joining James Cameron’s Avatar universe at age 16, Jamie Flatters has had a long time to prepare for his career to take off. Now 22, the actor has settled into a new role as a true multi-hyphenate artist. Having had a taste of big Hollywood alongside self-directed projects and European cinema in ‘The Forgotten Battle’, each piece of experience down multiple paths has solidified his dedication to staying firmly on his own. Entering the release cycle of the film that started it all; at the end of the full circle moment, we land on Jamie now – an actor-writer-director-musician who is contemplating his next steps.

On Zoom from opposite ends of London, we discussed all the nostalgia, anticipation and frustration he’s feeling at the moment.

Jacket and pants **Gucci**, badges **Contemporary Wardrobe**, T-Shirt **Attika**, necklace **Slim Barrett**

It must feel strange to be talking about Avatar again as you filmed it so long ago?

I auditioned in 2016 so a long time ago. I’d say it was the main blessing of working on the production is that you got to have this mad, larger-than-life experience but also have it as yours. You don’t need to film it and then a year later promote it and have it become the world's property – It’s really refreshing.

Left Jumper **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**, necklace **Slim Barrett**
Right Tank top **Calvin Klein**, shorts **Attika**

After playing that character for 3 years, does that make the thought of the release scary? Almost like you’re still with the character as the world hasn’t met him yet…

I'm definitely no longer with the character, the character dies the day I leave set. I think when actors say ‘I keep the character with me’, it’s all mysticism to try and make them look like they're doing a hyperintelligent thing that actually doesn't exist. Honestly, I think that's absolute bullshit and anybody who says that is not appreciating the fact that you are the thing that's doing it. You’re coming into work and doing a task, a skill, and then you’re going to go home and live with yourself, not the character. Dealing with the self is the hardest task for everyone.

Left Scarf **Acne Studios**, vest **Givenchy**, broach **Slim Barrett**, denims **JW Anderson**
Right Jumper **Kiko Kostadinov**, vest **Goldsmiths Vintage** , necklace and key **Slim Barrett**, badge **Contemporary Wardrobe** , pants **Trussardi**, shoes **Acne Studios**

Left Vest and badges **Contemporary Wardrobe**, denim **JW Anderson** ,shoes **MM6**
Right Jumper **Prada**, badges **Slim Barrett** and **Judy Blame**

I think you hit on something interesting there! There's a lot of talk about method acting lately and whether it downgrades acting as a skill…

I worry about lines between fantasy and reality blurring too much. You should never have to manipulate other people's realities in order for you to gain your fantasy. It’s no longer fun and it's no longer acting. You have to keep yourself mentally stable on set and find a line after cut – it’s so important. It's hard sometimes feeling like you have to justify what you as the actor are doing, especially in an industry full of different skills, but no overcompensating is worth risking your sanity. That’s an important lesson I had to learn, as this is an industry which all too often glorifies the ‘suffering artist’, and I was very keen to suffer for my art.

Left T-shirt **Goldsmiths** , scarf **Acne Studios**
Right Jumper **Kiko Kostadinov**, vest **Goldsmiths Vintage** , necklace and key **Slim Barrett**, badge **Contemporary Wardrobe** , pants **Trussardi**, shoes **Acne Studios**

Left Jumper **Prada**, badges **Slim Barrett** and **Judy Blame**, shorts **Contemporary Wardrobe**
Right Vest and badges **Contemporary Wardrobe**, denim **JW Anderson** , shoesMM6

Where do you see own writing and directing sitting in your future career?

I definitely want to carry on writing scripts, I think I need it. As you can probably tell, I'm a bit frustrated with the modern-day actor. I think we originally were a group of people fascinated by psychology and philosophy, rather than just an attachment to celebrity. I think the fact that I'm interested in directing and writing could be my saving, in a way. My protection, because I have something that’s mine and comes from myself and I think that is needed to not get swept up in the possible successes that may come, and keep both feet grounded in an artistic pursuit.

Jacket **Zadig&Voltaire**, T-shirt and belt **Goldsmiths** vintage, pants **Marni**

Does that interest change how you look at prospective jobs and future roles?

Having the time after Avatar wrapped to write and really work out what I want to do was the biggest blessing. I do now think I would sacrifice the idea of just another role for my own work if it’s not something I deeply care about. I really love people like Tilda Swinton who looks out for directors and interesting characters above all else – I think that’s something to mimic. I hope to have the scope to pick paths I care about, but if not, writing and directing will be there to save me.

Left Jumper **Prada**, badges **Slim Barrett** and **Judy Blame**, shorts **Contemporary Wardrobe**
Right Jumper **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**, necklace **Slim Barrett**, shorts **Attika**

Interview by Lucy Harbron

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Nathan Henry

Casting by Imagemachine Cs

Production by Fern 

Hair & Make-Up by Josh Knight at Caren

Stylist’s assistant Katya Vistiak

Michael Marson

December 13, 2022

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THE E-BOMB

Michael Marson

December 13, 2022

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Reviving the iconic role of Elora Danan from the 1988 George Lucas sensation Willow, at just 25, Ellie Bamber is the newest addition to the British it girl cohort.

Following her work in The Serpent and in Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals alongside Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, the budding actress is now leading the latest Disney+ release. From her early days in the theatre, to becoming the face of Chanel, and gracing the British Fashion Awards wearing custom Vivienne Westwood, Bamber has established herself as an all-rounder and she’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.

We caught Ellie on a day off, when she’s not wielding her powers to save her “prince in distress”, trading fantasy costumes for sweatpants, and asked for the 411 on her most recent project and the much-anticipated sequel.

How’s life now that everything’s finally out and how hard was it to keep everything a secret?

You know life’s good, I feel so lucky and so honoured. Most of that has to do with the people around me, hanging out with friends and family. As for the secret, it was very hard not to drop the E-bomb.

How would you describe Willow to a first-time viewer?

Willow throws the fantasy tropes that you usually see on its head. It's about this group of unlikely heroes who don’t have strong relationships to begin with, but they set out on this quest together, learning a lot about each other and themselves in doing so.

Left Dress **N21**
Right Coat **Zadig&Voltaire**

What drew you to Elora, the character you played? And how did you prepare for this role, in comparison to previous roles?

I think what drew me to Elora is that she’s so unafraid to be herself, to voice her opinion and is determined beyond belief. I just loved her character arc, to be honest. There’s something really interesting about having to reconcile with the fact that you have magical abilities. And to me, it was a huge metaphor around creativity and coming into your power as a woman, figuring out who you are and where you land in the world. So that’s why I was really excited to take on the role I think, and also cause it’s Elora fucking Danan, and I was like, ‘Shit, yeah I’m down!’ We had a four-week boot camp before we started and it was just really epic. It also gave us the choice to really get to know each other and we formed this beautiful bond as a cast.

Definitely! I was gonna mention that you could see that you were very close, in your friendship with Tony for example, and I heard that your cast mate Dempsey played a prank on you about spoilers being leaked to The Sun. How did it feel to work with such a tight-knit cast?

It definitely made the project more enjoyable, it made it such a laugh. And you know, when Dempsey, the one who played a prank on me, whenever he writes stuff on the group chat now I’m like, ‘Are you pranking me?!’ It's so interesting because we’re all really close but we all have very different friendships with each other. I feel like they’re gonna be people who will be in my life for a long time.

How was it working on something that was so highly anticipated? Did you feel any pressure or expectations from the Willow fandom?

There was definitely pressure. I went into this thinking that not only did we have to do the fans justice but also how well Jon Kasdan wrote the characters - we were having to do him justice as well because he’s the most incredible writer. Maybe it's because I started in theatre but I see nerves and excitement as quite close together, so I hopefully managed to translate one into the other. Also, we had such great support… The amazing team and producers made me really feel like I was in safe hands.

Left Jacket & bag **Zadig&Voltaire**, shirt **Acne Studios**
Right All **Zadig&Voltaire**

And this was such a huge project! Which one of your projects that would you say has challenged you the most?

