last
Martin Onufrowicz
SOUL VIBRATIONS
last
Hanna Pallot
HOPEFUL ESCAPISM
last
Martin Onufrowicz
MAN IN THE MIRROR
last
Martin Onufrowicz
A LESSON IN EMPATHY
Portrait, last
Martin Onufrowicz
SURVIVAL INSTINCT

MULTIPLE AT ONCE

WHETHER IT'S ACTING, DIRECTING OR WRITING, THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH JOSHUAH MELNICK IS EXPLORING HIS LOVE FOR THE WORLD OF CINEMA. THIS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH GIVES US PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THE SENSIBILITY OF THE AMERICAN 25-YEAR-OLD TALENT. WE MET UP IN PARIS AND DISCUSSED JOSHUAH’S LATEST PROJECTS, WHY ACTORS ARE THE AGENTS OF EMPATHY AND HIS COMFORTABLE APPROACH TO FASHION.

You've worked on a wide range of projects recently both as an actor, director or co-writer. How do you combine these different roles?
I think it depends on the context and the people I’m involved with. Though the crafts themselves are different, they’re all just about externalizing feelings into material that can be experienced by other people, and hoping they feel something too. It’s all about squeezing out as much aliveness as possible. I think writing and directing are the most similar but acting takes the most courage which then makes me a better writer and director. The writer is the architect and the director has to execute the plans and maintain the vision of the film. But the actor is the one who breathes the story into existence. They’re the ones who carry it inside of them and make it come to life. I have a lot of respect for that work.

Are there any films that have had a profound impact on you and that inspire you?
Yes, a lot. A Woman Under The Influence by John Cassavetes, Badlands by Terrance Malick, Flowers of Shanghai by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Little Children by Todd Field. 2001 Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick. Her by Spike Jonze. Love is the message, the message is Death by Arthur Jafa. The Last Waltz by Scorsese. Drugstore Cowboy by Gus Van Sant. Boogie Nights by PTA. A lot more!

What kind of movie would you like to play in and/or direct?
I’d like to make movies in all different genres. There’s a comedy/drama that I wrote that I’m excited about acting in, but I want someone else to direct it. I’d also love to act in a spy thriller. An action movie. A Pixar movie too. Period pieces are really fun. I think for directing, smaller indie dramas and then maybe something bigger eventually.

In your opinion, what does it mean to be an actor in this day and age?
To entertain, to make people feel alive… I mean literally their job is to just bring stories to life which requires them to shed their mask until some universal truth is revealed, which I think requires relentless courage and curiosity. I’m learning though. Actors are like agents of empathy.

What is your relationship with fashion?
Practicality, comfort and context. I want it to make sense, and be comfortable. Then it’s all situational. I tend to like to be chameleonic so I wear clothes where I can, as best as possible, exist in different situations throughout the day. I don’t like outfits that beg for approval from other people. I just wear what makes me feel confident.

If Celine was a movie, what would it be?
Maybe Eyes Wide Shut by Kubrick meets James Bond. Or Kids by Larry Clark meets Whiplash by Damian Chazelle. Kind of crazy combinations. Something punk and sexy but also so classic. Like it’s rebellious but has also always existed.

What are you working on at the moment and what are your upcoming projects?
I just finished writing that comedy/ drama feature that I mentioned before called Summer Penny, the title may change though. I’d like to shoot that soon. I’m also acting in a film next month called Please Don’t Feed the Children which is a psychological thriller shooting in New Mexico. I also just executive produced a short film by Angalis Field who directed a film I was in that played at Sundance last year. I’m really excited about this music project I co-wrote that will be out in September too.

All clothes Celine Homme

Interview and photography by Hanna Pallot

REDEMPTION AND FREEDOM

“Don’t stop dreaming just because you had a nightmare and don’t stop feeling just because they hurt you,” sings ENIS in the opening lines of ‘Lavender garden’, the song from his debut EP ‘E01 demo collection’.

For the young Kurdish-Danish alt-R&B artist, his new body of work is a form of facing the demons of the past – the negligence and mental abuse coming from his ultra-conservative family who didn’t accept his queer identity growing up, leading him to run away from home at the age of sixteen, and the deep heartbreak coming from the toxicity of his recent romantic relationship.

The songs on the record became the hymns of redemption, symbolizing the beginning of his road to the freer version of himself. The sense of healing is further explored in the visuals created to accompany the sound – made in collaboration with Italian director-photographer, Leonardo Casalini.

Ahead of the EP’s release, ENIS met up with photographer Steve Marais in Berlin to work together on an intimate series of photographs titled ‘tired feet’ - you can see its exclusive selection below.

Words by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Steve Marais

HUMANLY CHIMERICAL

From a magical fantasy realm to apocalyptic futures, freya allan has established herself as a sci-fi darling. The magnetism she feels for the genre traces back to her childhood when she first visited the worlds she now inhabits. Despite the imaginary context she’s in, freya manages to maintain a sense of humanity. A feat that, according to her, is a by-product of her analytical nature. In defiance of the success she found in the surreal, she’s ready to put her feet on the ground, confessing her desire to play roles that differ from everything she’s done so far. It's not just as an actress that freya manifests this desire, her longing for authenticity is crucial to her artistic identity. As a painter, she focuses on the uglier side of reality, a direct response to what she calls the oversaturation of perfection. Her artworks sit behind her as we catch up on beauty fatigue, stunt work and her latest projects.

Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

From The Witcher to the Planet of the Apes, all the way back to your first job in The War of the Worlds, you always stay close to the Sci-Fi or fantasy genre. What attracts you to this kind of storytelling?

 I feel like it was accidental in a way. With The War of the Worlds, I was just ecstatic, it was one of my first TV roles. The Witcher was, again, a big break for me. I don't think that was necessarily a choice. When I was starting, back when I was 14, I remember feeling very excited by watching those kinds of movies. I think I spent so much of my childhood pretending to be in a sort of fantastical land, that the prospect of actually getting to do it professionally really excited me. But now, I’m at a stage where I’m excited to do something more contemporary, something entirely different.

 

You mention The Witcher as a “big break”, but you initially had a much smaller role…

 I went for Ciri first and the audition went so well. It’s not often that actors have that feeling, but I genuinely felt such a natural connection to the character, it just felt fluid. I then received an email from the casting congratulating me on my audition but, unfortunately, the higher-ups had changed the description of the character. They still wanted me to be in the show somehow, so they offered me Marilka, a much smaller role, which I still found quite exciting. But then, a few days later, my mom showed up at my school. I was like, “What the hell are you doing here?”, and she told me the agent called and I got a call back for Ciri. She knew how disheartened I was to find out that I wouldn’t be considered for that character, so she got excited and decided to show up at my school [Laughs]. I went back to do the call back and I think I even made them tear up a little bit. I then found out I got it on my birthday.

Full look Prada

“I think I spent so much of my childhood pretending to be in a sort of fantastical land, that the prospect of actually getting to do it professionally really excited me.”

 Why do you think Ciri resonated so much with you in the beginning?

 How feisty she was. I felt like I could relate a lot to who I was as a kid. She voices her opinion and knows what she wants for her future. I found that to be very captivating.

 

Ciri, in more than one way, escapes the stereotypical role of a princess, she’s turned into a warrior. Do you enjoy doing the stunts associated with this shift?

 I love it. Alongside acting, I was into dance growing up, so I use some of that training. Stunts are very physical; they require you to be in tune with your body. It’s really a dance, I mean, we’re not actually hurting anybody, so you’re just dancing with the other stunt performers. Luckily, ours are so good that they just allow me to focus on what I’m doing, and they’ll work around that. But, still, you have to know what everybody is doing. I love the challenge of it, it’s like the icing on the cake. I’m a very competitive person, I feel like that comes out of me when I’m doing stunt work.

Full look N21

 You mentioned your desire to move to more reality-based narratives. But I find it genuinely impressive how your performances are so human. Do you find it challenging to root real emotions in such unreal contexts?

 Thank you, I’m glad you think that. Well, let me start by saying, it's all a challenge, but I do find that side easier. I feel like I’ve always been very analytical of people’s behaviour. Even to myself, I constantly question why I am reacting in a certain way to a situation. I do the same for my characters, you have to truly empathize with what they’ve gone through. I think the harder moments are when you’re having to make believe, especially when you don’t have all the answers yet. As actors, we want to know the details of everything, but sometimes, for jobs like The Witcher, it can be confusing to wrap your head around certain stuff.

 

I couldn't stop staring at your paintings behind you. When did you first discover your love for art?

 Again, it goes back to my childhood. I was an only child until I was 11. I had a lot of years where I had to entertain myself. I would wake up in the morning before my parents and would, ironically, write and illustrate children’s books at the age of five. I was always making up creatures, which is ironic now being in The Witcher. When I got to secondary school, I was fortunate enough that they had an amazing art department. I just continued art from there, the other students were amazing artists, and I just absorbed everything around me. And, you know, all my best friends are artists, they’re all studying at Central Saint Martins or Goldsmiths. I think they remind me to continue expressing myself even as I focus on my career. It’s very meditative. It’s the only thing that distracts me, my brain is constantly ticking but when I’m painting, I’m focused.

Left Full look Dries Van Noten

Right Full look Giorgio Armani

 When I look at your pieces, I feel there’s a certain Paula Rego charm to them. Beyond your friends, what are some of your biggest inspirations?

 I have so many. Lucien Freud. Jenny Saville… I’m blanking now. Oh, and David Hockney. We studied him in secondary school, and I almost got a bit sick of his work but somehow, I think it's subconsciously seeping through. People have told me they see it a little bit. But, in terms of what I paint, it tends to be friends and family in candid moments. And, usually, not very attractive moments.

 

What do you think makes you paint the less manicured version of people?

 We're constantly fed so much perfection. It’s constant on social media, in magazines… You see it all the time. I think I was subconsciously bored of it. I don’t want to even stare at it enough to sketch it, it’s just another pretty face. And, technically speaking, there’s something interesting about painting the wrinkles, the moles, the fat, the dark under eyes. It just makes it more alluring, those textures and colours that contrast with a flat airbrushed face. There you go, I never thought of that, but that’s my thought process.

Left Top and skirt SHUSHU/TONG, ring Boucheron

Right Dress Di Petsa, shoes Jacquemus, jewelry Boucheron

 Do you find that there’s some overlap when it comes to acting and painting?

 I have always had a creative mind. Anything that isn’t a point-blank answer, like one plus one equals two, has always fascinated me. It’s interpretive, which can be terrifying, but it's individual. Even when it comes to acting, you can’t say you’re doing it 100% right, because you could approach a character or a scene a million different ways. It’s always a fight within your mind over what’s right or wrong. I feel drawn to those kinds of things. There’s an element of discussion around these choices that I enjoy a lot.

…

Discover the full story in our upcoming FW23 FANTASY Issue.

 The interview & fashion story were conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Interview by PEDRO VASCONCELOS

Photography by GREGORY DERKENNE

Fashion by STEVEN HUANG

Casting by IMAGE MACHINE CS

Hair by PATRICK WILSON at The Wall Group using Hair By Sam McKnight

Make-Up by FRANCESCA BRAZZO

Stylist’s assistant NIAMH MANNION

CONSTANTLY LEARNING AND LETTING GO

Beau Minniear is a new New Yorker and his affection for the city grows stronger with each day he gets to walk around the buzzy streets and observe its never-ending energy. This desire to explore intensity is something that also drew him to acting – a profession that gives him a safe space to rip through the highest of emotions. For us, the young indie actor talks about the power of not holding back in performance, putting on shows for animals as a kid and the joys of falling in love for just a second.

Hey Beau! Where are you right now?

 I’m in New York, I just got back from Cape Cod - I went there for a film festival.

 Nice! How long have you been living in New York?

I moved here full-time in April. Before that, I was going back and forth between here and LA.

What’s your favourite spot in the city right now?

 Man, there’s so many! I moved to LA when I was 18, and when you’re so young, I think there’s a real need for making friends. But moving here, my favourite part about this city has actually been the fact that it feels so romantic even when you’re on your own. In other places, being alone can be pretty loud. But here, you’re just walking around and you might end up at a jazz club that has five people in it. And then, the streets are filled with music and so many smells. Maybe because I’m still fresh, even riding the subway feels romantic! Being alone here has its own power, so I’m really riding a high of exploring this place solo.

 Yes, exploring a city on your own can be really entertaining!

 Yeah, you learn so much about yourself. Also, watching love all around you, oh man, it’s like a drug. And then you’re walking down the street and have eye contact with somebody for a second. You fall in love and then boom, they’re gone. There’s all these little moments that happen here.

 Let’s talk a little bit about acting – what made you want to pursue it? Did you have a specific moment when you realized this was the path for you?

 I don’t think I’ve ever had that moment. I grew up on a ranch on the outskirts of Park City, Utah, surrounded by nature and animals that my dad would get on Craigslist for really cheap. And those animals were something to bounce the ideas off – I was talking to them like a little crazy kid. So maybe performing for them in the woods is where it all started for me. At school, I never really clicked with the drama kids, I never could quite see myself with them. And I never clicked with the football kids either. I would bounce around, get into a lot of trouble and I got suspended a bunch.  I had no respect for discipline or authority at all. It wasn’t until I met a guy named Jordan Chappelle, who’s an acting coach in LA, that I first realised that the director-actor relationship is something that I crave, can listen to, and that I see this environment as a safe space for me to explore the emotions that I used to get in trouble for without the repercussions and the shame and the guilt. So yeah, it’s been an evolving process. I think that, as an artist, you’re constantly learning and constantly letting go. Acting is always a new experience. And I don’t have a hold on the process itself – it just feels like something that I have to breathe in and take with where I am in my life at the time.

