Portrait, last
Martin Onufrowicz
FINDING A VOICE
last
Martin Onufrowicz
HART OF ALL TRADES
last
Martin Onufrowicz
A MAN OF TWO FACES

LOVE AND SUPERPOWERS

WE CAUGHT UP WITH RISING STAR IÑAKI GODOY TO TALK ABOUT SUPERPOWERS, GETTING STRETCHY, AND THE PRESSURE OF ADAPTATIONS, IN HIS BREAKOUT ROLE AS MONKEY D. LUFFY IN NETFLIX’S FANTASY ADVENTURE ONE PIECE.

Left Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Right Knitwear N21

Iñaki, you’ve been working in film and TV since you were 11 years old in your native Mexico, but your international breakthrough came with your Netflix debut in Who Killed Sara and playing Luffy in the fantasy live-action adventure One Piece. How did this all start for you?

 I can’t remember a time when acting wasn’t a part of who I am. My mom signed me up for musical theatre lessons when I was 4 years old, out of instinct. She just knew the stage was the place where I belonged. I studied theatre for many years until I made my TV debut at 11 years old. Since then, I’ve continued working on many different projects and, thanks to a lot of hard work and amazing luck, life took me to One Piece. However, even though I’ve been acting for some time, I feel like this is just the beginning.

 

So, what’s it been like portraying the character of Luffy? The series pays homage to its anime roots and has such a massive fan base globally, so did you feel any pressure taking on the iconic character and the expectations from fans?

 There was a lot of pressure. One Piece means a lot to many people around the world, but I knew that all I could do was try my best and have fun. A huge part of One Piece and Luffy’s character is the sense of adventure, friendship, and fun. So, if I could have a positive experience shooting, that energy would translate to the rest of the team and to the final product. Playing Luffy pushed me to be a more confident version of myself, and inspired friendship throughout the entire team. We all genuinely cared about the story, and when you do something with love, it tends to go right. We all loved the project, and I love playing Luffy.

Shirt & shorts Prada, shoes stylist’s own

 I read somewhere that you made everyone laugh in your audition for the role.

 I knew Luffy was a very energetic character, so my best shot at the audition was doing something unique by getting out of my comfort zone. Going into the audition I wanted to be over the top, do some weird things, and it worked! I’m happy I trusted my instincts. 

 When can we expect season two and what can we expect from it? 

 You can expect more adventure! We are all putting our 100% into making the upcoming season the best it can be, and although I can’t say much, I’m sure it’s going to be amazing.  

Left Full look Dior Men

Right Full look Emporio Armani

How did you approach bringing Luffy to life, how did you find the balance between the Straw Hat captain's many personality traits? Were there aspects of him that didn’t come to you naturally?

 The first thing I focused on was doing research. I read the manga and watched the anime to the point where I felt I knew Luffy’s key traits. After that, it was just a matter of finding a way to translate his energetic, kind, and even mysterious, personality into live action. I realised that I would have to make certain decisions that would be risky, and maybe not liked by everyone. I had to exaggerate at times, because that’s who Luffy is, but in a way where it wouldn’t feel out of place or forced. Knowing I could trust my team to tell me when things worked and when they didn’t, I tried experimenting with my physicality in a new way. Actors like Jim Carrey and Rowan Atkinson were a big reference for what I wanted to try. I have a lot of Luffy’s personality inside me, but reminding myself of that was a hard, and very personal, process. For me, finding that positivity and confidence in myself was the hardest and most rewarding part of playing him. 

 I would imagine approaching how to play his odd physicality was challenging, he’s very bendy! His superpower is that he ate Devil Fruit and gained the power of rubber. Would you like this superpower in real life? How do you think you would use it?

 Of course! I would use it to turn off the light switch from the comfort of my bed. Or at a nightclub to try some weird dance moves. My stretchy abilities would be limited to daily life circumstances, like picking up the TV remote without standing up!

Shirt & shorts Fendi, shoes Tod’s

 Luffy’s superpower also reminds people to have dreams, be optimistic and believe in themselves. Is that how you’ve got to where you are today, through self-belief, and what have been the challenges along the way you’ve overcome?

 I’ve always believed in myself, and my dreams. Don’t get me wrong, I have many anxieties and fears. But experience has shown me that I can still do the things I have to do even if I don’t think I can. So deep down, I trust that power inside me. I have faced many challenges throughout my career, but most of the time just showing up and trying my best keeps me moving forward. I’m where I am now thanks to a lot of hard work and determination, but also because of the support from the people who love me, like my family. The truth is luck has played a huge part in my career. Somehow, the opportunity to audition for Luffy found me at the right place and time. It’s like magic, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I have received. I will continue to give all of my effort to every single project I do because I love acting. 

Left Full look Alexander McQueen

Right Full look Emporio Armani

 Speaking of dreams, and all the amazing opportunities that are going to come your way, do you have any dream directors or actors you admire and really want to work with?

 My favourite movie from last year was Everything Everywhere All at Once, so to work with the Daniels would be amazing. Also, any legendary director would be a dream come true, Cohen, Tarantino, Spielberg… but honestly, I would love to work with young actors and directors! New voices are always exciting, and I wonder what stories are yet to be told.

 

And what kind of genre or story would you like to be part of next?

 I want to do something very different to Luffy, it would be so much fun. I think I’m the type of actor who wants to try every single genre and character, so who knows what will happen next. I just want to do something that is exciting and challenging, with people who have interesting visions.  I do have one dream role though, a villain. But not just any type of villain. A horrible villain, someone who kind of enjoys being mean! I also dream of starring in my own movies, where I’ve directed and written them. I believe that is the one thing I must do, make my own film. 

Left Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Right Full look Kenzo

 Now that you’re on this upward trajectory, what’s next? How about the Oscars, is that something you ever dreamed of attending? How do you feel about the idea of making Hollywood blockbusters and potentially going to award shows?

 I would love to win an Oscar! I already have my speech ready - I’ve practised it in the shower a million times! I want to have a long and interesting career, full of many different types of projects. Honestly, I am not sure where I might go next, but I’m going to do my best once I get there! I have big ambitions and many dreams to accomplish. I don’t have a perfect plan, but there’s nothing stopping me either! If I do things with passion, I will be happy.

…

Discover the full story in our upcoming SS24 CRAZY LOVE Issue - mid March release.

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Raphael Molina 

Fashion by Gorge Villalpando

EIC Michael Marson

Casting by Imagemachine Cs

Production by Juan Villalpando & Tamara Presqueira

Grooming by Anna Bernabe

Stylist’s assistants Olivia Spina and Cerys Davies

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

AUSSIE SUPERSTAR PHOEBE TONKIN IS BACK, THIS TIME PLAYING A VULNERABLE CHARACTER IN NETFLIX’S LATEST MINI-SERIES, BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE. ALTHOUGH THE SHOW DEPICTS HEAVY TOPICS OF DRUG ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TONKIN SAYS THAT THE ATMOSPHERE ON SET REMAINED JOYFUL AND POSITIVE, WITH A FOCUS ON CONVEYING A MESSAGE OF HOPE. WHAT’S NEXT? TWO FEATURE FILMS IN 2024 - KID SNOW AND AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY, AS WELL AS A DESIRE TO EXPLORE SOME MORE DIRECTING OF HER OWN IN THE FUTURE.

I first encountered you in H20: Just Add Water, a magical show that only spanned over three years but influenced so many childhoods. What was it like for you growing up with that show? Also, have you seen the “Oh Naur, Cleo” memes? 

I went so quickly from school to working 12-hour days that I didn't really have anything to compare it to. It was like jumping in the deep end and I had no choice but to learn or I would probably be fired. I’m to blame for everyone thinking that all Australians speak like that, because that’s not the case. I was hoping I didn’t say “no” too much in Boy Swallows Universe. It's sweet to think of newer generations watching it because it’s been on Netflix for so long. I think what people loved about it back in the day, and seem to still love about it, is that there wasn't anything sassy about it. We didn't really care about boys, we cared about our friends and not getting caught.

 

Following H20, you played small roles in soaps like Packed to the Rafters and Home Away. Would you say that Australian soap operas are also incubators for Hollywood superstars? 

 In Australia, there's just not that many jobs. It's quite a small industry so it's like a right of passage. The same way that I had lived with H2O, here, you're not working 2 hours a day… you are learning 12 pages of dialogue every day! It's as hardcore of a learning experience as it gets. I would almost argue that every one of those actors sees it as one of the harder jobs because there's just so much, you're working every day and moving so fast. When I went on Home and Away, I realised that you get one or two takes, and then you’re moving on, so you better hope that you know the lines for the next seven scenes until you can go home. 