I would say the upcoming project with Oorlagh George, The Sniper’s Daughter, about a young American girl who comes back to Northern Ireland and slowly unravels her family’s involvement within the IRA. She is dealing with complex trauma and PTSD and that was a really interesting thing to showcase. It was [very] challenging because I had to figure out the headspace of this young woman.

And which character would you say you relate to the most as Ellie?

I think because I’ve been thinking about Elora a lot [lately], it would have to be Elora. And not because I think that I have magical powers or anything. But I relate to her journey and how she tends to have major impostor syndrome within her journey. That’s a thing we all wrestle with and I’m definitely still trying to figure that out, my path, my journey, and how that relates to the world around me as a woman.

What do you feel you want to see more of in the industry?

I feel like we’re maybe heading in the right direction but of course, more could always be done. To see such unique storylines within Willow is really special and to have 3 well-rounded female characters, who are strong in their own right, is really great.

…

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Gregory Derkenne

Fashion by Marco Drammis

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Hair by Bjorn Krischker at The Wall Group

Make-Up by Neil Young at Premier Hair & Make-Up using 111SKIN

Michael Marson

December 8, 2022

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THE JOYS OF VILLAINHOOD

Michael Marson

December 8, 2022

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Hunter Doohan has had crazy two weeks. Ever since the premiere of his Netflix show, Wednesday - which instantly took over the platform and is already one of the top three most viewed series in its history - the Arkansas-born actor has been receiving an outpouring of love from fans all around the world. In the latest imaging on the story of the Addams Family's macabre-obsessed offspring, Hunter portrays the role of a ‘normie’ barista Tyler who tries to connect with new-in-town Wednesday (played by the wickedly funny Jenna Ortega). With his puppy eyes and seemingly shy demeanour, Tyler successfully tricks us to believe he’s a good guy up until the season’s drama-filled finale when, without spoiling too much, his monstrous nature comes out in full swing. For Hunter, this brief introduction to villainhood has been an experience that he would like to push further in the show’s very possible season two. “As I only got to play the evil Tyler for a couple of scenes, I’m really hoping that I get to explore more of that side of him in the future,” he says. “It would be really fun to delve into who he really is, having these two sides wrestling within him, and see if he’s gonna go after Wednesday!”

For Wednesday, you got to work with director Tim Burton who is not only a visionary but also has a larger-than-life personality. What surprised you the most about him once the two of you met?

I was surprised at how sweet he was! [Laughs] I expected him to be this wild character, in the best way, but he is also just a lovely human. When I first got to Romania for filming, he called me just to check in and see how I was doing. Also, one night, he told us that he hires actors that he likes and trusts for the role, so he doesn’t feel the need to nitpick them too much. Hearing that and realising that Tim Burton believes in me has filled me with a lot of confidence [while on set]!

You said previously that you were a big fan of the Addams Family movies from the ‘90s. Who was your favourite character in those movies?

I absolutely love Christina Ricci in them! But I also have to say that in Addams Family Values, Joan Cusack’s Debbie is so funny to me. I’m obsessed with her and I think that’s like the best villain performance of all time. Not that we’re anything alike, but to be a villain in the Addams Family story and be able to follow in her footsteps was really fun to me. [Laughs]

It’s actually so crazy that you got to work with Christina Ricci on this!

Yeah, it was awesome because it felt like the show got a stamp of approval from Wednesday from my childhood years. My first time getting to work with her was during the school dance scene, so I was just literally in between the two Wednesdays, looking back and forth.

Speaking of modern-day Wednesday, you and Jenna Ortega have many fun interactions in your scenes. Which one of Wednesday’s comebacks to Tyler is most stuck in your head?

There’s a few, she doesn’t really let Tyler in too much! [Laughs] I’ve actually been loving seeing people online making fun of the scene where Tyler’s like, ‘You keep giving me all these signals.’ And everyone’s like, ‘She didn’t give you anything!’ But I mean, at that moment, Tyler is gaslighting her to win her over.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense – he’s trying to mess with her head! Tyler is a secret villain of the series and we only get to realise what he’s up to towards the very end – what did you find most useful in trying to channel this hidden dark energy? Who were the villains from the past that helped you get into this mentality?

First of all, I read the novel Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The detail that I thought was really interesting was that the more times he turned into Mr Hyde, the lines would become more blurred. And similarly, throughout the course of the season, each time Tyler would kill someone, he would be slipping more and more into the Hyde side. Then, I looked at a couple of films – the show creators, Alfred [Gough] and Miles [Millar] encouraged me to see Ed Norton’s performance in Primal Fear, and I also rewatched Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. Also, the first Scream movie – I love when the character of Billy turns evil and I thought it was a fun, more campy example to look at as well.

Let’s talk a bit more about the school dance moment - would you say that was one of the most memorable scenes to shoot?

Yeah, I mean, the dance was crazy, and that blood rain was freezing! In the script, it said that at first, Wednesday starts to dance, then Tyler starts to copy her, and then everyone joins in. But when Jenna showed up and did that iconic dance that she came up with herself, I looked at Tim and I was like, ‘All I can do is stand here and be in awe of her – I definitely can’t replicate that!’

Yeah, I don’t think anyone can! [Laughs]

But it’s fun to watch people on Tik Tok try! [Laughs] There’s a trend now where they do it to a Lady Gaga song, and even Gaga has tweeted about it – honestly, the show has just been insane!

I would say it’s more than likely that the show will be given a second season. If that’s the case, where would you like to see Tyler go next?

As I only got to play the evil Tyler for a couple of scenes, I’m really hoping that I get to explore more of that side of him in the future. But I’m also just really curious to see what he’s gonna be like now that he’s no longer serving Christina Ricci’s character and the Hyde doesn’t have a master. It would be really fun to delve into who he really is, having these two sides wrestling within him, and see if he’s gonna go after Wednesday!

Having this amazing experience on the show, what are the types of roles that you want to play in the future?

I really would like to play an adult! [Laughs]

Fair enough! Finally, what’s one thing about you that not many people know about? Do you have any party tricks up your sleeve?

Well, I used to be a gymnast in high school…

Oh wow - do you still remember any moves?

Yeah, a couple! Actually, during our small wrap party with the cast, Moosa, who plays Eugene, posted a video of me doing a Back Handspring there. However, I do not remember doing it at all – I was drunk!

Maybe that was your other, evil persona…

Exactly! [Laughs]

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Jake Sammis

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Grooming by Zaheer Sukhnandan

Michael Marson

December 6, 2022

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SEDUCTION AND SURVIVAL

Michael Marson

December 6, 2022

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The name on everyone’s lips is Kosar Ali. After stealing the show as ‘Sumaya’ in the coming-of-age drama Rocks, which earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting actress and two British Independent Film Awards – she’s now landed the role of Victoire in Dangerous Liaisons, Harriet Warner’s seductive small screen prequel to Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s 18th-century classic about feuding ex-lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont. Here she talks to us about diversity on screen, womanhood, and her passion for horror flicks.

You play Victoire in Dangerous Liaisons, who is the Marquise’s close friend and ally. Can you tell me more about her character in this prequel?

Well in this prequel we define her role more as the catalyst of the plot, as she’s really a bit of a detective and has this niche to find everything out. Also, in this adaptation she’s a Muslim character in France, so it’s a great privilege to represent that because these people, these characters did exist, we’re just not taught that in our history books, and it’s not told on screen. So, there are a lot more layers to Victoire now, she’s a pivotal part of the series, and very powerful and humorous, and fun.

We know that in the story, the Marquise was really a trailblazer in navigating her way through male dominated 18th-century society, wielding secrets to gain power. As her trusty sidekick, does this prequel further highlight that empowerment angle and shared girl power?

Definitely, as it tells the story through a female gaze, and through the female-led character you really get the sense of more of a womanhood in this.

Did you watch the original 1988 movie with Glenn Close and John Malkovich, or the 1999 adaptation, Cruel Intentions, with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe, to get any tips?

Well, when I got the role, I ordered the book to read and downloaded all the films to watch, but then later I decided I wanted to have my own take on the role, and not mimic any of the others, and just play it my way.

“In every job I do it’s very important that it’s true to my reality, and diversity is the world I live in, so it’s natural to me to want to be a part of those stories that reflect my world.”