 Is going in and out of these extreme emotions something that you find the most thrilling about it?

 Yeah. When I was younger, I always thought that being a man was about anger and that raw quality of someone like Marlon Brando [points to a poster of Brando’s film hanging on the wall]. And acting is a really great space to rip through that. Then on the other side of it, there’s vulnerability and honesty and accountability – to have that space to work through them and not hold back is the healthiest thing, at least for me. Also, it’s so much fun to cry and fight and laugh and fall in love on stage or in a project. It’s addictive.

 It’s so freeing. So we know that Marlon Brando is one of your favourites. [Laughs] Who are some other actors that you look up to?

 It’s always changing. Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Shannon and Michael Fassbender are a few that come to mind.

 What’s something that you’re looking forward to?

 I’m looking forward to the strike ending. That said, I also want actors to be treated fairly. It’s an interesting time for indie films and that’s what I love – that’s what I grew up on. So I’m excited to see the wave of independent movies that come out of this and stories that might not have been heard before. Also, I’m looking forward to the next time you come to New York and we go to some jazz bars!

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Ritchie Jo Espenilla

IN THE EYES OF GLASS

Energetic, charismatic and sensitive, Stella Rose Gahan is someone who hardly leaves you unmoved when you meet her. Launching her last album Eyes Of Glass this past April, the 23-year-old artist has already made her own mark on today’s rock and roll scene. We met with Stella Rose in Paris on the occasion of Celine’s latest SS24 presentation.

Who are your biggest inspirations and why?

Inspiration can be a bit mysterious at times. It isn’t always as obvious or significant as it appears. My inspirations can be in simple things like people watching — catching a moment between two strangers. It makes me feel connected. Like there is something larger at work. It is really beautiful when you catch a glimpse of another person's life, someone you may never see again. It feels like a secret. Human behaviour is inspiring to me. Synchronicities in life that seem impossibly timed. My second love is photography and films. Words give imagery, and it is what I am most drawn to achieving when writing. 

 How do you perceive today’s New York rock and roll scene and how do you feel being a part of it?

I sort of keep my head down and do my own thing. I think New York is brilliant that way since you can kind of disappear in it all. Things are always changing and evolving and I think it is important to just do what feels right and everything else will follow. 

 

You released an album Eyes of Glass last April. How did you compose it and what does it symbolize to you? 

Eyes of Glass feels like a symbolism of many letters to myself in the last few years of my life. Having a sort of Hell Hath No Fury spin. I can be quite dramatic when it comes to love.  

Where do you find beauty and poetry?

My mother is beauty and poetry in my life. She gives me resources to express myself and honour my heart. 

 

What is your relationship to fashion and how does it relate to music? 

Clothing is instrumental to who I want to be for the day when I get dressed in the morning or for a performance. It sets the tone. People like David Bowie, Debbie Harry, it goes on. Playing dress up is magical and seductive. Alluring colours and silhouettes telling stories of their own. It can be a superpower. 

 If Celine was a song, what would it be?

Mhm… seems like a question for Hedi!

 

What are you working on at the moment and what are your upcoming projects?

Exploring new territory in familiar places. 

…

All clothes Celine by Hedi Slimane

Interview & photography by Hanna Pallot

EVER-EVOLVING

Saying goodbye to his role of 5 years as Ben in The Umbrella Academy, Justin H. Min is embarking on a new journey as a different Ben in Shortcomings. He’s played robots, ghosts and superheroes, but the actor was most excited about exploring the humanity of the cynical character he played in the new film. While currently in limbo – still living out of a suitcase between New York and LA – his schedule is dense but he still pinches himself daily. This is the position he gets to be in, acting with directors, producers and actors who inspire him. We sat down with Justin to discuss his latest acting projects, growing Asian-American representation in Hollywood and his custom-made role in Netflix’s hit Beef.

Left Full look Versace

Right Coat Lemaire

Last season, your role in The Umbrella Academy shifted, as you had to play a more antagonistic version of Ben. How hard was it to explore that?

I liked playing both versions of Ben for different reasons. It was a little more fun to play the season three Sparrow Academy Ben because he’s such a departure from who I am. He’s a huge asshole, and I hope that I’m not.

 The next season will be the last. What can we expect to happen?

It dives into the reckoning with who these characters are without their powers, what does that lead to? There has been a question on the show for the last three seasons that will finally be answered in this season.

Left Full look Calvinluo

Right Full look Lemaire

 Let’s talk about Beef. What drew you to this series?

That role was sort of written and made for me. Lee Sung Jin and my older brother were best friends in college. My brother was a very prominent worship leader through college, and is now a pastor. So, when writing Beef, Sunny knew that there was gonna be a prominent storyline in the Korean church and he wanted me to play the worship leader part, partly based on my brother.

Full look Lemaire

 I read the script of Love & Noraebang, a podcast series which explores multiculturalism in LA, also explored in Beef. With your experience growing up as a second-generation Korean-American in LA, how would you say your Koreanness has influenced your acting experience?

I never grappled with my Koreanness until I got into this industry. It was the first time I ever really experienced something like, “Oh, people see me not as an American, but as other.” It was something that I really had to reckon with and it came with its own set of existential crises, a lot of nights wondering who I was and where I fit in this industry. But now it's something that I embrace, knowing that that is really at the core of who I am and it affects the work that I do, both consciously and unconsciously.

Shirt Lemaire

 How would you say Asian culture is currently shaping Hollywood? We have shows like XO Kitty where Korean-American culture is being highlighted. How does this form of representation matter in today’s entertainment industry?

I don't think there's ever been a better time to be an Asian-American actor or artist. Globalisation is real. The Korean wave is real. And people are more than ever interested in different cultures and are willing to watch a film with subtitles and be just as invested in them as they are in “American” TV or film. Now, there are so many different representations of us on screen that we can really reflect on the fact that we are not a monolith.

Shirt & pants Commission, boots Givenchy

 I want to congratulate you on your performance in Shortcomings - I found it really hard to feel any sympathy for Ben! What attracted you to this role?

Ben is so complex. He is deeply, deeply flawed, which to circle back to the topic of representation, is not something that we've often seen of Asian-American characters. He really does feel deeply broken, has so many insecurities, and is trying to date but is flailing. All of these things sort of make up the human experience and I was excited to dive into that role.

Full look Versace

 Can you tell us about how the film treats the talks around race within romantic relationships?

I love Shortcomings because it's not prescriptive. There's a multitude of perspectives. What makes talking about race so difficult is that people are coming from a very emotional place. Dating is emotional. Falling in love is emotional. You can never speak on these kinds of issues with any sort of objectivity. I hope the movie inspires those kinds of conversations. The more we talk, the more we as a collective society can hopefully learn and move forward.

Full look Lemaire

 My favourite line from the film is, “I’m sorry you had to meet me at this point of my life,” which I think highlights that this whole movie is just a phase, that Ben is not stuck but ever-evolving. What was your personal takeaway?

You realise that people are the way they are because of things that they've experienced. When I was first starting out in this business, I would go to audition after audition, and hear ‘no’ and a closed door, and ‘no’ again, and another closed door. After years of that, it really wears you down and you start to look at life through a very cynical mindset. That was something about Ben that really resonated with me. My biggest takeaway was just learning to empathise with people.

Shirt & pants Commission, boots Givenchy

…

 The interview & fashion story were conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Shaojun Chen

Grooming by Zaheer Sukhnandan

Production by Peter McClafferty

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Stylists assistant Ray Z

CRUEL SUMMER

After auditioning from her college dorm room in Pittsburg with the help of her roommates, Lola Tung landed her first breakthrough role as the protagonist in Amazon Prime’s The Summer I Turned Pretty. As a teenager figuring things out, her character Belly finds herself to be the catalyst of a love triangle with two brothers who she's known her whole life. Whilst we meet Belly in her exploration of the boys in the first chapter, season two was an opportunity for Lola to dig deeper and explore the darker sides of her character. For us, Lola talks about her thoughts on the newest season, as well as her hopes for the future - always to a Taylor Swift soundtrack.

So Lola, tell us about how you got into acting.

I started acting when I was in middle school. I auditioned for my school musical which was The Wizard of Oz, and I got cast as the tin man. I loved every aspect of theatre and acting, the whole rehearsal process and performing. I don’t think anything else made me feel as alive.

Were you a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy before auditioning for the role? Why would you say the work of Jenny Han speaks to this generation of viewers so much? 

I hadn’t read the books but I had seen the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies. I was a huge fan of Jenny Han. She’s an incredible storyteller, and she treats these stories with such care and is so involved with how her stories are brought to life. She also allows these characters to feel all of these important things. So many feelings are universal for teens and maybe adults don't always take them seriously, but when you look at it, it’s such a pivotal moment in your life. You don’t have to have it all figured out, you know?

I felt like the Belly we got in season two had a lot more depth than in season one - how did you approach your character’s development this time around?

The second season lives in the same world but it just has such a different tone. Belly is in a different headspace, she’s really dealing with the weight of her grief and it’s affecting every aspect of her life. I think she’s feeling pretty lonely when we first see her and nobody can really understand how she’s feeling. It was a little difficult to live in that headspace. But the thing that was really driving me, and making me hopeful is that the season is about her taking initiative and being determined to bring back the magic that she feels like she's lost, and to repair these relationships that mean so much to her.

What steps do you take to fully immerse yourself in a role?

In the first season, I wrote letters from Belly’s perspective to every character of the show. This season, I would just journal if I was having trouble cracking the code to the scene. Music was a huge part of it, there were certain songs that would immediately get me in the headspace I needed to be. A lot of Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers. It was an emotional girl season for sure.

Music is a very important part of the show - did you have any say in the music choices?

I trust Jenny so much with the music, she’s done an incredible job and she definitely asks us [for opinion]. She’ll show us cuts of scenes with different songs over it and ask us which one we think suits the tone of the scene the most. Or she’ll ask for song recs, which is cool because all of us have different tastes in the cast.

Personally, I’m rooting for Conrad - why do you think as viewers we’re always drawn to the more difficult and gritty relationships?

I think that’s hard and I try to be careful because obviously there are toxic relationships that are almost romanticised in a way that’s a little bit dangerous. But I think with Conrad, even though it is messy, he thinks he’s just doing what’s best. People sympathise with that and can relate to that. Sometimes it's just physically hard to be that vulnerable with someone, it's like weighing on you, it's almost impossible to open your mouth and tell someone how you’re feeling.

 Are there any specific types of roles or projects you aspire to work on in the future?

I’d love to do theatre at some point, and film. I’m interested in doing something different from Belly who I love so much, something that’s just the opposite and after that something completely opposite of that.

How do you balance your personal life with the demands and unpredictability of the industry?

Just taking it one day at a time, and knowing that the unpredictability of this business is rough but it's also the beauty of it. As someone who tends to stress about the future, I think it’s a good lesson, there are some things that aren’t in your control and that's ok.

…

The interview & fashion story were conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Kat Irlin

Fashion by Yael Quint

All clothes by Chanel

Make-Up by Misha Shahzada

Hair by Dana Boyer

Nails by Mami Onishi

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Stylists assistant Josh Mooiweer

Shot at The Peninsula New York Hotel

Special Thanks Wai Lin Yip

A LOVE STORY

Sean Kaufman has soared to fame through his role in The Summer I Turned Pretty, a coming-of-age love story that has captivated the world’s attention. Ironically, it was a teenage romance that sparked Sean’s interest in acting. But, as the infatuation withered, his passion for the craft flourished, evolving into something profound. Like any relationship, Sean experienced the emotional seasons of an affair. The honeymoon stage marked a period of what he classifies as premature success. Yet, as reality settled in and the initial surge waned, he achieved great growth — a period crucial for refining not just the "hows" of his craft, but more importantly, the "why" behind his dedication. Sean considers this interlude as a pivotal time, shaping not only his success but also deepening his appreciation for where he stands now. Now, as he steps into the spotlight, the actor is figuring out what the future of his great love holds.

Full look Miu Miu

When were you first attracted to the idea of becoming an actor?

It's a funny story. I got into acting in middle school. There was a girl I had a crush on. And she was auditioning for the musical. I thought “What's a better way to spend time with her than by doing that?” So, I auditioned for it as well. And I ended up getting one of the leads in it. To be fair, I was one of two that auditioned. But I ended up loving it. After, my teacher convinced me to go to high school for it, to LaGuardia High School. And that's when I fell in love with it. 

Left Full look Prada

Right Coat Emporio Armani

After graduating high school, you got your first gigs in Law & Order SVU and Manifest. Do you feel like that initial spurt of success motivated you?

Definitely. It made me a little bit cocky. Because I was right out of high school, a month after I graduated, I booked Manifest and then Law & Order SVU, and they were back-to-back auditions. I was just over the moon, I thought “I’m the best actor alive,” I can do anything. And then I didn’t book anything for three years. It was humbling. But I’m still happy I had those opportunities. I was so young. I had no experience on set, so it was nerve-wracking and, to be honest, scary. I’m glad I got that feeling out of the way early on. A while ago, I went and saw one of those episodes again. I was like, “Jesus Christ, I suck.” I’m glad I have a couple of years on me and more training.