You transitioned into the American market on the CW network with a show called The Secret Circle. I loved that show, I was ready for witches to become the NEW fantastic trope. How does an actor deal with a series being cancelled? 

 That was a unique situation because Kevin Williamson who did The Secret Circle had done Dawson's Creek and The Vampire Diaries. So when he called to tell me The Secret Circle had been cancelled, that same phone call was to tell me that they had a part for me on The Vampire Diaries. But I was really sad when I got the call because I did love that show. I'm still so close with the actors, they're all my best friends and have been since we shot that.


But also thank god for the cancellation because we wouldn’t have discovered you in The Vampire Diaries franchise as Haley. What did you take away from being a part of The Vampire Diaries and the spin-off The Originals participating in yet another influential fantastic universe?

 If H20 felt like a high school experience, then this definitely felt like college. We all lived in apartments in the same area. We all went to the same restaurant every weekend, to the same bar after the restaurant. It was very close knit. There was something safe and special about being in Atlanta together, working crazy hours together. I was excited to explore new things but I felt really safe in Atlanta.

 

Boy Swallows Universe, based on the coming-of-age novel by Trent Dalton, is an intense story about a family entangled with crime in Australia. How did you feel when you first read the script? Have you already read the book prior?

 I was given the book as a Christmas gift a few years earlier and I was very well aware of Trent Dalton. It was a great resource to have and John Collee, who wrote the series, did an amazing job at adapting it. It's always hard to adapt such a beloved book and a story that everyone, especially in Australia, loves so much. It was really nice to be able to draw from the book, especially in the details. For example, when my character Frankie goes to pick up the Atari with Lyle and the boys, she’s wearing a Rolling Stones t-shirt that she’d had since she was younger, and suddenly she feels really out of place wearing that in the suburbs. Those specific little details from the book allow you to focus on things. Sometimes in scripts you don't really get the backstories, you don't get to feature them as much. 

 

The show depicts graphic criminal activity shown through a kid’s perspective. How did that affect your portrayal of Frankie, the protagonist’s mother?

 It was written through Eli's perspective which helped because when I was thinking about some of the really traumatic scenes, I focused on what pieces he would notice as a kid. For example, the scene where Frankie is coming off drugs, in his 12-year-old mind, that’s as much of a horrifying scenario as it gets. I really wanted to focus on making sure that even just my hair looked quite scarring and frightening so that physically it replicated what he was imagining. This story is being told by an adult, an older Eli revisiting his childhood memories. So what would you remember from that moment? Would you remember the dirt under the fingernails? The sweat on the t-shirt? 

 

That scene was really impactful. How did you prepare to embody your role? 

 I read a lot of stories online. I really focused on addicts writing letters to their family members explaining that the situation is out of their control. Addiction is a disease and they're not trying to hurt their loved ones. They're not trying to hurt themselves, they're in so much pain, they're suffering so much and this is just as bad for them as it is for their loved ones. So that was really important [for me] to ground Frankie. At the end of the day, she just wants to be the best mum she can be. I looked at this woman who was trying her best with what she had at that moment. On the other side of that, a lot of the moments that we see Frankie in, she is healthy. So if anything, most of my focus was on recovery and people who have gone through traumatic experiences and successfully came out of it. 

 

The series highlights a lot of important issues like the broken prison system, drug abuse in Australia and domestic violence. What would you say the show wanted to denounce? 

 Drugs are some people's only option. Lyle is dealing to take care of his family. That is the only option that he sees within the restraints of his life that he has to get his family out of this situation that they are in. So I think that there's this sense of compassion that the show has for that world. Even with the domestic violence aspect, it was obviously really difficult to film, but again, it showed that Frankie moved into it trying to make a safe home for her children. And that scene where she is breaking plates after she sees this literal representation of a family dinner being destroyed by Terry’s dogs is some kind of breaking point for her. 

 

It's poetic, there’s a lot of symbolic imagery which serves as a foreshadowing. What do you want people to take away from the show?

 As cliché as it is, the idea that what doesn't break you makes you stronger. Sometimes those really hard moments are what shapes you as a person and dictates the way in which your life can go. I think that's why Trent made this book. 

…

Discover the full story in our upcoming SS24 CRAZY LOVE Issue - mid March release.

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Olivia Malone

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

All clothes Chanel

Casting by Imagemachine Cs

Hair by Hikaru Hirano

Make-Up by Kara Bua

Set Design by Kelly Infield

Stylist’s assistant Mari Enos

LUST FOR LIFE

Carlos Cuevas has a special charm. I wouldn't know how to describe it, maybe it's because of his smile, his charisma, because of that mix of sex appeal and sweetness that makes absolutely everyone fall in love with him. Since he became the crush of all of Spain with his leading role in Merlí, Carlos became a golden boy of cinema and television. But the boy has grown up and with effort has been building a career as an actor full of emotionally juicy roles with which the young Catalan has explored the difficulties that human beings face when it comes to relating to each other. The repression in Manolo Caro's Someone Has to Die, to the lack of communication in Smiley without forgetting his Pol Rubio in Merlí with whom he managed to communicate the concerns of a very young generation that was facing an uncertain adulthood. Carlos has managed to convey all of this with his vulnerability and courage making him one of the most beloved young actors on the European scene. Now, after starring in the unclassifiable and acclaimed film La Ternura, Carlos is willing to take on challenges and surprise an audience that is eager to follow him in this new chapter.

Left Jumper Carlota Barrera

Right Jacket & pants Ferragamo, tank top GCDS

How strange these days are, we almost have no daylight, they make me miss summer a lot.

 Oh, I had such a good time this summer! I finished shooting a movie and then I was able to go on vacation with my friends and have a very quiet summer.

 

What movie was it that you finished shooting?

 One was directed by Marcel Barrena, the director of the movie Mediterráneo. It is titled El 47, also stars Eduard Fernández, and is about an act of peaceful dissidence and the neighborhood movement that in 1978 transformed Barcelona and changed the image of its suburbs forever. Once filming finished, my friends and I went on an adventure. One of our guys lives in the United States, he has been there for a year and we all went to look for him to bring him to Spain and we took the opportunity to visit places like San Francisco, the Colorado Canyon, and Las Vegas... they were incredible days.

What did you think of the United States?

I have visited the country a couple of times already, but every time I return, I can see things from a new perspective. I liked the rural areas we visited; the landscapes were incredible. However, I also feel a little internal conflict about how the United States works. I think fewer and fewer people believe in the American dream.

Would you like to start working there?

I would like to work there as much as in France or Germany, for example. In the United States, some very talented people undertake incredible projects, and I know that I would love to be part of them. I once read an interview with Tom Holland where he said that he loves filming in the United States but isn't very into Hollywood. I think maybe the same thing would happen to me. But I'm not Tom Holland, nor do I expect some executives from Los Angeles to call me tomorrow.

Left Full look Prada

Right Full look Loewe

What did you do after returning from the United States?

I went to the Costa Brava, here in Spain, to rest with other friends in a summer house and visit towns, read, and swim. I think I've decided to take things easy. This fall, I had a shoot, but it was delayed, and I have decided not to accept other projects because I preferred to rest a little.

I'm curious about the books you've been reading. Can you tell me about any?

Sure! I have been reading "The Most Secret Memory of Men" by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, also some books by Annie Ernaux or Édouard Louis. I have also read "Violado o Muerto" by Isabel Valdés since it is closely related to the next play in which I am going to participate. It is called "Jauría" by Miguel del Arco.

I know that play. I saw it in Madrid a couple of years ago.

That's how it is. It is about the La Manada rape case, which shocked the entire country. We are going to perform the play this time in Barcelona with a Catalan cast. I have been learning a lot about everything that happened.

"Jauría" is one of the most controversial and acclaimed plays of recent years. But as an actor, it is quite a challenge due to its great intensity.

When I was much younger, I participated in many plays, but then they began to offer me many film and television projects that I did not want to reject and that I wanted to do. That's why I put theater aside. At some point, they offered me some play again, but I couldn't commit, and I always felt like getting back on stage because I knew it was a place I never wanted to get off of. When they offered me this project in the spring, I organized my schedule to be able to do it, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Miguel and also to talk about such an important social issue. I think there is something in me, like in many of my colleagues, that feels very attracted to the social and political part of the projects. You have mentioned that you saw the play in Madrid.

Yes, a few years ago.

It is the same work directed by the same director.

Well, I have to tell you, man, you are a brave actor.