The sets, wigs and gowns are so lavish. Can you tell me more about Victoire’s costume?

I really enjoyed working on the development of Victoire’s costume, as originally, I wear modest clothing, so her costume started off very different to what it became. It was fun to build on that with the designer Andrea Flesch, with all the materials and the colours, which were all primary colours, and all the power and symbolism associated with that.

It's got such a great ensemble cast, and I imagine yourself and Paloma Faith, (who plays fiery noblewoman Florence de Régnier) bonded, as you’re both East End girls born and bred?

Yes, we really bonded over East London and our accents because everyone was making fun of me for a while! Then Paloma turned up and I was like, omg, you totally understand me! She was honestly just a ball of fun, she reminded me of a glittery snowglobe, such fun!

Speaking of East London, how has your hometown influenced you and will its diversity maybe influence some of the roles that you choose in the future, or maybe you’ll write stories yourself to bring to the screen?

East London is all I’ve known, it’s me, and in every job I do it’s very important that it’s true to my reality, and diversity is the world I live in, so it’s natural to me to want to be a part of those stories that reflect my world. With writing, I like to write stuff about the people I grew up looking at, and people like me, so that’s important. As for other roles, I’m open to everything, but I love independent films, that’s where my heart is. I wouldn’t mind doing an action movie too, like Blank Panther!

I read that you’re also obsessed with horror films. Is there one favourite movie that you watch every Halloween with friends and just scream?

Well, none of my friends will watch horror films with me, so my horror partner is my sister, and we’re big critics because nothing really scares us! So, I can’t really choose one, we usually just watch like 10 in a row. When I can’t sleep, I also watch serial killer documentaries.

Like True Crime stuff, what, on your own, at night?

Yes!

Ok, now I’m seeing a little connection between you and Dangerous Liaisons! All that cruel deceit and manipulation and crimes of the heart!

Haha! As you watch on you might just see a little connection there! I’m interested in anything that challenges me really or makes me feel a little bit of adrenalin!

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Gregory Derkenne

Fashion by Steven Huang

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Make-Up by Yoi Wan

All clothes Trussardi

Michael Marson

December 1, 2022

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FRENCH NEW WAVE

Michael Marson

December 1, 2022

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To most of us, 28-year-old French actress Mathilde Ollivier is known as either the epic stunt-performing Chloe in 2018’s WW2 action horror movie Overlord, or, for less zombie-like tastes, as a model in the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar US. But over the past few years, Ollivier has become a future icon of cinema, both in front of and behind the camera, starring in the sci-fi film Boss Level, and playing Clemence in the comedy movie Sister of the Groom, while also finding time to produce the documentary The Upright Woman, about the women of Burkina Faso. The Paris-based beauty is now playing another Clémence, this time in the Netflix multilingual mystery thriller, 1899, and enjoying her acting reign over France and soon, the world. Vive la reine!

Were you raised on theatre, film and literature? Where did your passion for acting start?

I was raised with films and music. My mom used to show my sister and I lots of films, and for me it was amazing to dive into a story and live in this world for 2 hours.

I think my passion really started when I realised I could make the audience dream and escape their reality during a film, and I could become a different person every time.

You spent your childhood and teenage years studying theatre at the conservatoire and the famous Cours Simon and professionally dancing classical and contemporary ballet at Paris’s International Academy of Dance. Do you still dance every day, and what really gets you moving?

Yes, I still dance every day, not like I used to though, now it’s in my living room and in the bathroom when I get ready! My job, music, my family, my husband, and my friends are what gets me moving. And of course, good funky music!

You seem very drawn to character-driven narratives in terms of the roles you choose. The female characters you’ve played from Chloe in Overlord to Clémence in 1899, seem powerful, at least on the surface. Do you feel that way personally?

I think it’s important to tell a story, and to tell a good story you need to have great characters. A character that defends something. I come from a family of only women, from my grandmother to my mom, to my sister, every one of them is really strong, and that’s inspired me since I was a child. I have my moments of ups and downs, but I try to stay strong and positive.

I would imagine that strong female empowered mindset and women’s rights was what led to you producing the Upright Woman documentary, about the enslavement and forced marriage of women in Burkina Faso. When was the first time you saw the completed film, and what was that experience like?

It was in New York when we saw the completed film, with music, colours grading, subtitles and it felt so amazing. We worked really hard on this project; I was very proud to have had the chance to be part of such a story. It was fantastic to start producing on such a project too, I learned so much. We were a small crew, and when we went to Burkina Faso everything was fascinating, seeing behind the scenes and experiencing the job of a producer, it really taught me so much as an actress too.

What kind of challenges did you face as a producer?

I understand now why producers can be so stressed out! Having a permit to shoot on a street, the locations, the times on each location, all the rental cameras, and everything really, from finding a studio for the colour, to finding a distributor to make sure that the story is as honest as possible.

What kind of stories really drive you and might inspire you to explore them for future production projects?

As I said earlier, the drive to tell a story is actually telling a story, with a narrative and for it to be character driven. I would like to produce all the scripts that are gathering dust on top of a shelf that nobody picks up, but it is very hard to make people read scripts and to trust you with it - which is a shame because most of the time those are the very good ones!

Who are your cinematic idols, both actors and producers / directors?

Oh, I love some many! I love Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Audiard, Yorgos Lanthimos, Christopher Nolan, Lynne Ramsay, Ruben Ostlund, Mia Hansen/Love, Thomas Vinterberg, Julia Ducournau. Actors include Mads Mikkelsen, Florence Pugh, Anna Karina, Olivia Colman, Lea Seydoux, Emmanuelle Bercot and Catherine Deneuve.

Speaking of Catherine Deneuve, she, like many great French actresses before you, including Brigitte Bardot, have spent their lives making up their own rules. Do you admire them for doing things their own way, will you follow in their footsteps?

Yes of course! I think this is so important, it shows that you know what you want! I will definitely try!

Is there a role that you haven’t played yet that you’d like to?

Yes, there is! And I hope we will be doing more interviews together to talk about them!

Ha! Ok, let’s talk about where you grew up in the beautiful Montparnasse in France. What are your favourite memories of growing up there, is that where your references, musical tastes, style etc comes from?

I think everything about the left bank is gorgeous, it feels like a movie set. My school was nearby, so were my friends. It felt like a little village. Not all my references come from there, but some do, that’s for sure!

You lived in the US for a while too – what was it like being a French girl in New York?

Living in New York was just incredible. I had an amazing time, every day was so special, I felt like everything was possible!

So, what’s next for you?

I just finished shooting a series called Mrs Davis directed by Owen Harris for Warner Bros, which was fun, we filmed in Spain and now I am obsessed with Spain. I am also starting a film by a Spanish director; it’s his first film and I am very excited to be part of the project. It’s going to be a challenge because I will need to speak Argentinian Spanish which as of today, I’ve started learning. But I am confident and very happy!

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Yves Borgwardt

Fashion by Yael Quint

Make-Up by Victoria Reuter

Hair by Bronwyn De Kock

Stylist’s assistant Afra Ugurlu

Mathilde is wearing dress & coat Chloe, shoes & orange bag Hermes, jewelery Ina Beissner and black bag with gold handle Bulgari

Michael Marson

November 24, 2022

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WORLDLINESS AND WONDER

Michael Marson

November 24, 2022

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At just 16-years-old, McKenna Grace has all the stuff that makes film and tv studio exec’s drool: talent far beyond her years, beauty, an ease for expressiveness which can convey both worldliness and wonder, enthusiasm, and a widely popular Instagram account. She can play that poster child of bright, funny, wise-beyond-her-years teenage girl, but also take on mature roles that resonate with adults as well as teens, even when she’s playing younger versions of onscreen characters (something she’s quite used to).