Full look Prada

How do you feel like that training has helped you home in on your craft?

Yes, absolutely. But it's important to say that it doesn't help everybody. If there's one thing that my co-stars taught me, it's that every single person has their path. Whatever works, works. But I know for myself, college was something that I needed. I was not ready to enter the professional world. And the training I received at college pushed me to not only be a better actor but to be just a better person. That helped a lot to prepare for the world.

Tank Top Nicholas Raefski, Jeans Kenzo, belt True Religion

You have mentioned in the past that you weren’t allowed to work and study at the same time but that you did it anyway…

[Laughs] Yeah… It honestly showed me that this is what I wanted to do. I proved to myself how dedicated I was. There were days where I had to kick my butt to class, from eight to noon then I’d have to run to the train stop to go to the city, do a one-minute audition, and run back in time for my three o’clock class and rehearse until eleven. I realized, “If I don’t want to do this I can quit, no one is forcing me.” By pushing myself through that I proved to myself how much I wanted it. it showed me that if I could do that I could do so much more.

Sweater Teddy Vonranson, pants & shoes Calvinluo, necklaces stylist’s own

What as it has been like to see all the success of The Summer I Turned Pretty, it even became the No. 1 show on Prime Video during its premiere weekend. Could you sense that level of success?

When we were shooting it, we knew it was like a Jenny Han show and that a fan base comes with that. But while we were shooting it it was different. We’re all still very young and for most of us this was pretty much the first thing we’ve filmed. Everything was new and fun, it felt like an experience that we were all going through together. It’s funny, the crew was constantly telling us how much the show was going to succeed but we just didn’t believe them [laughs]. When we came back to shoot the second season, they couldn’t stop saying “We told you so.”

Left Coat Emporio Armani, Tank Top, pants, ring stylist’s own

Right Tank Top Nicholas Raefski, Jeans Kenzo, belt True Religion

Do you feel like, by being a newer experience for most of the cast, the show brought you all closer together?

I think so. With season two coming out and everyone getting more successful, it’s getting harder for all of us to hang out. There was something about that first season before the show even came out. We had nothing to do but hang out with each other. We forgot we were actors, we were just people having fun, breaking into pools, skateboarding…

Left Coat Emporio Armani, Tank Top, pants, ring stylist’s own

Right Full look Emporio Armani

You’ve played Steven for two seasons now. What has been the most rewarding part of playing him?

Watching his growth. I know it's a very cliché answer, but it's the first time I’ve had the opportunity to dig into a character. It’s been fun to play a character that changes, it’s what every actor wants, so I’m very blessed to have the opportunity. The fact that he’s emotionally different than a year ago is a fun challenge. I’m letting him grow with me. I’m now two years older than I was when I first booked it, we’re intertwined in many ways.

Coat Emporio Armani, Tank Top, pants, ring stylist’s own

Full look Miu Miu

“I just want to keep choosing projects that are important to me and that impact the world in some way.”

You’ve mentioned in the past that to act is to feel insecure. Do you still feel like that?

The older I get, the more insecurities I find. With every new challenge comes new problems, with new opportunities arise new fears. But I think that’s what everybody feels anyway, I think anybody that tells you otherwise is lying, or maybe they’ve figured it out, in that case, you should go interview them, I want to know the secret. But I think I’m always going to have insecurities, especially when it comes to my craft. It doesn’t matter how seasoned you are, it’s always frightening.

 

Sweater & shorts Nanushka, shoes Calvinluo, rings stylist’s own

Do you feel like those butterflies are essential to perform well?

That’s an interesting question. It’s something I was taught in college that I carry with me. The anxiety isn’t there to help you or hinder you. They’re just a sign that your body is nervous, and the fight or flight instinct is settling in. What I try to do is not let the adrenaline take over me. I just let what’s happening happen, let the feeling pass through my body. I let it exist without affecting me positively or negatively.

Sweater Teddy Vonranson, pants & shoes Calvinluo, necklaces stylist’s own

What do you envision for the future of your career?

I just want to keep choosing projects that are important to me and that impact the world in some way. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to do that. That’s the dream. I think of people like Steven Yeun, Michelle Yeoh, Tilda Swinton or Mia Goth, people that choose their work based on how important they are [to them]. Selecting based on the need for a voice is something I look forward to doing. 

I can’t wait to see it. 

I can’t wait either. 

…

The interview & fashion story were conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Interview by Pedro Vasconcelos 

Photography by Tazaca

Fashion by Shan Temuri

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Hair & Make-Up by Laila Hayani at Forward Artists

Photographer’s assistant Joe Charles

Stylist’s assistant Angelina Ding

DREAM BIG

If this is the first you’ve heard of David Iacono, take note, because it certainly won’t be the last. The young Italian and Puerto Rican actor has already appeared in Netflix's Grand Army, HBO Max's The Flight Attendant, Amazon Prime’s The Summer I Turned Pretty and the genre-blending movie Cinnamon. “Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way”, reads Iacono’s IG bio, and he should know, having been born and raised in New York’s coolest borough.

We threw the spotlight on the LaGuardia ‘fame’ school graduate to talk about the power of storytelling, fans, and famous movie quotes.

Left Full look Valentino

Right Top Acne Studios

Your character Cam, in The Summer I Turned Pretty, has a dorky-yet-charming appeal, and the series has that sense of teen nostalgia, about finding yourself and belonging to something. What do you think is the inherent power of storytelling? 

Deep question to start! I think storytelling holds a lot of powers inherently. The most beautiful thing about telling stories to me is just how subjective they can be. I’ve personally been in tough situations in life (as we all have), in which I’ll randomly throw on a given movie or TV show, or even an album that speaks so accurately to the current rough patch I’m going through. Then, months later, I’ll throw the same thing on, and I get a completely different message from it. At the same time, sometimes it’s so great to listen to a story and NOT relate it to life at that given moment. Stories are so important because they can be whatever you need them to be. 

Left Full look Miu Miu

Right Full look Prada

So, what was your process in trying to really get to the essence of Cam’s character in the story as we know him from the books?

 When Belly meets Cam in the book, it’s such a vivid moment in my memory of the book’s story. He’s almost like a golden nugget of relief to her when she catches his eye, a breath of fresh air from all of the complicated things that come with falling in love with someone you grew up with. So, I just tried my best to channel that: being an easy-going, honest, caring person to Belly, despite any awkwardness that comes with being so vulnerably yourself. 

Top Acne Studios, pants & shoes Emporio Armani

Are there any similarities between him and yourself?

 Most definitely. I really lucked out. I mean, I’d like to think I pulled off being awkward and somewhat insecure as smoothly as Cam does. That aside, I do really have a passion for the ocean - maybe not from a scientific perspective like Cam, but I related to what he said in the first season, about appreciating just how humbling it was to understand the vastness and creativity that comes with studying the ocean. And I grew up swimming a lot, so I got it. 


The show has a strong fanbase, as do the books, and there is a pressure with every season to live up to the last one and be authentic to the book trilogy. Did you feel that pressure at any point, in not wanting to disappoint the fans who likely have high Expectations?

I guess somewhat. But in terms of living up to expectations of fans of the book for the second season, I didn’t feel it as much as I did for season one, because Cam’s not really in the second book. I definitely wanted to do Cam’s fanbase and portrayal justice for the first season, because he’s such a beloved character, and I think I did that successfully. But for season two, I felt a little more creative liberty when it came to my performance. I got to explore what the writers had given me in the script in a more direct way, which was so much fun. 

Left Full look Prada

Right Full look Miu Miu

What can we expect (that you’re allowed to tell us!) for Cam in this new season, maybe some exciting teasers for the fans?

 Maaaaan. Thin ice here! What I can say is I think fans will appreciate seeing Cam through a different lens this season. Throughout season one, you only really get to learn about him through the eyes of Belly, which makes sense, as his whole arc is their relationship to one another. In season two, he kinda just gracefully stumbles back into the lives of his friends from last summer, all whilst living his own life. So, it’s a new, more independent leaning story for Cam, which I hope makes fans of his character happy. 

Full look Miu Miu

 You’re not a newcomer to the business—you’ve been in multiple films and series. I imagine the experiences you have on-set play a large role in your life. How has your understanding of yourself been influenced by the roles you’ve played? 

 Wow, great question. You’re coming with the heavy hitters! I could unpack that one for paragraphs, so I’ll keep it brief. I try my very best to keep my portrayal of characters in projects separate from my real-life identity, because it can get a little existential at times when that line gets blurred. But if we’re talking straight up experiences that I’ve had whilst on set with cast and crew, I wouldn’t trade all of that for anything. I think a big reason I feel as if I’m decent at communicating with people, is because I’ve grown up around people that do that for a living in such a beautiful way. Again, I could go on and on, so I’ll just leave it there. 


Speaking of communicating… your generation has more platforms to express themselves and be authentic and share with one another, as you do on social media. Do you enjoy engaging with your audience and are there ever any moments where you feel vulnerable?

 It’s a great thing to be able to interact with audiences of projects I get to be a part of. I’m mad grateful to be able to get such supportive comments and opinions from people who really seem to be affected, or moved, or simply entertained by the stuff I do on screen. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right, which is so heavily appreciated. 

Full look Prada

One thing you’ve got to love about acting is just the ability to lose yourself. What kind of stories are you interested in exploring and telling? Is there something you’re always on the lookout for in a script that excites you?

 To me, the more honest a script is, the more enticing. Again, the subjectivity and how relatable it is, is such a big reason why a story is told. Or even if it’s not the most raw, vulnerable story being told, as long as a script tries to achieve its specific goal in an honest, original way, I’m in. 


Artistically, creatively – are there any pieces of art, film, music or writers, actors that have inspired you, that made you realise things?

 I’ve got to say that Bo Burnham has probably inspired me the most in my young adulthood (such a fancy way of saying that), especially with his special Make Happy. He blends comedy, music, and honest storytelling in a masterful way. He’s the first one that comes to mind. When it comes to music, J. Cole has resonated with me like no other artist has, but the list definitely goes on.

Jacket, top & pants Miu Miu, shoes Emporio Armani

 So, tell me more about that list. Any directors and actors you’re itching to work with?

 It’s my dream to work with Spike Lee, and Phil Lord and Chris Miller are also two directors I’d die to be in collaboration with.


Let’s talk about your other projects, like Cinnamon, where you’re worked with Hollywood legend Pam Grier and the amazing Damon Wayans. What was that experience like, and what did you love most about doing the film?

 Working alongside Pam and Damon was so special because I never really acted in a scene with them. Damon and I never shared the screen, and Pam and I were only in one or two scenes together in which we barely communicated. That being said, the amount of respect that they both brought to set was a phenomenon to watch. Being around such acclaimed actors with such a sense of humility and love for everybody on set taught me so much. As to what I loved most about doing the film, it’s hard to pick one answer. It was one of the best experiences I had on a set, as it was my first lead, and I felt like I got to know everybody through and through. By the end of shooting (which was only about 19 days long), I felt like I had gone through the ringer with a new family of mine. Bryian Keith Montgomery (our writer and director) brought me one of the most collaborative experiences I’ve had on a set. A real dream. 

Left Full look Miu Miu

Right Ful look Prada

You’re also in the upcoming movie Fresh Kills, which is a reimagining of the typical mob movie. Who do you play, and did you watch any of the iconic gangster epics to really understand the genre?

 Yes! Fresh Kills! I play Bobby, who’s essentially the boyfriend of one of the leads of the film, Rose, who’s the daughter of a bigtime mob boss on Staten Island in the 80s and 90s. The movie is female led, as it tells the story of the silencing of women’s voices that was forced upon them as soon as they were born into the family. So even simply getting to be a part of such a fresh, original, empathetically written story, that was led by such heart wrenching performances, was so artistically fulfilling. I’m so proud to be a part of that roster. And I’m from Brooklyn…I got an understanding of the genre a loooong time ago. Haha!

 

Perfect lead into my next question! Being from Brooklyn and of Italian descent, please tell me you’ve jokingly used the line, ‘You talking to me?’ at least once in Starbucks when they called your name out for your coffee?

 Haha! I gotta say I’m not a big coffee guy, but I may just have to start drinking it to make this a reality. Thanks for the idea!

 

Full looks Prada

You’re welcome. You know that another famous Italian, Al Pacino, of Godfather-fame, studied at the same high school as you, LaGuardia. So, on a scale of 1-10, how much would you like to star alongside him on screen?

 10! Without question. 


So…. if you had to choose one… Robert DeNiro or Al Pacino?

 This is like forcing me to choose between two grandpas, are you kidding me? If you FORCED me to choose, I’d say De Niro. A Bronx Tale is one of the first movies I remember having a profound effect on me, and I didn’t watch The Godfather till I was in high school. Man. I can’t believe you made me choose. Messed up. 