I’ve been warned, yes. I was able to speak with some of the actors who participated in the Madrid performances, and they warned me that it was a very intense work. As a man, it forces you to review certain behaviors because you play characters on the edge, very convulsive, who tell a tremendously hard situation that not only affects the audience but also the actor. I wanted to explore those dark corners and do it in my city, Barcelona. But also because of the acting challenge it entails since I have had to face several struggles throughout my progression as an actor. One of the biggest has been separating myself from a teenage character.

Are you referring to Pol Rubio, your famous character from the TV show Merlí?

Yes, but it is normal that when you do something with such success, you are offered very similar roles. After Merlí, I could have played many other teenage and university students in a romantic comedy. And it's not that I don't like romantic comedies, I had a great time in that type of fiction but I felt the concern of doing something different, and "Jauría" is completely different from everything I have done so far. It is a play with a social side, a very adult character that even his accent is difficult since he is Andalusian.

You have talked about the challenge of detaching yourself from Pol Rubio, and I think you have achieved it because you have been playing very, very different roles. How do you keep your head from going crazy?

Sometimes very different projects have overlapped, one of three from another, and I have felt like my head was exploding! This fall I will combine the play with the shooting of a film that is completely different. I guess it's all about having experience, about training your acting muscles. But, yes, it is complicated, but no more than any other job.

Jumper Carlota Barrera & pants Fendi

Jauría is a project of great intensity, and some actors like to jump into the void without hesitation.

Yes, it is a very, very intense project. But I like those projects that make you feel that you are not acting but living it. Coming home and realizing that I have cried, I have been angry... that I have made my body experience strong emotions fills me with satisfaction.

In Jauría, the male actors play many roles in a single performance. You play judges, prosecutors, defendants... the audience is not used to seeing you play a villain.

No, it is not, and that is another of the struggles that I have told you about before. I cherish all the characters I have played; they are all very cool. But I know that my profile as a blonde and smiling boy sometimes means that I get nice and good characters. I want to be considered for other kinds of roles because I know I can play them.

And why do you think Miguel del Arco wanted you to be part of Jauría?

I think he saw my interest in the play and what it wants to tell on a social level. I was eager to work with Miguel since all of his previous work is wonderful, and the team that was involved in the play and being able to do theater again are some of the factors that have made me want to participate. As you have said, in the play, we do not play a single character; we play several in a kind of tour de force, which also seems very appealing to me.

Do you think about the public's reaction when you get involved in a project?

Yes, I think about whether I can add something socially if it will create a new perspective for whoever sees that project and awaken a new sensitivity in them. I don't ask that everyone be transformed when they see one of the projects, but, as an actor, I always ask myself if what I'm doing causes some kind of emotion, if it goes further, if it manages to change something. I think once we're shooting and the camera is on, we should try to step up and move forward.

I believe that your filmography is very unique since in multiple series and films you have explored romantic relationships in all their aspects.

The more terrain we can explore, the better, don't you think? In any job, you end up getting bored if the task is excessively mechanical and monotonous. The good thing about being an actor is that we can embody different people at different times living different lives. What stimulates me is variety, living different experiences that generate empathy with different people. Acting, in a certain way, you do not live another person's life since it is always you and your ideas that inhabit the character, but you do create empathy with what he lives and tells.

Have any of the characters you've played so far changed you emotionally?

I'm a very open type of actor who is always willing to listen to what the character has to say. I always keep with me something that one of my characters left me since they all experience very different things; they have varied stories and voices that have nothing to do with each other. But if I have to tell you a character that changed me, I think I would say Bruno, who interested me for several years in the Merlí series and its spin-off. For me, Bruno was a before and after; it was a very important stage in my life. I also think that there are more secondary characters that I have done that have still managed to transform in a certain way.

Can you give me an example?

Many times the impact that a character can have on yourself depends on the personal direction you are taking at that moment. A few years ago, I filmed a series about Leonardo DaVinci in Italy for many months. You don't know the professional and personal growth that the project entailed! I went to live alone in a country and work in other languages, and I even managed to learn Italian. I spent the weekends alone in a country I didn't know; it was quite a challenge, and I had to wake up a lot. The acting level of the series was very high, and I had to work with people who had come from doing projects with Terrence Malick or productions of the Lord of the Rings level. Leonardo was a show that gave me many professional but also personal things, and I think, in general, all the characters that an actor plays manage to give you something, some in a more physical aspect and others in a more psychological way.

Left Tee Miu Miu, pants Mans Concept Menswear, shoes Hereu

Right Full look Givenchy

It is said that bravery is being afraid but still getting on the horse. Does Carlos get on the horse?

Yes, I think so. I am a very hard-working person, and the fact that something is difficult is not a problem for me. For me, a problem with a project arises when it does not agree with my values and what I want to say. But the difficulty of something has always been a stimulus, not a problem.

Can we then affirm that Leonardo has been the greatest challenge of your career so far?

I don't know what my biggest challenge has been. Leonardo was a challenge in many ways, especially living alone in a foreign country, but there have been many others. I could tell you about "45 Revoluciones," my first series as a protagonist. I did it very young, at 21 years old, and I had to sing, play the guitar, and even move to a city that was not mine, Madrid. Something similar also happened to me when they offered me to star in "Merlí: Sapere Aude" or "Smiley"; they were two great challenges. "Smiley" was the first time I did a comedy, and it's not that I'm especially funny in my personal life, but thanks to that series, I learned a lot, and I've lost my fear of doing comedic roles since before I was very embarrassed. But now I want to film a comedy; now I feel qualified to do it. Every project I have contributes something, and now I think that returning to the theater will make me want to do more theatrical roles, with greater scope and with a much heavier emotional baggage.

Do you seriously not consider yourself a funny person? You seem pretty funny to me!

I'm very smart and all that, but you know that in every group of friends, there is a funny guy; well, I've never been that person. There is always someone funnier than me.

And what role do you have in your group of friends?

Sometimes I have been the leader, but I am usually the perfectionist and the responsible one. I have always been more serious than funny, to be honest.

Maybe now that you are more into comedy, things will change!

I think I'm referring more to my role as an actor; that's where I've lost my fear. That moment has come in my career when I have understood what this is all about, and I have stopped judging myself. Over the years, I believe that talent helps you achieve your goals, but it is hard work that keeps you going. If we examine the filmography of any actor, we always see an evolution. And the truth is that I think I have a lot left to do.

How do you feel when you see a project you starred in a few years ago again?

I never see them! I have a hard time seeing myself on screen! I know that it happens to most of us actors and that it is an absolute cliché. When I have seen any of my projects, it is out of responsibility, to see my colleagues, celebrate them, and learn what I have done well and what I have done wrong. I don't bother, since the actor plays a specific role, and many times we have no control over the final result. Sometimes we agree with the director's idea, and other times we don't, and when you see the finished film or series, it is not like what you would have made since there are many people involved.

Jacket & pants Ferragamo, tank top GCDS

Have you never felt like directing a project yourself?

Yes, I want to, and I'm thinking about doing it. I started working as an actor at a very young age, and every time I enter a filming set, I feel an impulse that leads me to think about what intrusion I would give to an actor, where I would put the camera, and things like that. I always try to learn from everyone on set and put myself in their shoes. I think all of these are symptoms that I want to get behind a camera, and I think that's the next thing I should do. What I am very clear about is that I don't want to stop acting because I like it a lot, but maybe I should combine it with directing or something like that.

And have you thought about what kind of stories you want to direct?

I like social, personal, and emotional stories. I wouldn't dare direct something like horror or science fiction. I would love to direct a social drama with a theme that would pique the audience's interest.

You have played a multitude of characters with very different backgrounds, and I would like to know if their mistakes have helped you not make yours.

Absolutely! I recently heard a colleague say that we actors spend our lives trying to understand the psychology of our characters to try to empathize with them. That's why I believe that with each project, it is possible to learn something and mature a little as a person. When you agree to play a character, you know it through a script, and you think in one way about it, but throughout the process, you listen to different opinions such as that of the director, the scriptwriters, or your co-stars, and you constantly learn, opening your mind. It's like intensive therapy.

Don't you get a little confused between your own identity and that of the character?

I don't think so. There are traits of a character that you see very clearly and very far from your own. But sometimes, when you are filming, you notice a plot and identify with it and may think that you should apply some of the characters' behavior to your own life. I think that can also happen when you are part of the audience that watches a series or a movie.

Is there a movie from which you learned something important?