She’s booked a string of roles including Mrs. Keyes in The Handmaid’s Tale – which earned her an Emmy nomination – and appeared in movies like I, Tonya, Gifted, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and chilling TV dramas including Haunting of Hill House and A Friend of the Family, based on a true story, in which she played a young Jan Broberg who was kidnapped multiple times in the 1970s. Next up is the equally hard-hitting film Spider and Jessie, dealing with themes of addiction, playing one half of two sisters, battling separation after their mother fatally overdoses – and on a lighter note, she’s also bagged herself a lead character in Disney+'s new coming-of-age film, Crater. Acting aside, Grace has also taken a strong interest in writing and recording music, and as her rise to stardom continues, it’s clear to see she has all the makings of a very big future.

Left Full look **Louis Vuitton**
Right Full look **Alexander McQueen**

You’ve got the Ghostbusters Afterlife sequel coming in 2023, what can we expect for Phoebe Spengler in this next chapter?

My lips are sealed. Ha-ha! I CAN’T say anything! I did an interview for my last show, A Friend of the Familyand the interviewer asked me a casual question about the sequel, and I can't even remember what I said...next thing I knew there were all these articles saying that I officially confirmed that I would be in the sequel, which was absolutely not true! So, I am not saying a thing! Ha-ha...this is NOT me confirming anything. I know nothing!

Coat **Zadig&Voltaire**, sweater **N21**

Ok, but did you ever see the female-led reboot, which starred Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig in 2016? Do you have a favourite kick-ass woman film character?

Yes! I loved it! I love Captain marvel, Lara Croft, and especially love Ripley from Alien, she’s so cool!!

And talking of female powerhouses, you’ve starred alongside Sigourney Weaver, Margot Robbie and Elisabeth Moss among others – what do you think you learned most from watching them on set?

I’ve learned so much from watching these amazing women, but I really learned a lot from Elisabeth Moss. I've spent the most time with her. I think she’s just one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever worked with, I really mean that. I totally look up to her and her work. She has this incredible work ethic and brings such powerhouse performances in everything she does. I would get so excited when she was directing me on Handmaid's Tale. I'm such a huge fan of hers!

You’re not afraid to tackle complex roles, such as playing the child bride Esther in The Handmaid’s Tale – and your role in A Friend of the Family. Do you take roles based on what you believe in and that will challenge you, rather than choosing roles that might be, quote-unquote, career choices?

I really do try to do projects that matter to me and tell stories I think are important. I’m honoured to be a part of The Handmaids Tale and A Friend of The Family because they’re projects that don’t shy away from the uncomfortable subjects and help open up conversations. I love being challenged and will never take on a role that I know I can't give my all to. I'm lucky enough to not have to choose my jobs based on money because I'm still a teenager and live with my parents, ha-ha! So as far as career choices, I just read a script and if it speaks to me, I give it my best shot to get to play the role.

With A Friend of the Family, how was it portraying a non-fictional character on-screen? You had chats with the real-life Jan too, right?

It felt like a lot of pressure and really scary, but then after speaking to Ms. Jan I felt a lot more at ease. I tried my best to do her story justice. I did as much research as I could!

Which character that you’ve played has taught you the most about yourself?

I’d say playing Jan Broberg, I learned a lot about acting, and grew a lot both as an actor and hopefully as a person.

Left Coat **Zadig&Voltaire**
Right Dress **Alexander McQueen**

You’ve been working on TV and film sets since you were five years old. Do you think acting is nature or nurture for you? Were you born an actor? Or were you nurtured to become one?

I guess it might be a little bit of both. I begged my parents to do acting when I was 5 after watching Shirley Temple videos and the Pee-Wee Herman show, but I begged to do a lot of things! I wanted to be a gymnast, a dancer, a cheerleader, I even told my parents I was going to be a Ghostbuster when I grew up. I'm an only child, so they let me try a lot of things. I was horrible at dance and gymnastics! But my teacher pulled my Mom outside after my first acting class and told her that I was doing things naturally at 5 years-old that she teaches in adult classes, and that my parents should really consider getting me an agent. Memorising scripts and taking direction came easily to me and I remember it being a lot of fun. I couldn't have done all of that without my parents help. I have always really felt like I'm doing what I was born to do, like I wouldn't rather be doing anything else, and I am happiest when I am creating.

Is there a level of performance that you’re chasing as an actor, and have you reached it to your own satisfaction yet at this stage? I mean you’ve already achieved an Emmy nominee for your part in The Handmaid’s Tale?

I don't think I will ever be completely satisfied with my work. It's a blessing and a curse and something I've had to come to terms with, especially over the past couple years as I've got older. It's a blessing because I always want to be better, but it's a curse because I'll go back and pick apart my performances. While I was filming A Friend of the Family, I was really happy with my performance, then I did a film afterwards that I feel like I grew so much on as an actor. Now, I look back at AFOF and I feel like I could've done so much better! I guess I just want to keep out-doing myself. I could say I don't want the accolades or that they aren't important to me, but I would be lying. Of course, as an actor it would be nice to have recognition for my acting from my peers or the public, but I can’t, and don’t work for that. If I did, I would be a mess. As I've grown up in this business, I've learned not to have any expectations when it comes to people or projects. I work and do my best for the directors/studios that hire me and for myself and all I can do is hope people appreciate and like what I do. However, if I'm being 100% honest, my biggest dream is to win an Oscar or an Emmy someday.

Acting aside, music is another creative passion for you. What are you currently listening to, and do you make playlists?

I’m listening to a lot of Carol Ades, DJO, Lovejoy (in preparation for their concert!) and lots of love songs ha-ha! I love making playlists! I have a ton that I’ve posted on Spotify!

Do you ever listen to music when you need to get into character for a role?

I always listen to music to get into character. I learned that from Elisabeth Moss. It's funny how certain songs bring me back to different characters. Just this morning on my way to work, I was listening to Savior Complex by Phoebe Bridgers, and it brought me back to this past summer. I listened to it to get emotional for my scenes on Spider and Jessie.

You’re releasing your next single soon, Self-Dysmorphia. Can you tell me more about the meaning behind the title? Is it in any way a reference to selfie dysmorphia and social media, and the way so many young people are so obsessed with this pursuit for perfection, with things like filters etc?

I wrote the song during a time in my life where I was really struggling with not liking myself. On my socials, I'm sure I looked happy and confident, but I was having a hard time in my personal life and with my self-image and worth. I would sometimes read mean comments on my Instagram, and it would spiral me. I have a lyric "don't be critical, I'm so miserable" because that was exactly how I was feeling. I had been hiding my struggle with scoliosis for so long. I had written the song to express my feelings because I was afraid to express how I was feeling out loud. I didn't think people would understand, and that I would look like a whiny person who didn't appreciate the things I do have. And while I am so grateful for my life, this song was just how I was feeling at the time. Just a way of saying that it doesn't matter what someone may look like on the outside, we all have battles and struggles internally.

So, I imagine you obviously stand with other actors and female stars like Zendaya, Kate Winslet and Priyanka Chopra, who have slammed society and Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty standards and especially the prevalence of digitally altered photos in fashion shoots and on social media. Are you against airbrushing, because as women, shouldn’t we be inspiring other women to be confident in themselves and make the most of their natural good looks?

Speaking of powerhouse women… Zendaya is incredible! I really look up to her! Of course, I hate how society has placed these ridiculous expectations on people. I think if a woman wants to wear lots of makeup because it makes her feel pretty, then she should, and if she wants to wear no makeup because she feels better doing that, she should! We all have different things that help us look pretty and feel pretty! I have noticed over the last year though that when I'm working on making my heart happy and prettier, that reflects on the outside. It sounds super cheesy, but I truly mean it. Taking care of our minds and hearts should be top priority.

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Fashion by Michael Rosenberg

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Hair by Ledora Francis

Make-Up by Ayaka Nihei

Michael Marson

November 17, 2022

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BLOODY AMAZING!

Michael Marson

November 17, 2022

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Since starring in It’s a Sin, Callum Scott Howells has been gravitating towards opportunities that will challenge him just as much as the queer series. “I yearn for roles that will get my blood going and my adrenaline pumping,” says the Welsh actor. This year, he’s starring in two such projects, the first one being Netflix’s The Beautiful Game. In the film, Callum is portraying an English football team player participating in the Homeless World Cup, for whom the sport becomes a powerful tool in fighting his drug addiction. In October, the actor also began his stint on the West End stage as the naughty Emcee in the incredible adaptation of the classic musical Cabaret. What intrigues him about this story? “It shows a country, and the underground scene and its community, on the verge of war,” answers Callum. “I think it’s super interesting to look at how that moment affected people, and this rendition explores that on a deep level.”