Left Jacket & top Miu Miu

Right Top Acne Studios

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Ritchie Jo Espenilla

Fashion by Shan Temuri

Grooming by Tomoaki Sato

Casting by Imagemachine cs

FLYING HIGH

Sasha Calle is soaring to new heights. Her portrayal of Supergirl has attracted tremendous attention, not only because she is the first Latina to portray the iconic character but also due to her rock-and-roll style - the blonde locks have been replaced by a grungy pixie cut. But for Sasha, it's not about the look. “Ultimately, as an artist, all I want to do is create art that people feel connected to and seen by. I think that's what comic books do. They make you feel represented," she confesses. Despite her recent success as an actor, she’s not done exploring the depths of her artistic identity. The next step? Music. "I would say with acting I can become someone else but with music, I get to learn who I am as a person and the things that I love,” she says. During our conversation, Sasha's vibrant personality shines as we delve into her passion for stunts, soap operas, and the significance of being labelled as an artist.

Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

We have to start by talking about The Flash. As a comic book nerd, it’s the biggest thing happening right now. Surprisingly, this is your first feature film. What did it feel like to make your silver screen debut in a production of this size?

Well, I was only on a soap opera right before, I was on The Young and the Restless. And I got on that show a year and a half after graduating college. They both have their challenges. Being on a soap opera I had to learn 45 pages of dialogue a night and we did five episodes a week. It uses a different muscle from when you’re going on a massive movie like this. When you’re on a film set, you’re doing more like a page a day. But I did a lot of stunt training to prepare, which is absolutely my passion. Doing action is something I love but it’s a different beast. I think that any job in this business has its challenges. I’ve just been excited and blessed to have been a part of both experiences.

Sweater & pants Prada, bra Miu Miu

You mentioned your love for action, I’ve read that you do a lot of your stunts. Was that a passion you discovered while filming this movie?

I knew it before. When I was in college, I had a stage combat class where we started to learn how to pretty much fake fight. You know, not hitting people per se but more so the wind around them. I just fell in love with it. I’ve loved action movies my whole life. I started boxing back in 2018 because I wanted to prepare. I wanted to be in this world, and I wanted to be good when the time came. So, it was amazing when I got on set, and I already knew how to move and how to throw a punch. It was very natural when I got there. I just loved my whole experience with the stunt team.

Turtleneck Givenchy, boots Miu Miu

Movies like The Flash are known for their Easter eggs and nods to fans. How familiar were you with the comic book world and the Supergirl character?

I've watched a lot of superhero films with my brother. And we actually watched a lot of the Supergirl and Flash series on television. And obviously movies like the Man of Steel… I mean, they’re the biggest superhero films out there. So, I knew some things and some, I ended up learning after. And even now, as I continue to see the movie, I’m realizing things. It’s a very fun process, to discover so many new little things about a movie I worked on.

Full look Dorothee Schumacher

Superhero suits are their trademark, and you have a particularly cool one. How did it feel to see yourself with it?

It’s really cool, it’s honestly a dream come true. I’ve been getting a lot of photos from my friends and family of me in the suit and how impacted they feel by it and that’s a really beautiful thing to me. Ultimately, as an artist, all I want to do is create art that people feel connected to and seen by. I think that's what comic books do, they make you feel represented. That to me is what art is. It has been beautiful to see people connect with her suit but also her vulnerabilities and complexities.

Jacket Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, shorts and boots Miu Miu

Speaking of the importance of feeling represented, your portrayal of the first Latina Supergirl has opened a lot of conversation regarding diversity in the superhero world. What do you think of the discourse around it?

Well, first of all, let me mention I think we still have a long way to go. I think there’s been a lot of amazing people that have paved the way for me. They have walked this road and I’m fortunate and honoured to be a step in the right direction. Thankfully, we’re seeing a lot of Latinos and Latinas on the silver screen. We have Anthony Ramos with the Transformers movie. We have Xolo (Maridueña) coming up with the Blue Beetle movie, which is so beautiful because that is a Latin story. I think the most beautiful thing is that we’re sticking together, and we all see each other. That for me is what’s meaningful. I think we’re getting there, slowly but surely.

Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Super Girl usually has a more bubbly and feminine aesthetic, with blonde locks and a short skirt. But your version is androgynous... I would even say rock and roll. Was it freeing or scary to portray such a different version of the character?

I wasn’t scared. I always say Andy (Muschietti) picked me for a reason. I was only ever going to give my honest portrayal. Again, we’re back to the same conversation, it’s about representing the duality of human beings. It’s all about how she feels. She’s angry, and I think that’s why it’s so rock and roll. I love that way of describing her, I hadn’t heard it yet. It was freeing and exciting. I gave everything that I possibly could, that’s all I could do.

Do you feel like your sense of style has been affected by her grungier aesthetic?

I mean I still kind of have her hair, I have Andy to thank for that. I used to have luscious, long hair. And he asked me to cut it before I got the job. Even though I agreed on the spot, it was very hard for me at first. But I ended up kind of bodying it when I started letting it grow out in the back. And I love my hair now. I don’t see myself with long hair anymore. She gave me that and I am very grateful.

Full look Givenchy

Beyond acting you are also very passionate about creating music. Is that something we can expect from you in the future?

Absolutely. I mean, music is the whole reason I am here. Music is my heart and soul. The lyrics are all mine. I would say with acting I can become someone else but with music, I get to learn who I am as a person and the things that I love. And I’m getting there. It's almost there. But yes, it's absolutely something that I am going to do. Oh my god, I'm so excited. I can't wait. I'm so over keeping it in my Dropbox.

Throughout our conversation, you’ve emphasized identifying yourself with an artist. What does that label mean to you?

I just think I'm an artist in general. Art just kind of surrounds me. It inspires everything that I do. I don't know… I just exist and create whenever I can. It makes me feel grounded and connected to myself.

…

Interview by Pedro Vasconcelos

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Hair by Candice Birns

Make-Up by Cedric Jolivet

Casting by Imagemachine cs

EMBRACING THE SILLY

For Fin Argus, starting to do drag has been a great way to explore their comedy chops. “I’ve been a silly bitch my whole life, but it has been an amazing exercise of trying to hone in on that and figure out how to make jokes land,” says the actor and performer. Now, Argus is getting to take their funny self to the next level in the best company, starring in probably the most hilarious show of the summer, HBO Max’s The Other Two. In the absurdist showbiz comedy, Argus portrays the role of Lucas – a successful twinky actor whose extremely method acting approach gets in the way of his relationship with the show’s protagonist played by Drew Tarver. We caught up with Argus for our digital cover story to talk about getting a front-row seat to watch masters of comedy at work, their feelings about method acting and the series’ thoughtful commentary on what it means to be a queer actor today.

The Other Two has been my go-to show for laughs lately – it’s so good! Were you a fan of the series before you got a part in it?

 I watched the entire show in two nights right around when the second season came out. I binged the whole thing and I was obsessed. Everyone’s so funny in that show, it’s almost offensive. [Laughs] I’m so jealous of their comedic skills. But yeah, I was so excited to even just get the audition because I’ve never done full-on comedy before – being a part of it has been genuinely a dream come true and I had so much fun [doing it].

 There are so many comedy legends, as well as super talented newbies that are a part of this…

 Yeah, Molly Shannon is a powerhouse of a comedian. But then you also get to see newer actors like Drew [Tarver], who I do most of my scenes with. He is hilarious in every scene – I love the choices he makes as an actor.

 Your character on the show has a very over-the-top approach to method acting. Have you ever had a moment in your career when you also gave this technique a try?

 I think that method acting is intense. It’s not something that I would consciously choose to do because I feel like when you blur the lines between work and personal life, that tends to have some consequences on your relationships. It’s not something that I would normally get into and it’s also something that, honestly, I find a little cringy. So it was really fun to poke fun at it. That said, I have been told before that I have method tendencies. [Laughs]

 No way! [Laughs]

 And it’s not a conscious thing at all! So I don’t really know what to make of that because I already find that embarrassing. [Laughs] But you know, I’ve done some really heavy, dramatic roles and I’ve been put into situations where the line between work and personal life does get blurry – that’s sort of out of my control. So I would say that I’ve dipped a toe in the water of method acting but it’s not something that I would like to do on purpose again.

 What was that moment?

 Here’s the thing: if I’m going to build out a character, I want to understand the motivations of that character. For example, in Queer as Folk, my character was a drag queen. And I had never done drag, never watched Drag Race, I’d maybe been to one drag show. So it was really important for me to understand that culture and become a part of it in some way because I didn’t want to play a drag queen and have no idea what I was representing. I started going to a lot of drag shows and I started doing drag myself – and I can understand why someone might think that’s method – but it was also an excuse for me as a genderqueer person to just break myself open anyway. It’s hard as an actor to allow yourself to be the queerest version of yourself. Especially because I’ve always played the very ‘boy next door’ type of characters – the first character that I method play in The Other Two is sort of the character that I have played my entire life. That’s why Queer as Folk was an opportunity for me to break open. And I used that in my personal life. I was like, ‘You know what, this is a great opportunity to throw caution to the wind and dress the way I want to dress.’ So it’s kind of like, which came first: the chicken or the egg? I really wanted to play that character because I wanted to give myself permission to explore my queerness.

 Out of the many intense things that your character does on The Other Two, which one was the hardest to play seriously?

 I would say it would have to be the episode where I play the serial killer. Filming that was hilarious – I think I only had one line in the entire episode but I’m just around all the time in the background. I just had so much fun with the physical comedy of it all and I was cracking up and people in video village were cracking up as well. Also, it was the hardest one to take seriously because I felt really spooky and I didn’t want to scare people. [Laughs]

 In another episode, your character is a part of the play Eight Gay Men with AIDS: A Poem in Many Hours, which provided some very thoughtful commentary on what deems a ‘prestigious gay role’ in the industry. As a queer actor, what are your thoughts on this dynamic and what type of projects would you like to see more of when it comes to queer stories?

 Well, first and foremost, I appreciate that those types of stories are being told. We’ve seen a lot of it though and seeing queer trauma over and over again gets a little exhausting, especially as a queer person. So I feel like a lot of the time, those stories are revered by people that aren’t even a part of the community and are played by people that aren’t part of the community. That’s where it starts to rub for me because I want to see queer people in roles where their queerness is more incidental – where it’s not necessarily the story, it’s part of the character. I want to see queer people in genre cinema, whether it’s a psychological thriller or fantasy. I would love to play a little fairy with a magic wand, you know? [Laughs] That sounds great. But a lot of the queer stories that end up getting to production do have this element of heavy trauma. And I think it’s important to recognize that modern queerness is not entirely divested from the experience of trauma because that is a reality, but I think we’re missing on an opportunity to manifest a world in which queerness is more incidental and people are living within a wide range of experiences, whether it’s fun, romance, mystery, or horror. I hope that, going forward, queer people aren’t relegated to stories just about their trauma.

 

You said this was your first foray into full-on comedy. Is that something you would like to do more of in the future?

 Definitely. It’s something that I got into because I started doing drag and all my drag is very comedy-oriented – none of it is snatched and beautiful, it’s very silly, nasty and crunchy. I just appreciate having a platform to explore comedy right now because I’ve been a silly bitch my whole life, but it has been an amazing exercise of trying to hone in on that and figure out how to make jokes land. That’s why I felt really lucky to have worked on The Other Two and get a front-row seat to see how these hilarious actors, comedians, writers and directors work.

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Make-Up & hair by Anna Bernabe

THE EVERY-WOMAN

You probably know Bel Powley best in a comedy role. Storming the scene as an indie darling with Diary Of A Teenage Girl, her latest project comes full circle back to another famous diary – Anne Frank’s.

In A Small Light, Bel plays Miep Gies, the woman that hid the Franks and eventually would rescue the important diary. Still embed with her signature comedic flair, bringing out the normalcy and relatability in the historic drama, we spoke to Bel about the lessons learnt from such a vital role.

Full look Prada, locket Slim Barrett, tights Falke, shoes John Lawrence Sullivan

In a Small Light you play Miep Gies – how did you find preparing for a historic character rather than a fictional one?

It’s such an important part of history so you do feel a sense of responsibility. But I discovered my process is the same, whether it’s a real or a fictional person. Of course with a real person, there is more to draw from – there are so many movies about this part of history, and so many books; there's a plethora of material that I could have drawn. But the first thing I did was go to Amsterdam. The city really is a character in the show. Our showrunners gave me Miep’s cycle routes so I cycled her route to work or where she took Margot through the checkpoint. I’m also very lucky that she wrote an autobiography. You get a such a sense of her vivaciousness and cheekiness from reading that. I read it cover to cover several times.

But at the end of the day, even though it’s a true story we’re handed scripts and narritives. Once we started filming I kind of threw my research out and focussed on being present in the moment.

Left Full look Miu Miu, shoes GH Bass, necklace & earring Slim Barrett

Right Knit Contemporary Wardrobe, badges Nathan Henry, earrings Slim Barrett

Right Knit Contemporary Wardrobe, badges Nathan Henry, dress & shoes Molly Goddard, tights Falke, earrings Slim Barrett

I noticed the lack of accents in the show, I imagine that helped you focus more on the emotional performance?

Absolutely. And beyond even just the accents, one of the reasons that I wanted to be a part of this show was that they kind of threw out formal period language. So often with historical dramas the olden day speak can make you feel disconnected from it and as an actor it helps you connect so much better because you have freedom to improvise without worrying about accent and you don’t feel like its all in the past.