I have learned a lot from the cinema. I recently talked about how important films like "The Dreamers," "Martín H," "Dead Poets Society," and "Good Will Hunting" were for me. "City of God" was also a film that impressed me very much. There are also recent movies from which I have learned a lot, such as "Blue is the Warmest Color" or "The Worst Person in the World." Many times I like to revisit some special books or movies because they manage to speak to me in a different way than they did the first time.

I must confess that I didn't like "The Worst Person in the World" at all.

That's good! There are movies that I don't like, but that interests me. I think that also says a lot about yourself.

You're right.

I also love classic musicals!

Would you like to star in a musical?

I'd love to! When I was little, I wanted to be like Gene Kelly. I like those social stories but also fun musicals. Just because a person likes deep stories does not prevent him from also enjoying action movies or light-hearted musicals.

Your most recent film "La Ternura," which has received critical acclaim, ingeniously mixes comedy, magic, and, in turn, social criticism talking about gender roles. What made you accept this project?

Many factors came together. They offered me a role in "La Ternura" when it was going to be made as a play, but I couldn't accept it due to scheduling problems. I was very frustrated not to be able to do it since I love Alfredo Sanzol's work and it is very peculiar. When I found out about the film adaptation, I didn't hesitate and accepted the role.

I loved the movie, but I saw the play a few years ago and I liked it a lot.

Yes, the text is very good. If you have a text like this, you start from a very very solid base, and if you then form a cast of great actors like Emma Suárez, Alexandra Jimenez, Fernando Guallart... It was a great opportunity to be able to do something different!

The truth is that the film has a very curious mix of genres and its setting on an island lost in the ocean gives it an exotic touch.

Yes! It was also great to be able to film in the Canary Islands pretending that it was the Dominican Republic; it is a paradise! I was also attracted to the Shakespearean aura present in the script… "La Ternura" is a film that is very different from the projects in which I have participated so far.

Since you mention it, what is your favorite play by Shakespeare?

Out of nostalgia, I would say "A Midsummer Night's Dream," but now I think "King Lear" or "Hamlet."

Would you dare to play Hamlet?

Not yet! I still have a lot to learn.

Do you consider yourself an adventurous person?

Yes, but I like to know how much water is in the pool before I jump in. Once I find out, I jump without hesitation. In life, you should always be a little bit responsible (laughs).

Interview & Production by Juan Marti

Photography by Lander Ibarretxe

Fashion by Fer Sempere

Hair & Make-Up by Eva Garcia

Light tech Adri Piella & Luis Cobo

Stylist’s assistant Barbara Tango

Set designer Celia Andres

Set designer assit Gemma Tresillo

Retouch Luis cobo

SUBLIME AND TRIVIAL

ACTORS AREN’T REAL. THEY EXIST THROUGH A SCREEN, THEY DON'T HAVE AN APARTMENT, THEY DON’T BUY GROCERIES, THEY DON’T WAKE UP OR GO TO SLEEP - THAT’S WHAT STEFAN CREPON USED TO BELIEVE AS A KID. A YOUNG FRENCH THEATRE AND FILM ENTHUSIAST, HE IS KNOWN FOR PLAYING PHILLIPPE COURBET IN NETFLIX’S LUPIN AND BEING NOMINATED AS ONE OF THE BEST EMERGING ACTORS AT THE FRENCH CÉSARS, FOR HIS SILENT ROLE IN PETER VAN KANT. WORKING AS AN ACTOR, AS UNOBTAINABLE AS IT ONCE SEEMED, ALLOWS CREPON TO LIVE FROM HIS PASSION, AND HE HOPES TO DO IT AS LONG AS HE CAN. CINEMA STILL HAS ITS HARSH TRUTHS AND REALITIES THOUGH, SOMETHING THAT CREPON EXPLORES IN HIS LATEST PROJECT, MAKING OF - A MOVIE BY CÉDRIC KAHN IN WHICH HE PLAYS THE ROLE OF JOSEPH, A YOUNG EXTRA LOOKING TO BECOME A DIRECTOR. WE SAT DOWN WITH STEFAN IN A SMALL CAFÉ NEAR MONTMARTRE TO DISCUSS HIS ADMIRATION FOR CINEMA, LIFE IMITATING ART, AND GETTING TO WORK WITH ACTORS WHO MADE HIM FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CRAFT.

Left Jacket Maison Margiela, knitwear Lemaire

Right Full look Celine Homme

Tell me a bit about your youth, how did you get into acting?
By chance, really. I was quite young, around 11 or 12, thanks to a suggestion from my French teacher at secondary school. When all my friends were going to play football or tennis after school, I went to do a little amateur theatre course in my neighbourhood. And that was when I had the big revelation because I had never felt as free and alive as I did there. Everything I was forbidden to do at school, which was considered transgressive, people there congratulated me for and pushed me to go further. Then a year later, I was chosen for a film. I was supposed to be in the 9th grade, I was supposed to be in a maths class yet I was on a film set. That, plus I went to see a play at the Comédie Française, Cyrano de Bergerac, directed by Denis Podalydès. And that's when I said to myself, “This is what I really want to do.”


That’s incredible because you then ended up working with Denis in Making Of!
I actually told him that it was partly thanks to him that I found myself acting with him today.


Let's talk more about Making Of.  What is the story about?
It’s a film that takes place on a film set, with a director who is quite renowned for “films d’auteurs”, and who is making his new film about the occupation of a factory by workers. However, nothing goes according to plan, and he spends the whole shoot trying to save his film like the captain of a ship adrift. And he's going to recognise himself a little in a young extra who he eventually hires to do the behind-the-scenes of the film, and we follow the trajectory of this director who's starting to become disillusioned, and this young extra who's full of hope and desire.

Left Full look Celine Homme

Right Jacket Dolce & Gabanna, shirt Maison Margiela

This film is a kind of mise-en-abîme. Were you under the impression that you weren't really playing a role at times?
Well, luckily for the movie, I had a camera in my hands at all times, and I was shooting real footage. I was even shooting between takes, so when they weren't filming, I was still trying to steal moments of the actors’ lives. Having this camera put me in a rather luxurious position, I believe, where I was both an actor and a spectator. Sometimes I'd stop acting, and I'd be genuinely amazed by what was going on around me, a bit like the character. So that's where he and I met.

Full look Valentino

I think Making Of comes out at an important time in the world of cinema when we can see the engagement of extras, actors and writers, a kind of social solidarity in a world that seems disconnected from reality at times.
What I really like about this film is that it draws a parallel, a kind of mirror image of social struggles in all realms of life. It goes back to what Cédric Kahn says, he defines cinema as something both sublime and trivial. It's true that sometimes we tell ourselves that we're working for the art and we allow ourselves to accept things that we wouldn't accept otherwise. But no, it's not an environment that should be spared from this. There has to be social justice on film sets too.

Left and right Trench Dries van Noten, boots Celine Homme

And your love story with Nadia, played by Souheila Yacoub, that story draws a parallel with Joseph's relationship to cinema, a personification of his dream that seems almost impossible to attain.
There's a bit of that. Because for him, at the beginning, cinema is an impossible story, and the story with Nadia is the same. But in the movie, Nadia and Joseph are the two purest characters. They're the ones who haven't yet been tainted by cinema, they have this very simple relationship with the profession, and in fact, they're full of desire, naivety and innocence. So it seems quite logical that they should meet.

Tell us about Drone, another project you embarked on.
It's the first feature film by a director called Simon Bouisson, who's already done quite a few things, short films and very interesting experimental films. And he really has his own universe. I also shot a film with Cédric Kahn, but this time as an actor. We ended up reading lines to each other. It was very funny and touching.

Left Jacket and pants Maison Margiela, knitwear Lemaire, boots Celine Homme

Right Jacket Ferragamo

What was the last film that affected you?
I saw Mississippi Burning with Willem Dafoe. In this film, he's about my age, and he's fascinating and impressive. With Jenn Ackman too, they're both dazzling. There's a fight scene between them that really impressed me. And then I saw a French film, by Pierre Granier de Ferre, called The French Detective, with Ventura and Dewaere.

Left and right Jacket Dolce & Gabanna, shirt Maison Margiela, pants Prada, boots Celine Homme

You have zero digital footprint. Is that a conscious choice?
Yeah, completely. But it's more personal. I don't recognise myself in it. I like the idea that what I'm going to show about myself is going to be in films. Even if I try to play different roles each time, there's still going to be a small part of me in them. I like that more. In that way, the directors can know as little as possible about me, they can make me play what they want.