How did the experience of starring in It’s A Sin affect the types of roles that you are looking for right now?

The show really threw me into the deep end in terms of topics I dealt with as an actor, and the physical and mental challenges I faced. Now, when I look at potential roles, I yearn for projects that really get my blood going and my adrenaline pumping. I want to play characters that have a lot of backstories and be a part of things that challenge people’s ideas.

Left Full look **Salvatore Ferragamo**
Right Full look **Gucci**

The series has really resonated with the audience at the time of its release - what have been some of the interactions with the viewers that will always stay with you?

I still think about moments from the past couple of years when people would approach me on the street while I’m walking my dog and share with me their personal stories about living with HIV and how the show made a big change in their lives. Those are the interactions that I tell my parents about because they’re the most special thing. I remember them all so vividly.

Left Knit **Fendi**, shorts **JW Anderson**
Right Full look **Gucci**

This Autumn, you’re taking over the Playhouse Theatre stage in London as the Emcee in Cabaret. How are the rehearsals going?

The role of the Emcee is so iconic and there’s a lot of pressure that I’ve put on myself about it, but I’m being allowed to do my own thing which is really fun! I’m having the time of my life during the rehearsals – it’s one of the most fun roles I’ve ever played and I’m excited to get my teeth into it properly.

Cabaret is such a timeless musical! What do you find most interesting about the story that the show is telling?

I find it really intriguing how the play shows a country, and also more specifically, the underground scene and community around it, on the verge of war. I think it’s super interesting to explore how that moment affected and changed people, and I think this production really explores that on a deep level.

Up next, you’re also starring in The Beautiful Game on Netflix. What made you want to be a part of this project and who are you playing in the film?

I’m portraying Nathan, a player of the England football team in the Homeless World Cup who’s coming off heroin and is dealing with a very complicated situation at home. The film is all about people forgetting the troubles they face in their day-to-day lives and channelling their energy into something they love, which I hope will resonate with a lot of people.

I read somewhere that you really like to play FIFA - how’s that going and which team do you most often play with?

Yes, I love it! My housemates and I have the career mode with Wimbledon, because that’s where we live, and we are doing quite well. We’ve got them up to the Premier League, which is quite a big achievement for us!

So you’re a great actor and FIFA player - are there any other talents that we should know about?

I’m biased and people may disagree, but I think I’m bloody good at cooking! If you give me some ingredients and tell me to make a dish, I’ll usually be able to muster something up – the reason that I’m saying this is because a lot of my friends would say that I’m shit at it. But you know what? Give me my own cooking show and I’ll show the bloody world!

Left Top **JW Anderson**, brooch **Faberge**
Right Full look **JW Anderson**

Lastly, what’s a film that shaped you growing up or was just really important to you at that time?

High School Musical had a huge impact on me! When it first came out, I remember really seeing myself in the character of Ryan and also relating to Troy’s storyline about wanting to play basketball and act at the same time, because I really loved football growing up. It sounds so cliché, but it was such a bloody amazing film!

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Michael Miller

Casting by Imagemachine Cs

Production by Dominic Holroyd

Grooming by Nadia Altinbas

Michael Marson

November 16, 2022

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SWEET REVENGE

Michael Marson

November 16, 2022

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You might not know Nicholas Denton just yet, but that’s sure about to change! The Australian actor’s charming portrayal of Pascal Valmont – a young mapmaker working on regaining his social status in 18th century French society – is one of the shining points of the opulent new series Dangerous Liaisons, inspired by the classic book with the same title. The funny and often very naughty production (out now on Starz) acts as an origin story of the deliciously manipulative duo known from the novel – presenting them as villains-to-be who are slowly finding their feet in the art of seduction and blackmail. For Nicholas, the story he gets to show on the screen in many ways feels incredibly modern despite its historic surroundings. “You get to meet these cats when they’re at a young age and they’re vulnerable and they’re confused and they’re trying to both figure out the world they’re in and themselves,” he explains. “ And I think that gives it a contemporary flair.”

The first episode of the series came out last week – did you do anything to celebrate the premiere?

Yeah! The day before the show premiered, I did a screening party with 16 of my friends – we were all crammed into one bedroom and watched it on a shitty projector. The quality was quite rough, but it was fun! [Laughs]

Amazing! Was there anything that surprised you when you were watching it?

I didn’t think it would be so charming, that it would be a show that felt like a storybook that I’d want to read when I was younger! That’s the thing about the show – it doesn’t take away from the films made about this story before and the book itself. What we’re seeing are not the evil characters that people know so well from the novel or the Stephen Frears version. The characters that me and Alice [Englert] are playing are baby villains, they are slowly finding their feet. And I was most happy that we caught that – it was like capturing something very sweet in a bottle. That’s the really important part: to show the vulnerability, show why they are the way they are and give the audience the context to what those two will end up being, which is these conniving jerks.

Have the previous adaptations of this story that show your character at an older age influenced in any way the way you approached Pascal?

Well, I love John Malkovich and I knew that it was a very big job in terms of setting up this character that people know very well and love to hate. That said, I never watched the film – I didn’t want to see it because I would’ve ended up copying John. I remember actually that Leo Lonsdale, the director of the first block of the show, said to me that one of the reasons I got the job is because I didn’t come into the casting trying to mimic John’s version. So I’m quite proud that I was able to bring in something unique to this character.

Despite being set hundreds of years back, the show feels very modern…

Yeah, it’s the modern version of this story and at the same time, it's just a nice starting point – it’s their origin story. You get to meet these cats when they’re at a young age and they’re vulnerable and they’re confused and they’re trying to both figure out the world they’re in and themselves. So I think that gives it a contemporary flair.

What do you like the most about Valmont?

I like the fact that he’s incredibly inconsistent. [Laughs] For me, to play a character like that is really a blessing because I can kind of just do whatever I want. And in a way, it also makes a lot of sense for him to be that way because he has so many different kinds of attitudes and faces that he takes into the world. He’s a snake, but he’s also a deeply sad young man. He’s got some rage in him. He’s lonely. I find him deeply conflicted as a human being because he’s so willing to use anything he can to manipulate and get what he wants. But that’s such a human thing – people do that all the time! They’re like, ‘If I have something taken away from me, I feel that it is my right to get it back and I’ll do everything I can to do so.’ So that’s a super strong anchor for me as an actor to go, ‘Alright, this is what he wants, and he’ll do anything to get that.’ It’s very fun, but also quite morally distorting for me. I don’t respect this guy, but I do admire his rambunctiousness in going to get what he wants. I’m not like that, I’m quite a passive person…

That actually reminds me of this quote from the interview you and Alice did for The New York Times, where you said that you guys are ‘betas pretending to be alphas.’ What did you find most helpful in your preparations for the role to enter this ‘alpha’ state?

I do a lot of fencing and love-making in the show, so I was very aware that Pascal had to have a sense of a quite strong physique to be both able to have a bit of this bull-like quality to him and also hold people up. I did a lot of training to get some sort of a [muscular] body out of the pickle-like body that I have. Also, the costumes were incredibly helpful in terms of just getting a bit more posture and stature.

The show has been already renewed for its second season. Where do you hope to see this story evolve? Do you have any insight on what’s happening next?

I don’t, actually! But I know that the revolution is coming and things are definitely heating up. Also, the war between Camille and Valmont will be very apparent in the second season, so it will get a lot darker. Which I’m all about! Also, I hope I get to do some more sword fighting and some dancing. [Laughs]

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Grooming by Laila Hayani at Forwards Artists

All clothes Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Michael Marson

November 13, 2022

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HEY, I'M ZACKARY, WANNA PLAY?

Michael Marson

November 13, 2022

last

Imagine two queer kids in love dealing with a serial-killing doll, and not just any doll, but the most well-known slasher doll in cinema history EVER, Chucky.