Dress Stefan Cooke, denim Frame, shoes Gucci, badge Nathan Henry, jewellery Slim Barrett

Jumper by Christopher Kane, skirt Pariser, earrings & pendant Slim Barrett

It definitely made it feel very present, serving as a reminder that these people were just like you and me…

Totally. That’s something we reminded ourselves of every day. Like yes, it was 1942 but it was modern times for these people. They were like times ‘I've got the newest washing machine, I'm wearing the newest fashions, I live in a really liberal country where there no way a crazy person like Hitler will ever be able to come into my country’. I think it was a really clever angle at a time when there are alarming parallels with what’s going on in our world today - like anti-Semitism is on the rise again, and there’s a ground war in Ukraine.

Full look Prada, locket Slim Barrett

What was the biggest thing you learnt from Miep?

When I read the script I was immediately thinking what would I do in this situation. She’s so relatable, she’s an every-woman, just a normal girl in her 20s falling in love, trying to find a job, you know. We haven’t put her on a pedestal or thought of her as this saintly hero you feel distanced from. And it’s the normalcy that was so important. It was her mantra; “Anyone, even an ordinary secretary, or housewife, or teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room.” And I think that's the message - you can be an everyday hero. She really believed it and maybe since doing this project, I do too.

Left Full look Prada, locket Slim Barrett

Right Shirt LEJ London, skirt MM6, socks Falke, earrings & necklace Slim Barrett

…

Interview by Lucy Harbron

Photography by Erika Denis Febles

Fashion by Nathan Henry

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Hair by Dayaruci at The Wall Group using Oribe

Make-Up by Naoko Scintu at The Wall Group using La Roche-Posay

Stylist’s assistants Rachel Allison & Su Krikken

LIFE LESSONS

Meeting a young creative full of inspiration, insight, and purpose, right as they’re hitting their stride, riding high with the constellations aligned, always brings a sense that great things are coming. That’s exactly what’s happening in the world of 26-year-old model, Dakota Lohan. Born into a biz family (his famous siblings are Ali and Lindsay), it was only a matter of time before he signed up to the dizzying heights of stardom, beginning with perfecting his best blue steel pose. We caught up with him to find out more…

Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, glasses Oliver Peoples

Your Instagram bio says, ‘Love everyone and never forget to love yourself’. What’s been the biggest learning experience so far on your journey of self-discovery and belief in yourself?

As compassionate as I am with people, I also want to be just as compassionate with myself. 

How has Instagram shaped your relationship with appearance, not just in terms of professionally being a model, but also in how you want to personally present yourself and be perceived by others?

I present myself authentically, because it’s important that people know that we can all relate to each other, and that we’re all human.

Left Jacket, top, pants, belt and shoes Versace

Right Full look Prada, sunglasses Oliver Peoples

Do you have any sound advice for young people that might be struggling with how to love themselves?

Know that you’re never alone and find your own escapisms that make you happy and fulfil you. 

Who is your hero?

My hero is my mom. She’s the strongest woman I know.

Full look Valentino, sunglasses Oliver Peoples

Speaking of strong women, you’ve followed in your sister Lindsay’s footsteps with acting, you obviously look up to her too then?

Yes, I think my sister showed me the ropes of acting, then I found my own fulfilment and love with it.

What are your personal and professional highlights of this year so far?

A professional highlight is doing the upcoming Netflix movie Irish Wish with my sister [due out in 2024], and a personal highlight is finding my own niche and connecting with my creative side.

Left Jacket, shirt and pants Giorgio Armani, silver bracelets Le Gramme

Right Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, glasses Oliver Peoples

Yes, let’s talk more about your creative passions. What have you learned so far about being a model?

That you have to accept that you don’t get cast for every shoot, but you have to be resilient and believe in yourself. 

Describe your style in three words?

 Unique, carefree and whatever is clean!

Who’s your favourite designer?

Prada, and I also love to find stuff in thrift stores. Doesn’t matter what designer they are as long as it’s cool!

Left Full look Prada, sunglasses Oliver Peoples

Right Jacket & pants Louis Vuitton, shirt Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t modelling?

Well, I’m currently involved with a company called Find Your Anchor which is a suicide prevention and mental health non-profit organisation, and I feel passionate about working with them.

What kind of things outside of work do you do, that make you happy?

 Hanging out with my friends, skating, and journaling.

Left Jacket Louis Vuitton, shirt Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Right Jacket, top, pants, belt and shoes Versace, socks Falke

Tell me your hopes and dreams for the future, and what are you most excited about….?

I’m excited about continuing to learn about myself. I really hope that whatever I achieve with acting and modelling can positively affect people in the future

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Alexander Foreman 

Fashion & production by Alexey Kazakov 

Hair by Tonya Pushkareva using Balmain Hair Couture 

Grooming by Tatiana S. Irving using YSL Beauty 

Casting by Josef Bronfenmajer

LONELY HEARTS

Although Wyatt Oleff is only 19 years old, he could be considered a speleologist of the human mind, to be more exact, of its darkest and most complicated corners. Since his beginnings more than a decade ago, the young actor has become known for performances in highly complex projects. His roles have always had a complicated tone, having to face hard dilemmas or deepest fears. The world has always been a cold and cloudy place for the lonely hearts that Wyatt has brought to life, but he has always managed to bring them tenderness and sensitivity. From the tormented Stanley Uris in both films of the adaptation of Stephen King’s It, to the sweet and complicated Charlie on Josh Schwarz and Stephanie Savage's new hit show, City on Fire, Wyatt continues to prove his courage with roles that revolve around the insecurities and fears that make us human. There is no challenge that he can resist or gloom that he cannot light, Wyatt Oleff is the most indomitable outsider of all..

Shirt Louis Vuitton, vest & pants Aknvas

You started your career very early, at only five years old. Could you tell me your first memory of a movie set?

I think my first movie might have been an independent called Someone Marry Barry. That experience was fun because I remember the point of my character in the movie was that I was being influenced by the main character who's this guy who says whatever he wants. So I was just saying a bunch of swear words, and the crew was asking my parents, “Can he say all this?” and they were like, “Yeah, it's fine.”


A lot of actors have always known that cinema was their true passion growing up. Having started so young, I am curious if you ever thought about putting acting aside and doing something different?

Absolutely. I think there's been plenty of moments in my life where I thought maybe this is just a phase or something, or I wasn't exactly sure if this was something I wanted to keep doing. That said, I don't think there was ever a point where I was like, “I'd rather be doing this.” Acting is the thing that I always really wanted to do and the thing that I wanted to continue doing. If there was something else I could do, I would hope to be some visual artist in terms of creating a comic book or a graphic novel or working on games or movies as storyboards or something still related to creating art.

Left Coat Loewe

Right Shirt Michael Kors, knit vest Aknvas, shoes Valentino, hat Fried Rice 

You worked during your high school years.  Did you ever feel like you were missing out on experiences that your friends or classmates were living?

There were a few summers that I missed out with school friends because I was going off and filming things, but I didn't really view those situations as missing out. It was more of me doing my own thing during the summer. And I'd say the thing I missed out most on was caused by the fact that I was working with adults from such a young age and that's who I was more used to hanging around. So I felt like there were a lot of times where I just didn't click with people my own age just because I just didn't talk to them as much. I don't want to sound pretentious here, but there's a sense of maturity that I was forced to have at a younger age that was required for me to work with adults and that just didn't translate to interacting with other kids.


No one better than someone who was a child actor can truly answer this question - do you think it is advisable to start working in this industry so young?

I think it has its advantages and its disadvantages. Starting so young, it works as almost a hobby where you can go to auditions and balance school with it and you're not stressing out because this isn't your income. It's not the only thing that you have going on, it’s not your career yet. If elements of it become ingrained into you early, like the auditioning process, it all just becomes a part of your life. It's easier to comprehend and easier to go to thousands of auditions. I think it's also tough because you are losing a part of your childhood and you are losing time that is usually spent at school or with your friends. Those are still things I did while I was on set, but it was just very different.

Shirt & short Dior Men, shoes Giorgio Armani 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start in the industry at such a young age?

The number one piece of advice I always try to give is to never give up. It’s cheesy, but it’s true. You're going to hear a lot of “noes”, and that's just the nature of the industry. Especially now, with the way that the landscape for auditioning keeps moving and changing. Now, it's just all auditions via self-tapes and there's going to be thousands upon thousands of people who are going to send in stuff. You just have to get used to sending in a tape and not hearing anything because that still happens to me. That is very discouraging, but it's just a part of the process and you have to keep getting back up. So being prepared for that, I think, is very important.


Do you think that working as an actor makes you better at managing rejections in your personal life?

In some cases, I believe so. I think the rejection that you get all the time from acting is not the same as asking out someone who you like. That's a very different rejection, but it's similar in terms of how vulnerable you are. You're showing a very naked version of yourself to a lot of people, and you're just giving them all you have. I think it helps in terms of your confidence and being able to take no for an answer and being able to bounce back from putting yourself out there and getting struck down for it. I think it has helped me a little bit.

Suit & shirt Aknvas, boots Louis Vuitton, sock Dior Men


You’re a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe - what is your relationship with the superhero genre? Are you a fan?

I definitely used to be a lot more. I think when I first got the part in Guardians of the Galaxy, I was so excited. I got to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that was awesome - it was everything I could have wanted as a kid. And I think as it's become such a mainstay genre, it's become even really something that is beyond it. It's just what defines a modern blockbuster and that’s half of all the movies that are successful in the box office right now. I think to an extent, it's gotten a little oversaturated. I've seen a lot of them. They were definitely more effective when I was younger and as I continue to get older, I feel like I'm almost growing out of it. But I still respect them. And there are always those ones that surprise you. Every time I hear good reception about one, I'm like, “Okay, yeah, I'll go see that.”


If you could choose to play any superhero, which one would it be?

I don't really want to go with the basic answer, but I think I will. Actually, I've heard people telling me “You would make a great Spiderman or Superman.” And, yeah, I think I would. I guess young Superman is still possible, but Spiderman is definitely taken. But I don't need the responsibility of being the face of a superhero. I don't know if I want that.


Oh my God! Spiderman and Superman! You got a thing for outsiders! 

Yeah, absolutely.


It’s time to talk about poor Stanley Uris, the character you played in It. Why do you think you were a good fit for that role?

I think I related to him on a lot of levels, especially his fears and his general insecurities. I think he plays that role in the group that's trying to make sure everyone stays out of trouble. I very much adapt to that role when I'm with my friends in real life as well, I try to hold them back from doing something stupid. Or at least I did. That's not me anymore. But definitely, at the time, that was why I related to him and fell into that character so easily.


It talks about our intimate fears. Stanley was a very fearful young man tormented by a Modigliani-inspired painting of a woman. Didn't participating in that movie make you wonder about your own fears?

Sure! I mean, all the characters in the script have their own fears that Pennywise turns into. And I think we all had a moment where we were like, I wonder what would mine be? It would probably be something like spiders.

Left Coat Loewe

Right Shirt & short Dior Men, shoes Giorgio Armani 

Spiders? Really?

I'd like to not be afraid of them. I'm trying to get that fear down and expose myself to it more.


Tell me about a movie that really, really scared you.

The ones that really scare me are the ones that lean more into psychological horror. Anything Ari Aster has done, for example. His movies are about keeping you on your toes and making you feel uncomfortable rather than just scaring you. Also, one of my favourite movies is The End of Evangelion, which is definitely a psychological horror that messed me up for a while. It changed my brain chemistry a little bit. 

Left Sweater Loewe, turtleneck, pants & boots MM6 Margiela, hat Fried Rice 

Right Shirt Louis Vuitton, vest & pants Aknvas

I feel you with The End of Evangelion! If I had to spend the rest of my life with a crying baby like Shinji Ikari, I would be terrified. 

Us by Jordan Peele is also a very good horror movie. The concept of the doppelganger coming to kill me kept me up at night for a little bit.


Horror cinema is experiencing a new golden age, would you like to continue exploring this genre in the future?

Yes! They're a lot of fun. It would be my answer to any genre, but I got to like the script and who's writing it and the director. It's got to be very intentional. I want something fresh, something new and something that really gets me going.


You have just released a new series City on Fire on Apple TV, the show developed by the creators of iconic teen dramas like The O.C. or Gossip Girl. Have you seen any of these series? What type of television interests you as a viewer?

They were kind of before my time, so I never got into them. But I did know of Josh and Stephanie [Savage]. They're legends in this industry and to be able to work with them was so cool. They're just so genuine, fun, sweet and so professional. 

Left Suit Dior Men, socks Acne Studios, sneakers Loewe 

Right Shirt Fried Rice, pants Valentino, turtleneck stylist’own, shoes Acne Studio


My God, you must watch The O.C. 

I actually did a bit. Josh invited me to do a table for a Variety reading where I read for Adam Brody's character. It was super fun. It was my first time watching the show and I was like, “Oh, okay. I see. I get the appeal and why it's popular.”


In City On Fire, you play a shy and lonely boy living in New York City. Have you ever felt like an outsider?

Oh, yeah, all the time. I think that's what attracts me to these characters. I’m very used to being an outsider and being different from how everyone else is feeling. I think that stays true as I get older and as I become more of an adult and people want to go out and party. That's very rarely something I want to do. I just find myself unsure because everyone else is doing this thing, so why can't I like doing that? It’s a feeling that still continues as I grow older. So playing this role is somewhat cathartic. The fact that the outsider is the protagonist makes me feel better about myself.


I think that we're living in a moment when being an outsider is a cool thing.