Interview by Gabrielle Valda Colas

Photography by Hanna Pallot

Fashion by Jorge Garcia

Hair by Anna Grego

Make-up by Fay Bio-Toura

Photographer’s assistant Lukas Doulsan

Stylist’s assistant Guillem Rodriguez

PLEASURABLY DISORIENTING

MODEL, ACTOR AND ARTIST, PARIS BROSNAN, IS BRIGHTLY COLOURING OUR LIVES IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS, WITH HIS URBAN STREET-LIKE FREE-FLOW PAINTINGS THAT ARE AS IN-YOUR-FACE AS GRAFFITI. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE RISING TALENT TO TALK PALETTES, PASSIONS, AND RAW ENERGY.

Full look Givenchy

There is such an energy to your paintings. Not just in the bright colourful vibrancy, but the emotive movement and narrative that resonates within the compositions. How would you describe your artistic style?
I would call it some form of expressionism because that’s what I’m doing – expressing myself. Whether it’s abstract or surrealist, I paint characters out of my imagination with colours that I think are interesting and complementary. I love bright colours and pastels; I think they can be easy on the eye when balanced correctly. They can make you feel happy and energetic, and I’m still learning how to find middle ground with my colour palettes. I try not to overthink my work or put any labels on it, I’ll leave that up to the art critics and gallerists …and just keep painting.

Left Full look Miu Miu

Right Jacket and pants Miu Miu, shoes talent’s own

When you start a new piece, as you add to it, does it feel like you’re having an intense conversation with it? Do you ever need to stop and go back to it, and maybe tinker with the conversation?
I start my paintings with an open mind which allows for spontaneous creativity. I usually play music I like and get into a groove. I paint reoccurring characters and figures that are familiar to me, and I like to paint for a while before taking a step back to really look at the work. Occasionally I move onto a new or different painting and then go back to the first painting so I can see things differently and come at it with a new approach.

It’s conversational, sometimes literally because I write words and phrases on the canvas, especially in my earlier works or on the back of my paintings. I have old paintings hung up on my wall that I will just go up to with a paintbrush or sharpie and scribe on.

Full looks Celine Homme

Is art an escape for you?
Yes, it’s an escape and embodies freedom to me. My favourite thing about painting is that there aren’t any real boundaries and I’m free to do as much or as little as I would like. I can add, take away, bring back. I decide the story, and I determine the outcome.

Full look Miu Miu

So, tell me about your process?
In my earliest paintings I used very limited materials, a can or two of spray paint, some oil markers, and tubes of paint. It can be fun working with less materials at times because it makes me more resourceful and, in some cases, more detailed. For example, I would spray paint a canvas and then paint thousands of dots over the spray paint. Now that I draw with oil sticks and paint with brushes, I have more choices of materials and sometimes I don’t know where to start… so I just grab my brush or oil stick and get going.

Who or what inspired you’re ‘aha, I love painting’ moment? 
I’ve been painting since I was a little kid. I grew up watching my father [Pierce Brosnan] paint and he’s been doing that since the mid 1980’s and is a true artist in every sense of the word. His artworks really inspired me to take my art practice more seriously, and at the same time to do just it for myself.

Full looks Miu Miu

Any other artistic inspirations, or arty quotes that fuel your passion for it all?
So many! Jean Dubuffet, David Hockney, Keith Haring, Peter Beard, Damian Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Willem De Kooning among others. There are also so many new and outstanding painters and visual artists whose work I appreciate. As for quotes, I really like Francis Bacon’s “I work much better in chaos… chaos for me breeds images.” It just reminds me of working in a crowded studio with paint and canvasses everywhere while blasting loud music. That’s where I make most of my work.

Let’s talk about some of your other passions too. You’ve made some short films, including one which raised awareness about child famine and poverty, and you’re now stepping on to the big screen in your first theatrical role. Tell me more.
I’ve always had a love for filmmaking and telling stories, and I hope to do more humanitarian based short films, and I’m working on writing and producing my own show. And yes, I’ve just worked with an amazing Australian director, Richard Grey, in my first acting role in a film called Unholy Trinity. It’s a western set in Montana and it was such a pleasure working with Richard and watching him bring the movie to life!

Full look Celine

You’re also saving the marine environment too. You’re quite the influential activist.
I’m inspired by my mother who has done so much important work to protect the environment. Recently I travelled to the Maldives with Global Green, where we were doing beach clean-ups, collecting plastic which was recycled into things like chairs and tables. I even made a four-panel canvas out of plastic and painted on it!  I plan on auctioning it off for charity and donating the funds to the local school I visited in the Maldives.

What’s your take on sustainability and the fashion industry with this climate crisis we’re in, as you’ve previously collaborated with eco-fashion brand Paul & Shark in the past?
Sustainability in fashion is very important to me as it’s one of the most wasteful industries in the world. Fast fashion is a no-go for me. I like clothes that are durable and timeless and can be worn for a lifetime. Buy less, buy quality and thrift more! Donate what you don’t need to others. For example, I gift clothes I’ve outgrown to my nephew or friends. I think we can all benefit from minimising, and one of my guilty pleasures is thrifting for vintage Levi’s!

Full looks Miu Miu

Any favourite pieces of fashion you own then?
My father’s old jackets and button ups that he’s passed down to me. He’s also gifted me most of my ring and watch collection. Laurie Stark made me a beautiful Chrome Hearts suit that I will have forever!

You also worked with iconic brand Golden Goose on a limited-edition collection that featured your artwork. Are you planning any more partnerships or how about launching your own line one day?
Working with Golden Goose was a dream come true, and they gave me such creative freedom. It was a full circle moment because I remember wearing their shoes growing up! I’m planning more partnerships with like-minded brands, including a watch company, and may have something of my own in the works soon!

Left Jacket Miu Miu

Right Jacket, top and pants Celine Homme, shoes talent’s own

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Carolina Orrico

Hair by Candice Birns at A-frame

Make-Up by Holly Silius at R3 Mgmt

Casting by Chris Brenner

Photographer's assistant Adam Pracher

Make-Up assistant Natalie Tchokreff

Stylist’s assistant Grace Grant

SENSORIAL INSTINCT

SHE’S THE NAME ON EVERYONE’S LIPS. LONGLISTED FOR A BAFTA BEST ACTRESS AWARD AND BAFTA RISING STAR NOM, AND ALREADY THE RECIPIENT OF A BIFA GONG – 26-YEAR-OLD TALENT MIA MCKENNA-BRUCE HAS MADE THE TYPE OF MOVIE THAT DEMANDS ATTENTION, AND NOT JUST FOR ITS SCENES OF PURE NOSTALGIC GENIUS. HOW TO HAVE SEX, IN WHICH SHE PLAYS THE CHARACTER OF TARA, IS A GIDDY, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, AND SUN-FILLED TEEN COMING-OF-AGE STORY, WHICH HAS INTRODUCED THE WORLD TO MIA AS ITS BREAKOUT STAR.

YOU’LL HAVE SEEN THE BRITISH ACTRESS AS TEE TAYLOR IN TRACY BEAKER RETURNS AND ITS SPINOFF THE DUMPING GROUND, AND IN THE WITCHER, FANTASY HORROR SERIES VAMPIRE ACADEMY, AND IN NETFLIX’S JANE AUSTEN ADAPTATION PERSUASION.  WELL NOW MCKENNA’S HAVING HER BIG MOMENT, BALANCED WITH ALSO RAISING HER FIRST CHILD, AND AS A MOTHER AND PERFORMER, SHE’S A FORCEFIELD FOR SELFHOOD AND AN ARTIST WHO CHALLENGES, DRAWN TO FUTURE ROLES WHICH MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE’S LIVES.

Full look Jacquemus

So, Mia, first off, we must discuss your sequinned-covered baby bump on the Croisette back in May last year. Also, that standing ovation for How to Have Sex, and all the awards and now the exciting noms! Where was your mind at that point, as it must have been crazy having these major moments in your life happening all at once?
Pure insanity. Honestly that all felt like a movie in itself. I have dreamed of moments like this for the longest time, we all had, so we just wanted to make sure we were not taking any of it for granted and just having the best time. I think I’m still processing it all now! 

This film’s been hailed as your breakout moment – and it comes at a time when the subject of women, sex and consent have never been more on the agenda. When you got the script, did you have an idea of how you would like to embody the character’s journey through the fragility of coming-of-age and entering womanhood?
When I first got the script, I wanted to do it because I knew how important this story was. I would have benefited from a film like this, and seeing how truthful director Molly’s writing was, really excited me. So that was the main thing for me from the get-go, I just wanted to be as honest as I could in playing Tara - which meant being super open and vulnerable. We worked hard during a rehearsal process at the beginning to really get to know these characters, their back stories and what makes them so relatable to so many people, we wanted people to watch the film and feel seen and see themselves reflected in some way.