Rising acting talent, Zackary Arthur, plays the lead as teen Jake wheeler in the latest small screen incarnation of Don Mancini’s possessed doll from the Child’s Play film franchise, complete with freshly rebooted swivelling eyes, missing knives, jump scares and the urge to get behind a sofa and check the little murderous maniac with a bad haircut isn’t behind you. Before you binge the show so far this weekend, which has been applauded for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters and tackling themes about bullying – you ought to get familiar with LA native Zackary, the young horror-genre trailblazer who still sleeps with the light on after watching scary movies. Here’s all the need-to-know details, and then some.

Were you familiar with the unruly horror icon Chucky, from the 1988 slasher movie, Child’s Play, before joining this series?

After I auditioned, I watched all the films with my family. My mom and dad didn’t let me watch a lot of that because I used to be really scared of horror movies. Now, I really like them, although I must admit I sleep with the light on after I watch scary films. I don’t usually tell people that!

Left Full **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**
Right Tanktop **JW Anderson**, shorts & belt **Moschino**

The series progressively and positively resonates with our own times, embracing queer main characters and representing the LGBTQ+ community, while also tackling themes of bullying. When you got the script, how did you prepare for the role?

In preparing for the part of Jake Wheeler, I had many talks with the brilliant Don Mancini, and the character was based on Don’s experience to a large degree, so I knew he would be helpful. He lets us bring what we have into the character, which is a great thing because it helped me put myself in Jake’s headspace. He deals with so much, but he’s really brave and I admire him for that, and I think many people can relate to him because he has a big heart and is very forgiving. I think it was interesting to see the development of the friendship between him and Lexy, as there was a lot of forgiveness there on Jake’s part. That’s not easy, but it was so valuable and brought the three of them together. The one thing about this series that makes it work is there’s so much love in it. That’s Don Mancini though. He’s such a caring person with a big heart.

“The one thing about this series that makes it work is there’s so much love in it. That’s Don Mancini though. He’s such a caring person with a big heart.”

Have you had a lot of positive feedback from fans who see themselves in your character, and how does it feel to be a horror-genre trailblazer?

I would love the chance to get to know the fans and find out how Jake has helped them. Some comments on social media have come through and it means so much to me, and I’ve received a few letters too. They really inspire me to keep doing my best. Sharing stories about other experiences is so important as it makes it easier for other people to get through the challenges. It helps them know that they’re not alone.

Left Full look **Alexander McQueen**
Right Full look **Fendi**

It's interesting that there’s no CGI in this series, it’s all done with puppetry. How was it playing opposite a puppet then, did you learn any new acting skills or techniques?

It gave me a deep respect for all the puppeteers. They are so much fun to work with and bring so much life into the characters. I can’t even tell you how amazing they are because you just must see it to believe it. Working with Chucky means there are more takes to do, but they’re all experts so it’s easier than it could be.

We’re into the next season now, so how does Chucky handle the relationship with your love-interest Devon? It’s also set in a Catholic school, just to make things even more challenging!?

Oh, watch the show and you will see. It is crazy!! I think it’s an amazing plot and good to see if, or how, Jake and Devon get through it. Together or not? You’ll see. It’s a mystery at this point.

Left Jumper **Fendi**, shoes **JW Anderson**
Right Full look **Dolce&Gabbana**

Ok, some quick-fire questions now…...

What’s the one film you wish you’d played the lead in…?

Batman, but hopefully I will get a chance one day.

Your dream role is…?

There are so many. I want to be in all types of films!

The one thing you always have in your trailer on-set is…?

Listerine Strips. Haha!

Your choice for cinema’s most terrifying toy…?

CHUCKY!!! Definitely!!!

Left Full look **Alexander McQueen**
Right Tanktop **JW Anderson**, shorts & belt **Moschino**, boots Prada

The actor who’s left you the most starstruck…?

Jim Carey! I met him a few times on the show Kidding and we had really good talks. He’s a cool person. I’ll always remember the good advice he shared with me. He’s a caring person and a great actor.

When you’re not acting, you’re…?

Hanging out with my family, my dogs, and my friends. I make music and like sports. Also, I really like watching films and shows to see good content and good acting.

Left Full look **Fendi**
Right Full look **Louis Vuitton**

The one thing you wish you’d known about being an actor is...?

How long it takes and how much of a journey it is. There are lots of times you have to be patient, it’s not a fast process, but it’s a fast-paced business. I’m very lucky to have a great team behind me and a close family, they’re always brutally honest with me. That’s what an actor needs. It’s not always easy, but it keeps me in touch with what’s important. Thank you all so much for reading this, and for asking me to be in Behind The Blinds!

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Dorien Jimenez

Fashion by Wojiech Christopher Nowak

Casting by Imaginemachine cs

Grooming by Davey Matthew

Stylist’s assistant Annette Gaitan

Photographer’s assistant Joey Whitley

Michael Marson

November 10, 2022

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DIGGING DEEP

Michael Marson

November 10, 2022

last

With his chill and super friendly demeanour, Malte Gårdinger could not have been more different from the character that he plays on Netflix’s queer show Young Royals. In the series, the up-and-coming Swedish actor does a wonderful job of portraying August - a seemingly overtly-confident royal family member and school prefect who on the inside deals with a ton of insecurities. Although August's attempts to remain in power can be only described as despicable, for Malte, it’s important to understand the basis of his actions. “His behaviour comes from the fact that he’s just really scared to lose everything that he has and his way of dealing with that makes him really impulsive,” he explains. “Everything that August does is a reaction to his terrified state.” A couple of days before the series' season two premiere, we spoke to Malte about going back on set and the challenges of portraying a villain.

What did it feel like to go back on set for the second season? Did you feel there was more pressure surrounding the project now that the show has been a hit?

No, not really! I felt like it was easier to reprise the role that I’ve already done before and work again with people that I’ve gotten to know over the past couple of years. I knew what to expect, so I definitely felt more comfortable [this time around].

I feel like the second season of the show definitely has a darker and more grown-up tone. In your opinion, what are the biggest differences between this season and the previous one?

In the second season, every character gets another layer to them – we’re digging more and you can get deeper into every person on the show.

Yeah, that’s definitely the case with the character that you’re playing, August. This year, we get to see more of the insecurities that he’s facing, and understand a little bit more the basis of his behaviour. What would you say are the biggest challenges with portraying a dark character like him?

I would say that the biggest one was showing August in a completely different set of circumstances. He’s definitely so much more vulnerable now. I had to find that dark place inside me and I did the best that I could to not bring myself down too much [while doing it]. Some of the harder scenes for me this season were the ones where he’s in a state of panic on the inside and trying to push it down.

Do you in any way empathize with what he’s going through?

Yeah, of course! I feel like I have to get the reasonings [behind his actions] to be able to stand for it in the moment. For me, his behaviour comes from the fact that he’s just really scared to lose everything that he has and his way of dealing with that makes him really impulsive. Everything that he does is a reaction to his terrified state.

Once you saw the scripts for the second season, what were the aspects of August’s storyline that you were most surprised to see or most excited about getting to play on screen?

I was quite excited for him to not be as on top as he was in the first one. It was interesting to see how he would react and handle the position that he’s in now. I was really pumped about trying to showcase that!

Young Royals is for many young people a show that definitely has a big impact on them growing up, for example when it comes to exploring their identities. What would you say were the films or shows that were really important to you when you were younger?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was a big one for me! Also, Little Miss Sunshine and The Tree of Life. They all bring that [warm] feeling when I think about them.

Who is an actor that you look up to?

Daniel Day-Lewis. He’s such an interesting person and an amazing actor.

Yeah, back when he was still acting, he was the master of transformations! Which one of his roles were you most impressed with?

I would say his role in Gangs of New York, where he puts on that 19th century accent - that was the first time I realized just how much research he does for every role!

Let’s switch gears a little bit: outside of acting, what’s something that you're good at that not many people know about? Do you have any secret talents?

Well, I write music and play both piano and guitar, but I feel like most people might know that already. [Laughs] I can also do a breakdance move where I spin around on my shoulders called the windmill – I learned how to breakdance as a kid and now it’s my party trick!