But you have to own it. You can't just be like, “Oh, I'm lonely and I'm an outsider”. You have to be like, “I'm an outsider, and that's fine, and that's cool, and I'm cool for that.” 


But I think if you make being an outsider the cool thing, it's going to lose its essence.

Oh, yeah. Because if everyone becomes an outsider, then no one becomes an outsider. But I don't think outsiders will get oversaturated. 

Coat & pants Louis Vuitton, shoes Loewe


City On Fire presents the problem of classism which is palpable in a city like New York, but also in Hollywood. After working as an actor for so many years, have you ever been in a situation where you felt there was a class system in the industry?

You have to build your reputation as you go throughout the industry. And the goal, of course, is to be at a point where people are offering you roles and you can just pick and choose what you want to do. But that's at the end of your journey. You have to climb this big ladder to get to a point where you're able to be respected and well-known enough to be wanted by a director. That's obviously the goal. I remember when I was younger going into auditions and the casting director would come out and say hi to someone next to me and they'd have a conversation. And then all of a sudden I would be intimidated because I didn't know this casting director and I didn't know what was going on. Then years later, I would be the one saying hi to that casting director and intimidating someone else. That's just the nature and cycle of things, I think.


I have a feeling you are a restless spirit. Do you like to explore other facets such as directing or writing a script? What can the audience expect from you in the coming years?

I love the creative process and I love creating stories. I think for me right now, I'm young and my brain is not fully developed and it's unsure of exactly the stories it wants to tell. But I would hope to be in five years or so in a place where I'm like, “Okay, I'm going to throw some stuff together and create a little movie.”

…

Interview by Juan Marti

Photography by Dorien

Styling by Marti Arcucci

Grooming by Davey Matthew

Casting by Image machine cs

Photographer’s assistant Joseph Whitley

Stylist’s assistant Kathya Lee

FORGOTTEN MASTER

When Alex Fitzalan first learned about the many achievements of Joseph Bologne, he could not believe that his figure has not been more widely celebrated. Bologne — also known as Chevalier de Saint-Georges — was a master violinist, fencer and composer of African descent whose work was initially championed in pre-French Revolution Paris and mostly destroyed after Napoleon came into power. Now, the artist’s life story is brilliantly highlighted in the new film Chevalier starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the titular role and Fitzalan as Joseph’s close friend and main supporter, Louis Philippe II. In our digital cover story, we spoke to Alex about the importance of bringing awareness to Bologne’s career, researching the tragic fate of his character and the film’s spectacular shooting conditions.

Full look Prada

The film is based on the incredible life story of Joseph Bologne. Have you heard much about him prior to being part of the film?

 No, I wasn’t aware of his story. Every single thing you read about him is so shocking to the point where you have to ask yourself, “How come this guy isn’t more widely known?” There’s so little and so much about him at the same time – there are not many sources that talk about him but the ones that do, they talk about him with such depth. We were lucky enough to have a group of historians working on the film who were really well-versed in his life, and just generally, life in France on the cusp of the French Revolution. I love history, so I found all of that stuff just so interesting and wonderful to research and learn more about.

Left Alex wear jacket Prada, pants Ami Paris, vintage shirt & waist coat from Fabrique Vintage I Billie wear shirt & skirt N21, shoes Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Right Jacket Dior Men

 

What amazed you the most about Joseph’s life?

 I think that the most surprising thing was the fact that he was so multifaceted. He was France’s first celebrity, and rightly so! He was a master fencer and master violinist who became one of the most brilliant composers of his time in France. He was considered Mozart’s contemporary. And then when Napoleon took power after the French Revolution, it was kind of like a step backwards. They reintroduced slavery and were the only nation in history to do so. So most of Joseph’s works were hunted down and burned, and he was effectively wiped down from history.

Full look Prada

 

That’s why it was so important to tell this story on screen.

 Definitely. I think that for everyone who was involved in this project, our main goal was to show his life and get his story out there – making people aware that his music was just as beautiful as Mozart’s and the only reason we don’t know about him is because of his skin colour.

Jacket & shirt N21, vintage pants from Fabrique Vintage.

 “Our goal was to show his life and get his story out there – making people aware that his music was just as beautiful as Mozart’s and the only reason we don’t know about him is because of his skin colour.”

You mentioned that you really love history. What was the research that you’ve done specifically about your character, Philippe?

 It’s so interesting because Louis Phillipe II was a real guy, but there’s so little information on what he was like. So it was fascinating to marry the two concepts of playing him – approaching the portrayal of him as if he was a fictional character, but at the same time also considering the source material that we were able to look into. He had a huge interest in the arts and that’s how he met Joseph – he would host these lavish nights and invite talented artists to perform during them. He was also a really fascinating guy because he grew up with a lot of privilege but decided to give it all up, which was such an interesting quirk for someone to do at that point in time – it speaks volumes to his selfless nature. He denounced his title in the middle of the revolution because he was an avid believer in democracy and equality. But even though he did that, he was still beheaded because he was a royal and had a claim to the throne. He spent his life campaigning for the rights of the individual and then once that had been achieved, he ended up losing his own life.

Left Alex wear coat & pants Ami Paris, vintage shirt from Fabrique Vintage I Billie wear full look Prada

Right Tank top Ami Paris

This was your first foray into period cinema. Which part of this experience has been the most incredible to witness?

 Definitely shooting in the incredible interiors. They created these insanely realistic sets in the studio that were created specifically for the movie, full of this gorgeous sprawling marble and intricate fountain systems. We also shot a lot on location in Prague – for example, we shot in these 15th-century bohemian castles that are still maintained meticulously. It was a really special thing to be able to walk around these spaces and just exist in them. Actually, one of the coolest things was being able to shoot in a Baroque theatre from the 17th century. They were the most popular style of theatre back then and there were over 2000 of them at the time, but now, there are only 4 of them left in the world. And the reason for that is because there was no electricity, so to light the stage, they had to use a huge number of candles with a metallic back plate to reflect the light back. And as the whole thing was made of wood…

Coat Prada, vintage shirt & waist coat from Fabrique Vintage

 They all burned down!

 Yeah, they all burned down. It’s absolutely mental.

 

Most of your scenes in the film are with Kelvin Harrison Jr. who plays Joseph – what was it like to work with him and what do you admire the most about him as an actor?

 His work ethic was amazing. He would wake up so early, do fencing, violin and dialect training, and then get to set. He just had the most insane dedication to this that I’ve ever seen anyone have. And it was just so inspiring to see someone so in love with what they do – it reignited that love for myself and made me think, “Wow, I want to do that as well!” He really dives deep and you can see his hard work on the screen.

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Joe Brennan

Fashion by Alex Bainbridge

Hair & skin by Fernnando Miranda

Production by Rebecca Deasy

Stylist’s assistant Billie Bull

Photographer’s assistant Jun Yang Chin

SURRENDERING CONTROL

Since playing a faculty member on Quinta Brunson’s delightful mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, theatre and TV actor Chris Perfetti can’t help but think about the teachers that had a profound influence on him as a young student. “I especially remember the one that handed me the Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie,” says Perfetti. “I think of my life as before and after that moment.” In his charming portrayal of Jacob ​​— a History teacher who’s not afraid to embarrass himself for a greater cause – Perfetti creates a heartfelt tribute to the profession that is often undervalued and most certainly underpaid, and he does it while causing many laughs in between.

Short Prada

Abbott Elementary is really a show that people can’t get enough of. In your view, what about its subject matter and tone created by Quinta Brunson has resonated so greatly with the audiences?

 I feel like the specificity of the show allows people to connect with their own memories of that time in their lives. We all know this place. We all had those figures in our life that were in some way formative, whether for good or bad. And so, I think that the show being so – to use a term that I have coined – “Quinta-ssentially Philadelphia” and its mockumentary genre both really lend themselves to hopefully letting people forget at some point that it’s a TV show and trying to make them believe that Abbott is a real place.

Left Full look Kenzo

Right Vest Louis Vuitton

 What has your elementary school experience been like? Do you remember any teachers from that time that you either really loved or loathed?

 I have many teachers that I loathed and loved, some are one and the same. [Laughs] This project has been a real karmic, cosmic reckoning for me because grade school was a very mixed bag. I struggled for the majority of it and I knew very early on that regurgitating facts that didn’t interest me at the time is not going to work. Elementary school, middle school and high school were always for me a stage to extract the gold that I knew was there, largely from English and Science teachers – learning about the world, as opposed to learning how to do trigonometry. 


And so, now that I’m playing a teacher, I can’t help but think of all those people who went out on a limb for me. One of them that I especially remember is the one who handed me a Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie. I think of my life as before and after that moment and I think about the content I was consuming as before and after that moment. There were a lot of people who held me to very high standards, higher standards than I was holding myself to. And they definitely kicked open the doors for me and allowed me to experiment and follow my own interests, which is an incredible privilege. I’m sure there are also a lot of teachers whose lives I made hell but to be fair, they made mine the same.

Full looks Kenzo

Left Full look Prada

Right Full look Kenzo

 Which of the teachers from Abbott do you wish you were taught by?

 That’s really interesting, I’ve never really thought about that. I could probably make a strong case for any of them, but the first one that came to mind – and I think a therapist would probably have a field day with this as some sort of a narcissistic fit – is Jacob. He’s someone who is so eager, so willing to embarrass himself, and in many ways, willing to put himself on the chopping block. And I think that seeing a teacher like that, and seeing an adult be so vulnerable, would have really rocked me as a kid.

Shirt Bluemarble

 Prior to starring in the show, you predominantly worked in theatre. Stepping from the stage into the TV set, what were the biggest adjustments that you had to do as an actor?

 Coming from the theatre world, I think that the biggest thing for me has been learning to surrender control. In theatre, the actor is so much more in charge of storytelling  - you have an audience in the palm of your hand, and if the writing is good, you are exposing people to the best and worst days of somebody’s life. In TV, the story is told by the editors, the network, the studio and executives. And I feel very lucky that our show has been cared for and crafted so well!

Vest Louis Vuitton, pants & shoes Loewe

Do you have a dream role or play to be a part of?

No. I think every actor wants to play Hamlet at some point, and then you either continue to want to play Hamlet or decide that it's never going to happen, or decide that you actually don't want to play Hamlet. I feel like I've been so lucky in the last 10 years, doing plays on Broadway and off-Broadway, as well with the roles that I've had in film and TV, to be able to work on new material. So I would love to believe that the part that I'm dying to play hasn't been written yet. There's nothing more satisfying than working on a new thing because you get to assume so much about that character that nobody else can. So no, I don’t want to play Hamlet.

Full look Kenzo

…

Discover the full story in our upcoming SS23 WILDSIDE Issue

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by JJ Geiger

Fashion by Haley Tju

Grooming by Dustin Von Osborne

Stylist’s assistant Eric Osovsky

PORTRAYING THE PAIN BEHIND PRIVILEGE

For Jack Farthing, starring in HBO and BBC’s new show Rain Dogs has been an exercise in exploring the nuances of entitlement. In Cash Carraway’s darkly funny series shining a light on modern class and sex inequalities, the British actor takes on the role of Selby - a self-proclaimed “classical homosexual’ with a hefty allowance (and a criminal record), who after a brief stint in prison comes back into the lives of his best friend Costello and her daughter to rescue them after they become homeless. Despite many advantages and a seemingly endless safety net, Selby is a deeply unhappy person whose loneliness leads him to addiction and violent outbursts - risking losing the two people that he cares about the most.  Shortly after the show’s premiere, we spoke to Jack about Selby’s timeless charisma, the show’s depiction of a non-conventional family dynamic and the joy of acting with his co-star, Daisy May Cooper.

Left Top & blazer AMI Paris, pants Wooyoungmi, necklace Sweet Lime Juice

Right Full look Alexander McQueen

Why did you want to be a part of this project? What about Cash Carraway’s writing and vision spoke to you?

 A lot of things! It’s the kind of writing that leaps off the page – the way it feels when you watch the show is definitely similar to how you feel when you read the scripts. It feels uniquely alive and alight, raw, truthful and confrontational in a really exciting, creative way. She writes these big characters that feel like mountains to climb for an actor.

Full look S.S.Daley

 

Your character, Selby, is certainly larger than life. How did you approach the process of building him?

 Cash was very specific in the script – she introduces characters in a very chosen way. The first description of Selby said that he’s a “boarding school boy educated on Bret Easton Ellis and Jean-Luc Godard.” That gives you immediately this particular picture of the person and you have three points of reference as to who he might be. Then, along the way, there are just so many more breadcrumbs revealed. I loved the idea that he was timeless in comparison to Costello [the character played by Daisy May Cooper], who feels very much located in London of today. Selby has always felt to me like he’s somewhere else, like he’s from another time. So I looked back a lot to old charismatic movie stars and that kind of extravagant danger that people like, for example, young Peter O’Toole had.

Left Shirt, jeans & coat Fendi, shoes Andersson Bell 

Right Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

 

Selby is in a very privileged position – no matter how recklessly he acts, he always has a safety net there waiting for him. What did you find most interesting about exploring this situation?