Left Full look Zadig&Voltaire

Right Top, shorts and shoes Miu Miu, socks Falke

“I just wanted to be as honest as I could in playing Tara - which meant being super open and vulnerable.”

Well, the film explores director Molly [Manning Walker’s] own personal experiences. What’s been the response so far from girls and women who have similar stories to tell, as your character Tara’s – have many felt they’re never been confident to talk about them. Has it become more obvious that it was so important to make this film?
Definitely. So many people have said that seeing the film has given them the space to talk about what they went through or has helped them process things that they didn’t even know they were feeling. A lot of people have said they feel so seen by Tara, it’s a film you walk away from and want to talk about with your friends - which is a good thing of course. With the response that we’ve had I think it really goes to show the need for films like this.

You mention you would have benefited from a film like this in your own teen years too. Do you think sex education in schools should move from the biological side to a conversation about consent and safe sex for the post #MeToo generation?
Yes, I do wish we had more films like this. Just in a way to encourage teens to talk more and be more empathetic towards each-other. I think it’s so easy in your teens to become very self-absorbed and forget how much your actions can impact others, so I think seeing that played out on screen is important. I do also think it’s vital we moved forward from just the biological side of sex education, otherwise we are encouraging young people to figure out consent and sex on their own, potentially through other means. 

As a new Mum yourself and having your little boy, obviously I’m going to ask if you’ve instantly found yourself thinking about what type of society he’s being raised in – especially with young teen boys scarily taking cues from people like the self-proclaimed “misogynistic influencer” Andrew Tate?
Oh, for sure. I think for us it’s just very important to being completely open with our son about these things. Our family is very woman heavy, so he’ll have a lot of positive female influences and I’d then want to encourage him to have conversations with his friends to hopefully share those positive influences.

So, getting back to the film’s theme, when was your own first teenage, all-girls’ holiday, do you have any memories or secrets from it that you would like to share with the world now about having the “Best! Holiday! Ever!”?
I think I had my first girls’ holiday when I had just turned 18. I fell out with a group of girlfriends from school because they all booked to go on their holiday without me while I was on a job. I was very sad ha-ha, just goes to show how much of a rite of passage these holidays are. I felt completely abandoned!

Left and right Dress Giorgio Armani, shoes N21, bracelets Sweet Lime Juice

Well, you shot everything in Malia, in Greece, which is always full of party-buzzing rites of passage-seeking young Brits! Did filming ever overlap with any real clubbers, boozed up looking for a kebab shop?
Yeah! So, shooting the party scenes did slightly overlap with the end of the season so we had a few real-life party goers, which was crazy watching life imitate art. We were filming in a chip shop and three girls came in and started eating the props.

And I’m imagining that some of the prep for this role didn’t involve downing a bottle of Ouzo, so how did you get the act of looking totally plastered down to a fine art? It looks like you all had a lot of fun making the film!
Ha-ha! Honestly the main thing was we were just very hyper! And we used to spin around in circles before action was called so that we felt dizzy!

Left Full look Miu Miu

Right Full look Isabel Marant

“So many people have said that seeing the film has given them the space to talk about what they went through or has helped them process things that they didn’t even know they were feeling.”

The clubbing style in this film is spot on too. Was there direction in terms of how they wanted your character Tara to dress, or were you able to have your own input with her wardrobe too?
So, George Buxton (the costume designer) is just amazing and first and foremost wanted us all to feel comfortable. But particularly for Tara, like when she starts wearing Skye’s clothes, they wanted the outfits to be slightly “ill- fitting” so we could tell they weren’t her own! They also used colours to represent different things - like orange was a danger colour.

You’re obviously into fashion off-screen too. What’s your style go-to and which designer (if they’re reading this, free clothes, you’re welcome), would you love to be a muse for?
Am I?! I’ll take that ha-ha! I’m very much for comfort always, and you’ll usually find me in a tracksuit! I love TALA for day-to-day stuff.

Well as this film also depicts, fashion and music are always a perfect pairing. So, harking back to your hedonistic teen soundtracks, what was the first album that really spoke to you?
Don’t laugh at me. Bratz Rock Angelz.

Ok, we’ll move on quickly! I read that you grew up in Southeast London, but I don’t know what kind of upbringing you had. What kind of London girl were you and were you a wannabe child star, or was there a pushy parent shoving you on stage, as your first acting role was as a ballet girl in the Billy Elliot musical in London?
It definitely wasn’t a pushy parent situation. None of us had any clue about the industry and I just started dance lessons at a local dance school in New Eltham as a way to expel energy! I knew I enjoyed performing for people but didn’t really register that I could do it as a career!

Right Full look Isabel Marant

Right Shirt, skirt and shoes Fendi, socks Falke

And what kind of London girl are you now? And has your work ethic changed a bit, balancing motherhood with acting?
I think balancing the two has made me more relaxed! Weird I know. But somehow motherhood so far has given me a lot more faith in myself, and also, I have more to think about than just work now, a tiny human is dependent on me.

But is there an actor or director that you’re like, “Before I die, I wish to work with this person?”
Kate Winslet!

What about a genre you really want to try out?
I’d love to give action a go at some point, I think. I love the idea of doing stunts!

Well you’re having a massive moment, or whatever longer than a moment is. This is your time, shall we say? So, what’s your next move?
Thank you so much! I feel very excited and very grateful. My next move, hmm, hopefully to get to continue telling stories that make a difference to people. 

Left Full look Zadig&Voltaire

Right Full look Fendi

Voting for the EE Rising Star Award is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA until 12pm GMT on Friday 16th February 2024. The winner will be announced at the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 18th February 2024. How to Have Sex is available on MUBI now.

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Bruno McGuffie

Fashion by Steven Huang

Make-Up by Francesca Angelina Brazzo at The Wall Group using Giorgio Armani Makeup

Hair by Sven Bayerbach at Carol Hayes Management using Drybar

Photographer’s assistant Oskar Sinicki

Stylist’s assistant Damini Regal

SHINY DREAMS

WHO HASN’T BEEN OBSESSED WITH HBO’S OSTENTATIOUS COSTUME DRAMA, THE GILDED AGE, SO MUCH THAT EVEN INSTAGRAM HAILS IT AS THE ‘DYNASTY OF THE 1880S’. SO, IMAGINE OUR GLEE WHEN THEATRE-LUVVIE-TURNED-BREAKOUT STAR OF THE SHOW, ACTOR BEN AHLERS, YES HUMBLE FOOTMAN JACK TROTTER HIMSELF, CAUGHT UP WITH US TO TALK ABOUT SHINY DREAMS, INNER HAPPINESS AND NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

Hey Ben, let’s talk about how things have taken off for you. Theatre is where it all started before you jumped onto our TV screens. How did the acting bug begin?
Hey, what’s good! Well, theatre was the natural path to start, since that’s where I got the bug growing up.  Like many artists, I didn’t mesh too well socially when I was a kid.  Performing gave me an identity.  It also gave me the attention and love you so desperately crave when you’re young.  We still crave that, I guess.  But once I got to college for my study in musical theatre, I felt a bit limited in how I wanted to express myself.  I dove into student theatre and short films, so when I got out on my own professionally, moving into TV seemed like the clear next step.  I’m aching to do theatre again though.  That’s where I feel most free and myself.

Why is that?
Theatre is a sacred place to me.  I miss the live connection to the audience.  Over the last year and a half, I’ve been developing a reading workshop that’s turning into a bit of an incubator for new work with my extremely talented friends.  We have some plans for bringing a few of the pieces to production this year.  We need more consistent, risk-taking, accessible theatre that lives outside of the existing model.

Are there any inventive or risk-taking stage or screen directors you would love to work with then?
I’m a big fan of Sean Baker and Chloé Zhao.  Sam Mendes is the North Star for both filmmaking and theatre directing.  And I’m a huge fan of Yorgos Lanthimos.  He’s so inventive with his story telling, and there’s a size, peculiarity, and urgency to his filmmaking that I find so inspiring.  Dogtooth is a masterpiece.  Poor Things was superb and will really stretch mainstream audiences’ understanding of what’s possible through cinema.  I remember seeing The Florida Project and Nomadland and thought, “those are the stories I want to tell.”  This country is so big, and I hope my work can reflect as much of that diversity as possible.  There’s a lot of healing to be done.