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Marco van Rijt

Fashion by Hilda Sandström

Casting Imagemachine cs

Grooming by Martin Sundqvist

All clothes Prada

Michael Marson

November 6, 2022

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GEEKING OUT

Michael Marson

November 6, 2022

last

Russell Tovey knows a lot about a lot. Meeting me for this interview whilst working out on a treadmill, the English actor and self-proclaimed ‘art geek’ has the impressive ability to simultaneously discuss - in a very animated manner - the abundance of film, theatre, literature and art references that he comes across in his daily research (far too many to mention in this piece!). It’s no surprise then how excited he was to become part of American Horror Story: NYC, the latest instalment of the classic camp horror show, which this season is rich in citations to the burgeoning queer art and nightlife scenes of 1980s New York. In our digital cover story, Russell talks about the thrill of telling nuanced stories on screen and the buzz he gets from working on his popular podcast Talk Art, which breaks through the intimidating nature of the contemporary art world.

Full look **Miu Miu** & glasses **Oliver Peoples**

The new season of American Horror Story is full of references to the queer art and nightlife scenes of 1980s New York - the film Cruising, singer Klaus Nomi, the relationship between Robert Mapplethorpe and Sam Wagstaff, or Bette Midler performing at the bathhouses are just a couple of examples. Which of these references were you most excited to see in the script?

All of them because they are reference points that have meant so much to me in my personal existence, and also in my career as inspiration. You know, hearing the stories about Bette Midler and Barry Manilow singing at a gay bathhouse just doesn’t make any sense [laughs], but it happened! And it happened in a lounge where guys would chill out in their towels, while others were hooking up [in different rooms]. So now we have Patti LuPone playing a homage to this story in the show. Cruising is another great example – it’s an incredible movie, and when you watch it now, it is a historical document. It’s a movie that was made in the very, very early stages of the AIDS epidemic in New York, and everybody who is in the background was part of that gay scene depicted in the film – they went to all the fetish leather clubs in the city, and many of them died within years of this movie being released. And now, when you watch that movie, there’s that unfathomable realization of what was just around the corner. Also, at the time, the film was very controversial within the community – the queer people didn’t like it, there was a lot of friction surrounding its release, and no one’s touched it since. So for Ryan Murphy to look at it, reference it and make a homage to it feels incredibly exciting. It’s something that he does [so well] – he takes risks, he charters uncharted territories, and I think that’s really thrilling.

Left Top and skirt **Dolce&Gabbana** , belt **Jil Sander**
Right Jacket **Louis Vuitton**

Was Crusing one of your main references while you were getting into the role you’re playing in the show?

Yes – when Ryan offered me the role, he said that my character was in some ways like the Al Pacino character in the film. He was playing an undercover cop who wasn’t gay, but the guys that were being killed in the city looked like him, so the police force decided to use him as bait. However, what we’ve done with my character, Patrick, is that we’re meeting him at a point where he’s left his wife for a man – a character inspired by Larry Kramer, someone who’s completely proud and confident in his identity - but he’s still closeted within the force because it’s an incredibly homophobic environment at the time. And that makes me think of another character I played, Joe Pitt in Angels in America, who was a closeted Mormon that was having an affair and leaving his wife – for me, Patrick is an extension or a partner to Joe Pitt’s journey, and now, I can use all of that angst, that pain, that turmoil that I had with Joe to create this new character.

Throughout the course of the series, we are slowly introduced to Patrick’s darker side. What do you find most fascinating about him as a character to play?

Well, I think that as an actor, you want to play complicated, nuanced and dark roles. The scripts for the show were getting written as we were starting to shoot, so in some ways, I hadn’t fully realized exactly what was at stake for Patrick – it all started to unravel even more as we went along. But yeah, I’ve always been drawn to characters that are multifaceted and complicated, and who don’t always mean what they say.

Left Full look **Dior Men by Kim Jones**
Right Top **Versace**

Stepping into the AHS universe for the first time, what impressed you the most about the way in which Ryan [Murphy] is running this ship?

I’m really amazed by his attention to detail and his ability to hold so many stories in his head at once – there are so many themes, so many references. He’s like Stephen Fry when it comes to pop history, queer history, horror history, or the history of serial killers of the world. He’s an incredibly inspiring and fascinating man. His achievements are beyond, and he continues to reinvent, challenge and make work that is fresh. He creates the zeitgeist.

Early next year, you will be also starring in Richard Eyre’s film adaptation of Alan Bennett’s play Allelujah - why is it a story that you wanted to tell?

Alan Bennett and I have had a strong connection. I was in the original cast of The History Boys, which changed my life, and I also did a small part in the film The Lady in the Van. I mean, it’s Alan Bennett, why would you not want to do it? He’s a British Arthur Miller, he tells our stories. It’s a project that is a love letter to the NHS, a funny and joyful movie with national treasures like Judi Dench and Jennifer Saunders! I think it’s a really important story and what we did is nuanced and special.

Jacket & pants **Gucci**, sweater **Prada**, shoes **J.W.Anderson**

A couple of years ago, you started your own very successful podcast Talk Art, which has just recently hit 5 million downloads. Congratulations!

Thank you very much! Yeah, it’s been one of my biggest joys and one of my proudest achievements. It’s something that’s come out of pure enthusiasm and being a complete geek – me and my friend Rob [Diament, co-host] wanted to create a space where we could nerd out about something that we are both obsessed with.

You’ve spoken to many great artists, curators and collectors over the years - which of the guests were you most nervous about interviewing?

Weirdly, I get nervous for every guest because I want to make sure they feel comfortable, happy and not under pressure. Some people are incredibly shy, some are incredibly confident, but that’s the human condition and no interview’s going to be the same. I always go into it making sure that I’m prepared – I do all my research, Rob does his research, and we never share notes so that we can have a balanced conversation. Whether it’s an emerging artist, a celebrity or a gallerist, we always want to do our best and facilitate an experience where they can feel like they can be open, honest and happy. So I get nervous with every single one, but I also get such a buzz after we’ve finished every episode. They’re never a chore.

Left Full look **Miu Miu**
Right Pants **Prada**, shoes **Tod’s**

Who’s someone that you’re dreaming of interviewing, but haven’t yet?

David Hockney! I think we would make it a two-episode special because he’s so masterful and such a big part of history. He’s so inspiring and has lived through everything – he lost loads of friends to AIDS, experienced what it was like to be queer when it had to be coded, he lived in London and Los Angeles, but he also knows what it’s like to be from the north of England. His colloquialism is so accessible, and yet he’s an absolute art history and world history icon!

I know that you are currently working on your second Talk Art book - what are the themes that you want to explore in this publication?

The second Talk Art book is all about the interviews – we’ve curated an incredible selection of conversations that changed us, showcased important voices and connected with the audience. We’ve compiled them all, and also, we’ve put in hints, tips and references that will make it very clear for people who want to go on this art adventure. For me, it’s something that you can have next to your bed or carry around with you while on a train or bus – you pick it up, you read one interview, you put it down and you think about it. We want to make people feel like they can get in [into this world]. They might not feel like they can go in the front, but we are opening a little side door and going, ‘Come in this side here, we’re gonna show you what it’s like!’

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Alvin Kean Wong at Seen Artists

Fashion & production Alexey Kazakov

Grooming by Thomas Dunkin at Art Department

Location Scouting by Andy Butthol

Photographer’s assistant Yo-yo

Location Toya Horiuchi' artist studio

Michael Marson

November 4, 2022

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ALTERNATE WORLDS

Michael Marson

November 4, 2022

last

Singer-slash-actress Elektra Kilbey is one part of the twin sis’ duo Say Lou Lou, the band that fashion fell in love with, fronting ads for Gucci and H&M, while making us fall in love with their sonic universe of mood music and videos fused with a visually cinematic sensuality. Speaking of the big screen, Elektra’s now pursuing a life-long-acting passion, having appeared in the indie movie Odd Man Rush, and the Amazon TV series, Tales from the Loop.

Her latest role sees her play Lisa Carter in Apple TV+’s new offering, Shantaram, which is based on a best-selling 2003 novel of the same name. Here she shares her thoughts on how acting and music inform one another, and making playlists for everything!