 Materially, he’s very safe, but emotionally, he’s in great danger. He’s been given everything and nothing by his parents. He’s been given this allowance to leave his mom alone, she doesn’t want anything to do with him. So what was the most interesting for me was the fact that it’s a stereotype that’s broken down. He’s absolutely privileged, no doubt about it. But then you look into what privilege means in his particular circumstance and you see that there’s so much more going on and that he’s as bereft as he’s privileged. He has no idea how to love, he’s dealing with addiction. He’s got all sorts of demons that he’s fighting. In the same way that Costello is not just a single mom living below the poverty line – she’s the most unique and wide-ranging character.

Left Shirt Guess Original, blazer & pants Paul Smith, cardigan Wood Wood 

Right Full look Versace

 

What do you think is at the basis of this desire that Costello and Selby have to create a family together?

 They’re somehow cosmically aligned. They are from such different walks of life, they meet at university, they fall in platonic love with each other and they just see each other so clearly. They share a cruel outlook on the world. They share their loneliness. But they come together and form an absolute cosmic attachment that is so intense that it’s toxic. From Selby’s perspective, he needs her so much that he hates her, his dependency becomes like a wound. He’s fighting not to love her in the way that he does because it’s controlling his life, but she is everything. She and Iris are his entire world. It’s an incredibly complicated and thorny thing that I don’t think either of them really understands. They just feel it.

Left Coat Pronounce, jacket & pants S.S.Daley, shoes AMI Paris 

Right Full look Louis Vuitton

 

Daisy May Cooper is such a force in the show. What was it like to get to share this experience with her?

 She’s a beautiful person to be with, but also a beautiful person to work with. I think we found really good professional chemistry and brought the right things out of each other. The show goes into some pretty dark and vulnerable places and I think it would be very hard to do it with someone who wasn’t looking after you. And so I hope that we both offered that to each other – I certainly feel like she did to me. She also just leads with humour – whatever the scene is, you know that there’s going to be joy and light with her. She doesn’t take herself seriously but she takes the work very seriously. I think what’s wonderful about Daisy in this show is that you are really seeing something different  – of course, you’re seeing the incredible comedy expertise that she’s known for, but you’re also seeing something that is so spectacularly vulnerable. I think she’s fabulous in it. And I think that people who think they know Daisy as a performer will be surprised and delighted by what she’s doing on screen.

Left Full look Versace

Right Top, blazer, shoes AMI Paris, pants Wooyoungmi, necklace Sweet Lime Juice

 

The show presents a refreshing take on working-class stories - what to you makes it different from the way these experiences tend to be depicted on screen?

 Something that Cash has said from the beginning is that she wanted this story to not be told with pity, but rather with joy and with a kind of punk and loud spirit to it. And I think the creators have really succeeded in bringing that. It’s also confrontational – I hope that people will have conflicting feelings when they watch it because that’s entirely the point. You are entertained and you are made to laugh, but you are also being presented with a very stark truth that is absolutely real. 

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Diego Hernández

Fashion by Steven Huang

Casting by Imagemachine CS

Grooming by Petra Sellge at The Wall Group

Stylist’s assistant Damini Rehal

FAST LANE

It’s almost the end of the road in Fast X, the tenth film in the Fast & Furious saga, one of Hollywood’s most popular global movie franchises that’s all about family, street racing and the occasional heist. Fast X is confirmed to be the first of the final two road trips, revving up more full-throttle action and emotion when it hits cinemas in May. Reprising his role as fan favourite Han Lue, is American Korean actor Sung Kang, and we caught up with him over zoom (along with his two super cute dogs), to talk new cast members, stunts, and the funny places fans pop up to share their love of cars with him.

Full look Louis Vuitton

So Fast X, the tenth film is sure to be this summer’s Blockbuster movie. Without any spoilers, what are you most excited for people and the diehard fans to see with this penultimate instalment?

A couple of things really. One is that we’re making this film more grounded and more car centric, so I know the original fans will be happy with the action sequences as they’re now more stars of the film than they used to be. The second is we just have new and wonderful cast members, with Jason Momoa and Brie Larson, so the world of the fast family is expanding and I’m very excited about it all!

This film is shot in so many great new places and has a 20-plus-year story arc to conclude. Given that these films have evolved the way they have in terms of stunts and locations and the cast, does anything still surprise you when you read a script?

The stunts always surprise me, because there is such an amount of research that goes into blowing up a bridge or racing down the side of a dam, or going into space, and how to translate that on film and connect to the story. Even though the scenes in this film are more grounded, they still become more fantastical with each movie that comes out, and it merits it to a degree, because of the cast that are blessing us with their contribution.

What also surprises me, is that in the early days there was a slight prejudice that Fast & Furious was just a B-action flick, and it didn’t merit big thespians on board. But today, it’s become part of popular culture and so many generations have grown up with the films and in time, if it ages properly, it will transcend the initial stereotypes. I heard through the grapevine that Helen Mirren’s grandkids are huge fans of the franchise, and she’s part of this movie along with other Oscar winners, and that’s amazing, from where we’ve come from. It blows my mind to see all these thespians on sets, and that we’re in this league of actors. Aside from being part of all the action, as an actor it’s a big deal for me to be rubbing shoulders with people who are so good at their craft.

Left Shirt Goodfight, pants Versace, shoes Kenzo

Right Top, sunglasses & jewelry Versace, pants Giorgio Armani

You mention that things will be more grounded in this film, and this is a franchise that lives and dies on its fantastic action set pieces and the cars obviously.  I read that this one will also return to its street racing roots. Can you give us a teaser of any specific stunt moments we can look forward to?

Well Han is drifting through the streets of Rome and doing some awesome car stunts, so for my part, it’s going to be pretty spectacular!

Ok, so no spoilers, but it appears as though fans will get a resolution to the storyline between Han and Deckard Shaw, as in the movie trailer you look like you’re both teaming up.  Are the pair putting their differences aside because you’ve previously described your character as a "lover... not a fighter”?

You’ll have to see, I can’t give that away yet!! We did get together and we do discuss something…. haha!

So, what’s your favourite part about playing Han then?

The whole ethos of what Han is and what he represents. First and foremost, it’s being part of the FAST family outside of the movie, and when you step back, to see you are part of a franchise that’s been speeding along after two decades. To realise you’re a part of this Hollywood legacy, it’s amazing.

Coat Louis Vuitton, shirt & gloves Kenzo, pants & shoes Giorgio Armani, sunglasses Gentle Monster

You mention the family, which as you said has expanded with this movie. What do you think it is about these car obsessives that makes them role models for audiences, who might see themselves in those characters?

Well Han drives cool cars and does cool things, but he also maybe represents their face, their cadence, their life ideology on screen, and I get to be someone’s brother or friend or ideal boyfriend, and that’s pretty special, to be able to walk in his shoes outside the movie. Because of Han and Fast & Furious, I’ve been given this symbolic garage key to everyone’s garage, and that doesn’t just represent the physical car in the garage, but their life, their story, their secrets, passions, dreams, and it’s a true honour.

Do you get lots of people wanting to share their passions for cars with you? Is there a favourite fan encounter?

You know, I would love to take someone with me on my daily stroll and see the interactions I have with folks that are into cars. Folks that have grown up with this passion for automobiles, whether it be a super car, or exotic car or the family car that they took trips with their father and mother in. They often stop me and tell me, ‘Hey, I had this old classic car and my dad and grandfather worked on it together and we also put a turbo on it.’ I can be in a bodega and suddenly have a conversation with someone about cars and be able to connect on a simple level which is not from fan to celebrity, but just as fellow automobile enthusiasts.

I can set a tone and pass forward a positive experience, or be a douchebag and be like, ‘Yeah whatever, that’s nice for you, but I gotta go.’ It’s a reminder of the opportunity to connect with people globally, and even sometimes in the most inconvenient places like the bathroom!

Shirt Goodfight, pants Versace, shoes Kenzo

No way?

Oh yeah, I’ll be in the stall, and this guy will be like, ‘Oh hey, I have an old Datsun,’ haha!

Tell me about your own car memories, and what was the first car you owned?

I have so many amazing car memories, and some of my most important memories as a young man, were when I was around cars. My father gave me the family car as a gift for my 16th birthday, and I was so excited, bragging to all my friends that I’m going to start cruising with these guys. Then on my birthday, I asked my dad for the keys, and he said, ‘It’s your car son, but do you have insurance?’ I didn’t even know what it was! So, the reality of having that dream burst like that was hard, but now I recall it as him teaching me a lesson about the importance of needing insurance and being responsible.

Also, I have memories of experiences with my best friend’s first beetle bug Volkswagen, that was a piece of junk that he inherited, and we worked on it, so we could take a road trip together. Just that bond and the friendship and the challenges of rebuilding a car and then the trip itself, what an amazing memory to have, that shared experience around a car. It’s in my novel of amazing life experiences as a young person.

Right Coat Louis Vuitton, shirt & gloves Kenzo, pants & shoes Giorgio Armani, sunglasses Gentle Monster

Left Top, sunglasses & jewelry Versace, pants Giorgio Armani

I bet you were listening to some epic tunes on that road trip too, any that bring back the emotion and nostalgia for those days?

Yes, this obscure song called ‘Friends’ by UTFO. We would put it in the cassette player and just play it on repeat and sing along to it! Every time I think of my friends or a road trip, that song comes into my head.

Once Fast & Furious comes to the end of the road, what would you love to do next, is there a dream project or actors you would love to work with?

Gary Oldman, I would love to go head-to-head with him on screen. I would also like to enter the comedy world, there’s something to be said about being on set where the endorphins are going because everyone’s getting a good chuckle!  Will Ferrell is also someone I would love to come over to the Fast &Furious world, he would be a great villain! Long last brother of Dom, haha!

I love acting, but I would love to have more opportunities to expand my creative world, and maybe those opportunities I seek are not available for someone who looks like me at this current time. So instead of taking a backseat approach and blaming the status quo, the only true thing I can control is being proactive. That’s why I directed my first feature which I’m really excited about and I’m currently working on another one, and I’ve been in town pitching the story and the team I’ve assembled. I’ve been blessed to work with so many amazing crew members and actors and the unsung heroes in our business, that are the foundation of a great movie and why our industry is so great. Now I would like to take those learning experiences and share them with other folks. As a director I also have more control of the project, and the tone and ethos that you set on set.

Left Full look Louis Vuitton

Right Top, sunglasses & jewelry Versace

You’ve just inspired everyone championing inclusivity and representation. As an Asian-American actor and role model for so many, how important has the storytelling been to you in the projects you’ve worked on, to reinforce that sense of belonging and pride in your identity?

I didn’t really know what to do with being someone who is of any type of influence or be able to represent my heritage and my face, and for my people to look at me and see themselves and want to emulate the values they see on screen. I didn’t know what the purpose was of that, or why I should be responsible for that. But now as I get older, one’s purpose and priority changes and I have to ask myself, is my legacy just doing a bunch of movies for my resume? Or is my legacy those quiet individual moments when I do meet people in passing, and I get to talk to them on a human level, and represent a person of colour, my family name, the husband, friend or colleague I want to be, the person that I want to be? I hope I can influence and leave a positive legacy for this world. It’s an honour and every day I feel like I’m going to fail, so it forces and urges me to better myself every day.

Finally, I must ask you about those two cute fluffy friends in the background on our zoom today, you love dogs as much as me then?

Yes!! I have three-year-old Deh-ji which means pig in Korean, he’s a golden doodle and then we have the little guy, Kool-off, he’s the baby. They’re always next to me when I’m zooming on camera, and they even have a car dog bed, so they’re part of the FAST family too!

…

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Nico Amarca

Hair /Grooming by Candice Birns

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Photographer’s assistant Carter Whitaker

LEADING MAN

Imagine if Netflix’s Regency-era, bodice ripping, ballgowns to die for, thirsty pearl-clutching hit show, Bridgerton, had a spin-off… well it does! Queen Charlotte, created by Shonda Rhimes, is a love story for the ages, whisking us back to the very start of the young Queen's rise to power and her marriage to King George, revealing the sparks, the secrets of the past and how their betrothal caused a societal shift.

British actor Corey Mylchreest plays the dishy young King George in this latest genre-busting period romance, set against a backdrop of decadent sets, lavish locations and misty landscapes to captivate us, just like the world of the Ton. We caught up with Mylchreest, who previously featured in 2021's short drama Mars and appeared as Adonis in Netflix’s The Sandman in 2022, to chat about dancing in stockings and heels in one of the hottest shows of the season, which will surely crown him as the next leading man we’ll be swooning over.

Left Sweater Givenchy, pants MSGM, necklace Sweetlimejuice & shoes Versace

Right Full look Hermès

Let’s first say, dishy young George is receiving quite a bit of attention in all the hysteria around this new series, Queen Charlotte. No pressure then?

I know!! Although that pressure came pretty late doors to be honest, as Bridgerton had passed me by somehow, I never watched it. But when I did realise how behemoth the universe of Bridgerton is, I was already on the job with this series, so it was a bit of a wakeup call!

It’s a love story at its heart, and we get a rare insight into the lives of Ton’s super elite regal lovers. You and India Amarteifio, [who plays the young Queen Charlotte] did a chemistry read before filming. Any sizzling secrets on how to build that on-screen spark?

Well, the intimacy coordinators on the show, (Lucy Fennell and Lizzy Talbot) made sure the intimacy scenes were choreographed so beautifully and so safely, and there were as few people on set as could be. Yet still, I remember feeling completely out of body, and so vulnerable, because it’s embarrassing getting your kit off in front of people you don’t know. But by the time we did the last intimate scene, India and I trusted each other so much, because not only had we done these semi-awkward scenes, but by then we had also cried in front of each other, and filmed incredibly vulnerable moments, and also talked about the stresses of the job off-camera. So, I think trust is the most important thing, and friendship definitely helps too.