Did any of your own experiences growing up in the US, in Iowa, inform any of your passions and dreams?
People back home really work so hard.  Maybe too hard.  One grandfather was a small-town lawyer, and the other was a cattle farmer.  They were role models for the daily grind, and made it clear to me that process was more important than product.  I think dreaming sometimes gets in the way of what’s right in front of you, the steps to accomplishing that dream.  And that Iowan discipline and humility instilled a work ethic that I can trust while everything else sorts itself out.

So, you find yourself in the big city (New York), right in the heart of an opulent period drama, in The Gilded Age.
Period dramas always felt daunting to me, especially an era so distant from our lived experience.  You can find videos and interviews from the 1930s or 70s.  But it’s a different time of creative leap to do something from so long ago.  We had the most in-depth research assistance from our historical experts on set.  And every element of the productions design from Bob Shaw and costumes from Kasia Walicka Maimone did all that imaginative work for us.  We got to focus on the heart of these characters and their journeys.  There’s a universality in their experience that makes the show so compelling and the performances accessible.

And your character Jack is really of the modern age too, as he’s kind and empathic and a real optimist, Gen Z’s idol! How’s it been embodying this character and bringing him to life?
I’m such a big fan of Jack.  He’s taught me a lot about how to get through the chaos we’re going through right now.  Be good to the people around you.  Do your job.  Find hope and embody it.  The best part about this job is that your characters get to unlock different parts of yourself, and I have a lot to thank him for.

What do you hope for him in Season 3, he’s got such a rich backstory?
We’re coming back, baby!  Well, the season ended on such a high note, and we’re all itching to see what’s next. I’m so glad we get to give our audience what they deserve.  They’ve been so loyal. That said, I have no idea what’s coming, so I’m just as eager as everyone else!  I want to see how Jack navigates success.  We see two extremes between the Old Money and New Money.  But Jack has such a distinct POV, and to watch him rise as the embodiment of the American Dream could give a fresh and nuanced take on the joys and pitfalls of that journey.

Can you imagine if WhatsApp existed back then? I mean, the group gossip those footmen of the upstairs / downstairs would share having been privy to everything!
Who needs reality TV?  The servants had a front row seat to the original Real Housewives.  The gossip had to be their number one form of entertainment.  With the wealth disparity, too, I wonder whether the servants took inspiration or harboured resentment toward their employers.  Jack certainly couldn’t help but get caught up in the dream of something greater.

Do you like a good gossip, or do you prefer to keep a secret?
I’m too sensitive. Gossip and secrets stress me out.

Speaking of social media. I noticed on your IG that you’ve travelled to Europe a fair bit, with its rich architectural history, much like those amazing homes we see in The Gilded Age which have all but disappeared now. Do you enjoy discovering the past through travel?
Good question! That’s exactly why I like to travel to those places.  Everywhere you go in Europe you get a much clearer sense of what’s come before you.  I’m filled with gratitude and humility for how small I am in the grand scheme of things.  There’s a sense of responsibility, too, to make your life mean something.  When you’re standing on streets hundreds of years old, you realise how fast this thing goes.  New York is constantly revolutionising itself.  But you lose a lot in the process.

Someone once told me about being a New Yorker whether you’re born there or not - that you just know when you are one, and you can certainly spot someone who’s not when you meet them! Are you a New Yorker now?
I think you either become a New Yorker or you end up leaving town.  And if you leave, I totally get it.  There’s an armour you have to wear in order to get through all of the madness.  The highs are so high, and the lows can be so low.  But if you can make it through the resistance, there’s a deep feeling of possibility and importance in a place like this that I haven’t found anywhere else.  I’d say I’m a New Yorker now.  If your bodega guy knows your order when you walk through the door, you’ve made it!

If you weren't an actor, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be living on a beach somewhere teaching yoga and selling homemade jam or something.

Yes, you’re very into practising mindfulness in nature, right?
I definitely feel most whole when I’m in harmony with nature.  I think human beings generally feel separate or above the natural world, and that’s led to most of our problems, on the individual and collective levels.  So, any chance I get, I try to find a forest or a beach and turn off the worldly distractions that lead to nowhere. Happiness comes from within, no matter the cliche. 

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

LEARNING THE ROPES

Stanley Simons is tagging into the big leagues. The Australian actor makes his debut in The Iron Claw, a film that delves into the tragic tale of wrestling's most renowned dynasty. Despite the movie’s melancholic tone, the young actor clarifies that life only imitates art in some ways. The sombre atmosphere wasn’t present on set, but the wrestling scenes and the brotherhood developed between the all-star cast were real. The latter was particularly important to the actor, as he enters the Hollywood rink in full force. Despite being fresh to the scene, Simons hesitates to limit himself to the role of an actor. Instead, he sets his sights on something deeper. Dabbling in writing and music, art has always been a way to express and heal himself. The only difference? Now he’s “getting paid to do this.”

How's your day going?

 It’s been fun. I just came from a Saint Laurent fitting, so it’s obviously been a good day. [Laughs]

 That is a sure-fire way to have a great day. Speaking of good things, your new movie The Iron Claw is creating quite a buzz. Were you a fan of wrestling before you got the role?

 I feel like wrestling was a part of everyone’s childhood in my generation. I’d seen some WWE. My cousin was a big fan… I remember being terrified of The Undertaker. I was a huge fan of Rey Mysterio. I had a John Cena action figure. It was all around me in a way, even where I grew up in Australia. People sang the walkout songs, and everyone got on each other's shoulders and picked each other up.

 Wrestling blurs a line between fighting and performance art. Do you think that’s why it resonated so much with our generation?

 I think it’s the entertainment aspect that hooks people to it. It’s not the actual sport that brings people out to these huge arenas. It's the moments between extreme physicality. Jeremy [Allen White] said it well the other day. I think he was quoting Chavo [Guerrero Jr], a former WWE professional and one of our stunt coordinators. He said that it's the moments in between the fights that make it what it is. It’s the expression on your face, how you rile up a crowd, how you make the fans love or hate you. Watching people create characters and express themselves in odd ways is fun.

 You just mentioned the physical aspect of wrestling, which of course is a big part of it. How did you prepare for the actual fight scenes?

 So, I had a great stunt double on set named Tanner, he was great and super impressive, and he did some amazing work. But, when it came to the wrestling scenes – because I didn’t have that many – it was all me. He was always on standby, waiting with the costume on, but I never gave him the chance.

 What were those scenes like? Did you have muscle memory from playing as a kid?

 [Laughs] Well, not so much of that. We had Chavo, who was amazing. We had a week with him just going over the basics of wrestling. We started from the ground up. I’m naturally athletic and I played a lot of sports growing up, so I think that helped. I was just having a lot of fun with it. I was taking it as seriously as possible, but I couldn’t help but feel like “This is crazy, I’m getting paid to do this.”

 You worked with some amazing people on this movie. What was it like acting alongside Zac Efron or Jeremy Allen White?

 I was a fan of pretty much every other cast member on set beforehand. The first day I met Zac, Harris [Dickinson] and Jeremy, we were all wrestling and practising before we started shooting. I was shitting my pants. I was sitting down, watching them all wrestle while I read my book, but they all came and introduced themselves. Everyone was so nice and down to earth. I don’t know what I was expecting, I guess I didn’t have any expectations but soon the four of us all developed a nice banter. They all knew it was my first big production, they were very encouraging and helpful. I asked for advice and stories of their careers…

 Was there anything that stood out to you?

 Well, it wasn't actual advice. I learned a lot just by watching them. Zac was asking for advice from everyone. That’s someone with a big name in the industry who is open to figuring out a scene with a different approach. He asked me for advice at one point and I was trying so hard to give him something worth his time. I remember taking a step back while shooting and thinking, “Wow, these are amazing actors.” They were just so good to work off. Even on days I didn’t have to be on set, I would be there watching them do their thing.

 I’ve heard some stories of the dynamic on set, particularly one where you sang a High School Musical song to Zac.

 [Laughs] Well, I have this big music scene that we were unsure of. For weeks we were having conversations about how we were going to do it, if we were doing it live or pre-recording it. The night before, we decided I would do it live. I was freaking out. I had to pull myself out of that, to bring some levity to it. So, I learned the chords for the final duet in that movie, and I thought you know, if I get the chance, I’ll do it. And in between takes, I saw the opportunity, so I started singing it. It was fun, we all started laughing and joking around.

 You mentioned this was your first major project and you had a quite tragic role. How did you access that vulnerability?

 I honestly find it kind of difficult to reach that place. But what I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter how internal a performance is if it doesn’t resonate with the audience. It all depends on the scene and character. But I think it's more important to project something instead of internalizing it, but that might be more of a writer’s perspective than an actor’s.