I know that you’re a musician as well as an actor. Does one come before the other?

Right now, my main focus is acting but I’d like to think that I don’t have to choose one over the other… I love them both.

Do you write songs when you’re on set?

No. When I’m working on a project, whether film or music, I am totally consumed with where I am and what I’m doing. I have to feel totally immersed, or I get too distracted or stressed.

Was acting your original goal, as you were in the film Gossip back in 2000, before you formed the band Say Lou Lou with your twin sister?

Since childhood, acting has always been a passion and a dream, something I’ve felt drawn to, I always had a surplus of emotions and feelings that had nowhere to go until I figured out it could be expressed in embodying different characters in alternate worlds.

My identical twin sister and I had a brief stint as the token twin actors when we were kids, doing TV shows, movies and commercial work until we hit our teens and started wanting to be anything but identical!

Do you find that your acting and music inform one another? Has acting changed for you because of music?

Yes. All art forms and expressions inform each other. But at the end of the day, it’s about storytelling, which transcends choice of medium.

Do you make playlists for your characters, or has any character inspired your music?

Yes, definitely. I made one for Lisa [my character on Shantaram], trying to get into her head, her memories, her triggers...Tim Buckley, The Doors, Zombies, Kinks, Bowie, CAN, Iggy, NEU!

I make playlists for everything, whether it’s a new album I’m working on, a road trip, autumn, winter, summer, spring, a party – they’re sonic moodboards!

Music was obviously important in your house when you were growing up, with both your parents being singers. You spent time in Sydney with your dad and in Stockholm with your mum. I’m interested to know if the duality of that upbringing informed a kind of longing or dislocation in yourself, and has that impacted the music and the characters you’re attracted to in acting projects?

Growing up between two places forced me to become a social chameleon, having to learn how to fit in and play different roles, which made me pretty sensitive and aware of dynamics and contexts from a young age. All of that is helpful both in the process of creation itself, but also in all the practicalities around it.

Do you feel more vulnerable as an actor playing a character or as a musician performing?

As an actor, the vulnerability is more present after the performance. As a musician, the vulnerability is before the performance.

How do you wind down after filming, in comparison with how you wind down after a show or tour?

After a show or tour, you get hooked on the adrenaline rush from each night’s performance and winding down from that can be difficult, leaving you with “post tour depression” and this strange feeling of emptiness. After filming, I immediately miss being on set and the creative environment, wondering when I will have the privilege to do it again. But in terms of winding down, it’s way more dependent on the scenes that were shot on the day. In Shantaram, there were many harrowing moments for my character, high stakes and dramatic interactions and coming back to myself could be challenging at times.

When you first learned that you got the roles in Tales from the Loop and Odd Man Rush, how did you feel, and how did you prepare for them?

I mean… I’m still pinching myself for getting to do what I do. I do not take it for granted, ever. So far, I’ve prepared for characters the same way each time by dreaming up their life story based on the material given and my intuition. Excavating their fears, hopes, dreams, triggers. Preparation is so integral to being able to let the character live through you, I think.

When you’re on set, has it been interesting finding that relationship between you and your character?

Yes. But I do need a trigger to get me there. On Shantaram it was by listening to Once I Was by Tim Buckley. It was like a door opening to Lisa each time.

So how did Shantaram come about, and can you tell me more about the character you play?

The process was normal, but the experience for me at that time was very new and riveting. I’d only been acting for a few months, and every opportunity I had to do an audition was so mega for me. I play Lisa Carter, an American girl on a quest for beauty, adoration, belonging, escape. I think the zeitgeist of 70’s rock n roll led her to India to find enlightenment and awakening, like many of her idols at the time. Only Lisa quickly falls into brown sugar, and subsequently into sex work to support her habit. She’s a dream character to inhabit, childlike but wise, vulnerable and naive yet so experienced. There’s so much to work and play with. And throughout the season you’ll see her develop a sense of agency and confidence she doesn’t have in the beginning. It’s a lovely arc.

Who are some of your favourite actors of all time?

Where do I start… off the top of my head.... Isabelle Huppert, Charlotte Rampling, Nina Hoss, Juliette Binoche, Bibi Andersson, Andrea Riseborough.

Are you more self-aware about how people perceive you when you’re doing the solo stuff like acting?

It’s very different. As an actor you’re practically yourself off screen, but with our band we were always conscious about reinforcing the style of the record we were releasing at the time as if the perception of us was meant to embody the mood of the music.

Speaking of the band, are you planning any new music?

We’re releasing a new EP in the beginning of November. I think it’s our most sincere music thus far and I’m excited to share it with the world.

Ok, finally, give me one album and one film that are your forever go-to’s?

Brian Eno – Apollo, Kieslowski - Three Colours, Blue

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Jenn Kang

Fashion by Marc Eram

Make-Up by Cedric Jolivet

Hair by Lauren Palmer Smith at Forward Artists using Oribe

Video directed by Dana Boulos

Produced by BRAINFREEZE

Edited by Kevin Luna

All clothes SAINT LAURENT by ANTHONY VACCARELLO

FINDING A DIRECTION

TELLING OUR STORIES

“Spoiler Alert is a movie that makes you want to tell your loved ones you love them after you watched it.”

“In Knock at the Cabin, M. Night is throwing up some really big questions about what belief and “truth” are, and whether believing in something makes it real.”

PLEASURE & PAIN

Tom Prior has carved out an enviable career so far with supporting turns in Kingsman: The Secret Service opposite Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine, and as Eddie Redmayne’s son in the 2014 Oscar-winning biopic The Theory of Everything.

The British actor’s career kicks into an even higher gear, however, with his breakout role in the film Firebird, where he’s introduced to a global audience as Sergey, one of two Soviet Russian military officers entwined in a forbidden gay love affair at the height of the Cold War.

Here he talks to us about filming love scenes in the freezing Baltic sea, and how Wim Hof and Adele are his motivational life coaches.

“I resonate most strongly with allowing myself to fall in love and experience people for who they are, and it’s not defined by the sexuality of the person alone.”

CHRYSALIS STATE

TEENAGE DREAMS

“I loved improvisation and intuitively creating and expressing myself as a kid. I was inspired by life and the different ways to express myself.”

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

ME, MYSELF AND I

REBELLIOUS SPIRIT

“There needs to be a movement that really represents the future of the preservation of information, specifically for the youth and thinks about the capability of the human mind and spirit.”

“I love watching the way people customise the pieces and style it on their own and edit it all. Seeing people wear the clothes is amazing because I feel the messages are so important.”

THE ACTOR AS AN ARTIST

On Zoom from opposite ends of London, we discussed all the nostalgia, anticipation and frustration he’s feeling at the moment.

THE E-BOMB

Reviving the iconic role of Elora Danan from the 1988 George Lucas sensation Willow, at just 25, Ellie Bamber is the newest addition to the British it girl cohort.

We caught Ellie on a day off, when she’s not wielding her powers to save her “prince in distress”, trading fantasy costumes for sweatpants, and asked for the 411 on her most recent project and the much-anticipated sequel.

THE JOYS OF VILLAINHOOD

SEDUCTION AND SURVIVAL

“In every job I do it’s very important that it’s true to my reality, and diversity is the world I live in, so it’s natural to me to want to be a part of those stories that reflect my world.”

FRENCH NEW WAVE

WORLDLINESS AND WONDER

BLOODY AMAZING!

SWEET REVENGE

HEY, I'M ZACKARY, WANNA PLAY?

Imagine two queer kids in love dealing with a serial-killing doll, and not just any doll, but the most well-known slasher doll in cinema history EVER, Chucky.

“The one thing about this series that makes it work is there’s so much love in it. That’s Don Mancini though. He’s such a caring person with a big heart.”

DIGGING DEEP

GEEKING OUT

ALTERNATE WORLDS

Her latest role sees her play Lisa Carter in Apple TV+’s new offering, Shantaram, which is based on a best-selling 2003 novel of the same name. Here she shares her thoughts on how acting and music inform one another, and making playlists for everything!

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