T-Shirt Bluemarble, pants MSGM

We must talk obviously about the many pearl-clutching moments in Bridgerton. Will this prequel deliver the same thirsty moments for fans?

Yes! But I would say what’s beautiful about this series is that there’s not one intimate scene where it feels like it’s just thrown in. They all reveal something about the character, either George or Charlotte, or about the story, or their reaction to something that’s happened. I think it’s always progressing the story onwards and it’s like that in terms of a fight scene, or dance choreography, it’s always a duologue without any dialogue. This series goes deeper into character and a deeper landscape.

Left Hoodie Bluemarble, jacket Solid Men

Right Vest AMI Paris, shirt Miu Miu, pants Ferragamo & shoes Versace 

That depth of narrative is crucial because we don’t really know much about King George from the original Bridgerton series, aside from his illness, which is well documented in history. Can you tease us with a taste of what’s to come for the young monarch?

I guess very simply, George is a very private person, but he’s also a loving, caring and gentle person, with hobbies that he dives into, whether it’s science or agriculture or farming, anything he can get his hands on and be physical with that escapes this duty to the crown. You see the crippling beginnings of this affliction that he’s victim to, and he suffers daily from this crushing despair at the hands of what he’s dealing with. What we see in the show, is when you have those inner demons, and you love someone utterly, it forces you to look in the mirror and see what you’ve been hiding from, and fight them head on, to open up and let someone in entirely. Through that overcoming, we start to see the love story between George and Charlotte really flourish.

Left Hoodie Bluemarble, jacket Solid Men, beanies Dior Men

Right Full look Dior Men

So how did you draw inspiration and prepare for the role?

I started with research and dove straight into the book by Andrew Roberts about George, which is the first biography to be published after 2015, when the Royal libraires in the UK released 20,000 pages of George III’s personal journals and letters. They were a revelation in terms of finding out about the man that he was, and I listened to lots of podcasts and watched some of the other depictions. I would say the script is also a brilliant help because it was clear we were not making a historical documentary, and I really fell in love with the guy that I was reading about, and I wanted to honour him in moments that I could. As an actor it’s also about imaginative placement and putting yourself in that person’s shoes, and spending a day in that life, and finding a grounding of understanding within myself and then imaginatively pushing that boundary until I feel like I’m his shoes.

Left Sweater Givenchy & necklace Sweetlimejuice

Right Coat Andersson Bell, shirt Wood Wood, pants Ferragamo & shoes AMI Paris 

It helps working alongside such a great ensemble cast too. What’s been your favourite thing about that experience?

I’m really proud of my work in this show, but to be honest, there wasn’t a day where I didn’t feel a healthy jealousy! You know, watching the others and thinking, ‘wow, you are just absolutely incredible’, and that’s now something I want to grow towards. I felt that about the friends I made, like India and Sam Clemmett (who plays young Brimsley) and Freddie Dennis, who now lives across the hall from me, who plays Reynolds. Having watched it too, Michelle Fairley is phenomenal, and I was a huge fan of hers beforehand. I was really floored by everyone’s performances on a daily basis, and it was some of the best months of my life.

Sweater Givenchy, panst MSGM, necklace Sweetlimejuice

What about being on those fabulous sets and locations, it must have been quite exciting to see them all. Did you have a favourite?

Absolutely, every single day, whether it was on location or one of the sets, the attention to detail and the props and the set design were just incredible. Honestly, 95% of our jobs as actors were done, because if you stick any Joe Bloggs in those brilliant sets with those props, anyone will have enough imagination to believe that they’re really there in that moment.

Towards the end of filming, we had just done a scene in a new set, and I walked past the Observatory, and it was being demolished, and it was so palpable, as I had scenes in there where I had screamed and cried and laughed, and it was like saying goodbye to a home almost. Location-wise it has to be Blenheim Palace, my first day shooting and last shots were there, and it was just beautiful.

Right Full look Hermès

I imagine wearing full Regency costume helped inform your performance as George too, with that physical feeling of being in his shoes.

It was amazing and at times uncomfortable too, as I’m not used to wearing heels or stockings! But then George has a very complicated relationship with duty, and there is a crushing sense of pressure there, and for him, those clothes represent that, they are a lived-in, tangible, sense of feeling of that pressure. So, if for a moment, me, as the actor, says ‘oh I feel uncomfortable’, then fricking brilliant, lean into that, and accept that feeling, because George had that relationship too.

Not just uncomfortable to wear, but also completely useless for the modern day, as there’s nowhere to put an iPhone in those high-waisters…

No there is not, ha-ha! It actually became really annoying, because I always listen to music before takes, and I would have to find somewhere to throw my headphones and phone and hope that I didn’t break it against those Regency cobbles!

What tunes were you listening to in between takes then?

The theme to Succession, ‘Adagio in C Minor’, which is a variation on a theme, without drums or piano. I remember watching the series, and in one shot which I paused, there was this frame of Jeremy Strong, who played Kendall Roy, and I just looked at him and thought, ‘that is George’. That resignation to the shame and crushing, oppressive power of duty and your bloodline and your role, and he just looked destroyed. I actually printed that picture off and put it on my character book. So, I would listen to that every day as I put on George’s ring, which is on his pinkie finger on his left hand.

Left Vest AMI Paris, shirt Miu Miu, pants Ferragamo

Right Hoodie Bluemarble, jacket Solid Men, denim Calvin Klein

Did you have to learn any new skills for this series too, such as how to dance in stocking and heels, for one of those posh balls?

I’m not a dancer, and that’s very obvious on screen, but that’s made even more clear by how beautiful a dancer India is! Our choreographer, Jack Murphy, was brilliant though, and made sure every dance scene progressed a story, so the character had a relationship with every single moment and mood. I would say in terms of skills, the most fun thing to learn was how to make the sound that makes a horse stand up! I got to work with this horse called Mufasa, which is a pretty cool name, who in one scene, has collapsed and is tangled in rope. The horse rangers were fun to work with too. George loved horses and animals, so again, everything he loved, I really through myself into.

Left Coat Andersson Bell, shirt Wood Wood, pants Ferragamo & shoes AMI Paris 

Right Full look Hermès

So, you’ve gone from doing dark fantasy in The Sandman to a fancy period drama. What’s next, what would be the dream role with a dream director?

Anything with Christopher Nolan, he was a god for me growing up, and the worlds he creates really push the boundaries of our imagination. They’re not necessarily always the real world, but at the same time, in all the characters and the humanity, there’s no sacrifice of the study of the interpersonal, and the work between people and character. It’s all truth, studied and so subtle and nuanced, and yet huge and it all exists in this world which almost pushes into fantasy.

I was into fantasy and sci-fi growing up, like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. I’m a bit of a nerd, and as a kid, they were the things that pushed my imagination, and made me wish I was in that world. For me, Nolan activates all my childhood glee and neurological study and it’s the perfect balance.

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Steven Huang

Casting by Imagemachine CS

Grooming by Josh Knight at Caren using Typology for skin and Sam Mcknight for hair

Fashion assistant Amelia Cappi

COMING FROM THE PLACE OF KINDNESS

Phil Dunster says that one of the greatest things about his series Ted Lasso is its depiction of protagonists that are striving to be better versions of themselves. “It’s a show where characters are given the opportunity to be kind,” he explains. “And whilst they don’t choose it every time, I think it’s an oddly novel thing to see on screen.” In the Apple TV hit, the British actor takes on the role of Jamie — a top player for the fictional AFC Richmond — whose laddiest of lads demeanour and hilarious one-liners won him a legion of fans across the globe. We caught up with Phil to chat about the joys of playing the Tartt, his love for football (he’s a Wimbledon supporter for life) and a top moment from his recent visit to The White House.

Shirt Johnlawrencesullivan, pants & shoes Dunhill 

Ted Lasso has been such a global phenomenon over the past three years. Why, in your view, the series has resonated so greatly with the audiences?

People just love a good tash, I guess? One of the things I reckon it’s down to is people seeing a leader who leads by empowering rather than restricting those around him. Also, it’s a show where characters are given the opportunity to be kind, and whilst they don’t choose it every time, I think it’s an oddly novel thing to see on screen - people striving to be kinder versions of themselves.

Left Full look Miu Miu

Left Vest Ami Paris

Your character, Jamie, is going through a really big journey on the show - as an actor, what have been the biggest joys of portraying his arc?

Definitely the moments where, before, Jamie would have acted out of fear, greed or shame I got to play with the moments where the (BRILLIANT) writers showed him acting from a place of accountability, kindness or support. But the fun thing is that he doesn't always choose the ‘nicest’ path. He would still revert back to his old ways at times and that made him feel like a real boy.

Left Top & jacket Wooyoungmi, pants Johnlawrencesullivan, boots Andersson Bell 

Right jacket Ferragamo

And what have been the biggest challenges with playing him?

I think the fact that he’s really cool, and I’m not being TOTALLY self-effacing here. He’s from a completely different world from me and grew up with totally different pressures. I wanted to do his personal history justice and not paint with broad brush strokes, and to be honest, it was only really until season 3 that I found I could trust my instincts with him more and more. It took a while for that to become more ingrained in how I play him. But yeah, he dresses in cool clothes and drives cool cars.

Full look Versace

You said recently that being on the show has strengthened your already big love for football - what about this sport speaks to you? Which team are you supporting?

AFC Wimbledon. I support them because they’re “By faaar the greatest team the world has ever seen.” I mean the football they play is pretty shoddy at the minute but I just love the club… The long-form stories in football is what makes it so exciting and lovable. The underdogs, the rivals, the Davids vs. Goliaths… It’s also the variables that mean that we tune in week after week. The fact that football is totally unpredictable is what makes it so enjoyable.

 

You also said that you have to thank the show editors a lot for making you seem like a good player. That said, is there a football skill that you’re able to do that you’re pretty proud of?

I learned how to flip-flap which is a great move made famous by Ronaldinho (Marcus Rashford likes to use it these days too).

Left Vest Ami Paris, pants Johnlawrencesullivan, boots Andersson Bell 

Right Full Kenzo, necklace Sweetlimejuice

It’s hard not to notice that you and Brett Goldstein have a great bond both as your characters and off-camera. What do you love about Brett - why is he a great person to work with and a great pal?

He’s great to work with because he always acting in service of the scene. He’ll never try and ‘win the scene’ like some actors can do. He’s very giving. Both as a fellow actor and a lover.

Left Jacket Ferragamo

Right Top & jacket Wooyoungmi, pants Johnlawrencesullivan, boots Andersson Bell 

I saw that you recently visited The White House with the cast. What are some of the moments from that day that you will remember forever? 

My favourite moment was probably when we were saying goodbye to the President and Kola Bokinni said, “Yeah, yeah - cheers,” and the look of realization that washed over his face. He turned to me and said “Bruv… I just said cheers to the president.” Looool!

Left Top & jacket Wooyoungmi, pants Johnlawrencesullivan, boots Andersson Bell 

Right Full look Louis Vuitton

Did you pick up any souvenirs from your visit? 

They very kindly gave us all “Biscuits with the Boss” stamped with the Presidential seal… That was pretty cool.


Who was someone that you were most excited to learn that they were a fan of the show?

I’m a big old fan of Paul Walter Hauser and I saw him at a shindig not long ago and he said, “I hear we’re fans of one another’s work.” I squealed.

Full look Kenzo

Having this great experience with Ted Lasso, what are some roles that you would love to do next? 

I think as an actor you want to have variety at the end of the day and so it’s really any project with a great script, great director, great cast etc… I’m working on the next series of Surface on Apple TV which I’m very excited about. The part is very different from Jamie which will be a lovely challenge… That being said, I’ll always have such a huge place in my heart for the Tartt.

…

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Bruno McGuffie

Fashion by Steven Huang

Grooming by Brady Lea using Dr. Barbara Sturm for skin and Hair by Sam McKnight

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Set by Thomas Phillips - Everything Now Design

Photographer’s assistant Bella Kemp

Stylist’s assistant Damini Rehal

ARchive

Access to our exclusive content from our prints archives

ARCHIVE
©Nouaunu_Behind the Blinds_2022_05_22_4886.jpg
NO LIMITS
Pomme by Jan Philipzen_BTB13_14.jpg
CONSOLING MELODY
OP17084_AP_CHANEL_4149_13_CMYK.jpg
THE COLOR MAGICIAN
IH_BTB_TBT6.jpg
PLEASURES OF PARADOX
BTB6_FATAL_SS18_BERLUTI_11.jpg
ROLE-BREAKING BEAUTY
Behind The Blinds Issue 5 _ Austin Augie BTB_2.jpg
BMX REVOLUTIONS

LATEST

Featured
SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE_SNOW_EDITION_20_HR.jpg
A WINTER WITH SAINT LAURENT
IMG_8445.jpg
LEATHER UP!
Featured
Layout-decembre5.jpg
DREAMING OF U
ONLINE_layout BTB.jpg
C'MON KID
Featured
ONLINE_layout2.jpg
RADIOUSLY CHANEL
Thierry Gillier @Fred Meylan copie.jpg
AS THE PLANETS REALIGN