Do you ever think about writing?

 Definitely. I mean, I’m not the best writer but I’ve been trying to get better for the past couple of years. Screenwriting specifically is something I love doing. I make music as well and I love writing songs too. At this point, I’m just doing it for myself, it's meditative and rewarding. I feel like I'm an artist at the forefront. I want to do different things.

 

Do you see yourself diving into more light-hearted roles in the future? Or do you enjoy exploring your vulnerability?

 Of course, I’d love to explore everything. But honestly… I come from a very creative family, but we have this genetic tendency to bottle our emotions up. I have that trait too, which is not necessarily great for an actor. But I think that’s kind of my way through it. By playing a character, I have a way to express myself emotionally.

…

Interview by Pedro Vasconcelos

Photography by Ritchie Jo Espenilla

Fashion by Simon Dae Dissing Bacher

Grooming by Jessica Ortiz using R & Co

All clothes Celine Homme

ACTING ROYALTY

LAST WEEK, LUTHER FORD WAS LAUNCHED FROM RELATIVE OBSCURITY AS AN UP-AND-COMING ACTOR-WRITER-DIRECTOR, INTO AN IMMEDIATE SUPERSTAR – WHY YOU ASK? WELL, HE JUST PLAYED ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS RED HEADS ON THE PLANET, PRINCE HARRY, IN THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED FINAL SEASON OF THE CROWN. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE RISING BRITISH TALENT TO CHAT ABOUT HIS NEW LIFE AS A HAZZA LOOKALIKE… ALTHOUGH HIS MUM DOESN’T THINK HE BEARS ANY RESEMBLANCE TO THE HOT-HEADED DUKE AT ALL.

Left Shirt and tie Valentino, coat Simone Rocha

Right Full look Maison Margiela

Firstly, have you ever met a royal or had an experience with a royal?

 I once saw Tom Parker Bowles in a newsagent. Does that count?

 

Um, ok… what’s the most British thing about you?

 I’m playing Prince Harry in The Crown. I don’t know if I could do something more British than that. How about, I drank many cups of tea whilst playing Prince Harry in The Crown?

Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

 Yes, speaking of Harry… have you read his book then? I’m thinking Spare might not have been part of your preparation for playing him in Season 6 of The Crown?!

 Of course I have! Or I listened to the audiobook on repeat at least. The early chapters were very useful for the period we were dealing with. Most scenes could be linked to a specific chapter. It was kind of perfect really, I’d check in with him in my trailer just before heading onto set.

Left Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Right Full look Miu Miu

 When you’re playing a real-life figure, is the impulse to go on a YouTube deep dive to watch as much footage as you can? Or did you delve into the history and spend hours practicing in front of a mirror to perfect his voice and mannerisms?

 A lot of both. Like all departments, The Crown’s research team have incredible resources and provide you with amazing attentions to detail. When I first got the part, I was sent a library of documentaries, articles, interviews, and books. That was also the moment when I began to realise, “oh fuck, I’m actually doing this!” I just stayed in my room for about 2 weeks and treated it like I was preparing for an exam. Lots of red notebooks. I always spend too much time writing out titles. But I looked for all the details and insights that I could understand or relate to. And absolutely, I’ve been on every YouTube deep dive you could imagine. The holy grail really was an interview he did for his 21st birthday. That was my soundtrack for 6 months. Though in the end, you do have to leave that all behind and let go. It’s not an impression, it’s about building on an essence, I think. Ultimately these are characters in Peter Morgan’s world.

Cardigan, sweater and underwear Miu Miu, pants Zadig&Voltaire

 How did the audition for the part play out, and why did you go up for it? Have people told you in the past that you bear a strong physical resemblance to the younger prince?

 So, my brother’s girlfriend sent me the open casting call, which my sister had reposted on Facebook. Clearly, she is the better casting director. It was something along the lines of “You’re ginger, and you have a cheeky smile, so why not?” I’d never acted before on any professional level or been to drama school, but I’ve always acted in my own films out of necessity. So yes, I thought what is there to lose? It seemed so unusual that something as huge as The Crown was doing an open casting call. I had a perfect blend of logic, “It doesn’t work this way - you haven’t got a chance” and then a dose of naive arrogance, “Yeah, but I think I might get it.” So, I didn’t feel any real pressure. In terms of a resemblance, no, not really to be honest. But then again, when you’re ginger, everyone thinks you’re related. I have to thank my brother’s girlfriend, so thank you! My mum’s exact words I think were, “you don’t look anything like him, course you won’t get it.” Funny.

 

You know that Harry binge-watches The Crown with Google open, fact-checking everything, which he revealed on The Late Show in the US. No pressure then?!

 Yeah… I feel he’ll have a tough time if he is fact-checking. I think it’s sort of widely acknowledged that it’s Peter Morgan’s reimagining. It is a drama after all. 

Left Full look Prada

Right Full look Dior Men

Well, season 6 takes place in the late ’90s and early 2000s. What can you tell us (that you’re allowed to), about some of the scenes you’ve filmed and locations. Are there any highlights which you can’t wait for audiences to see, or scenes that really challenged you?

 It’s like being on a tour with a really strange band. Imelda Staunton is leading the way. Great singer! We went all over the country filming in various country homes and estates - it was incredible. That was definitely one of the best things about filming as I really got to know the UK geographically in a way I never have before. Well…I can’t say too much, but I think I’m most excited to see how the story of brotherhood translates. It’s not black and white, there’s a lot of love between them, but also a lot of competition, pain and resentment.

Left Shirt Maison Margiela, Tee Jordanluca

Right Full look Ferragamo

 The series catapulted Emma Corrin to global fame as its Princess Diana, are you ready for what’s coming, being on the cusp of mega-stardom?

 No. I try not to think about any of that to be honest. I don’t think that rule applies to everyone so I’m just rolling with the punches.

 

Has this experience changed how you perceive Prince Harry and the rest of the Royal Family when you see them on television, do you empathise with him more?

 Absolutely, I think it’s almost impossible not to. Especially when you’ve spent so long thinking about them as a family, rather than as an institution. You have to find a connection, which can be difficult because they’re also so alien!

Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

 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, or genres you’re drawn to?

 

I think often I’m drawn to things that are on the darker, more twisted side, but still intimate. I like things that have a sense of reality - that feel real but also exist within a heightened world. I’m interested in family dynamics and the rules and rituals of our relationships. I also like a bit of silence.

 

Who inspires you? Actors, musicians, writers – anybody!

 Ooh okay, it changes all the time but right now; Julia Ducournau (I loved Titane), Céline Sciamma, Steve McQueen (I just watched Shame), David Lynch of course - what an artist, Mac Miller, Isabelle Huppert, Franz Rogowski, Mark Rylance, Alexander McQueen, Jim Carrey, the list goes on and on and on…

Left Full look Alexander McQueen

Right Full look Valentino

 You’ve also written and directed your own film shorts and are currently studying to be a director at the Arts University Bournemouth. Tell me more about your goals? Did you go to acting school at all and do you want to pursue acting full-time or a bit of both with the directing too?

 Yes! I’ve always made films. Me and my long-term collaborator, Cameron Moffat, have been creating things since we were 7. Perhaps partly since when growing up I wasn’t allowed to watch TV, so in a strange way that was how I’d entertain myself. But as I grew up, I fell in love with watching films and thinking about stories. We’re working on a number of projects at the moment and have our eyes on a horror film next! I know I want to work in this industry in some form, it’s all I’ve ever thought about. I think ideally, I’d do both! That’s Ideally.

Left Full look Dior Men

Right Full look Emporio Armani

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

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

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Bruno McGuffie

Fashion by Steven Huang

EIC Michael Marson

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Grooming by Charlie Cullen using Babyliss pro and Woolf kings X hair products

Photographer’s assistant Charlie Cullen

Stylist’s assistant Niamh Mannion 

COOL COMPLEXITY

HE MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, BUT BABY-FACED 22-YEAR-OLD ACTOR GRIFFIN GLUCK, HAS ALREADY STARRED IN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS INCLUDING NETFLIX’S TALL GIRL, LOCKE & KEY, MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE, BIG TIME ADOLESCENCE, AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A YOUNG ARTIST AWARD FOR HIS ROLE IN THE COMEDY FILM JUST GO WITH IT.

GLUCK CONTINUES TO ASCEND TO NEW REALMS OF INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, LANDING HIMSELF THE ROLE OF LUKE CHAMBERS IN THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED SECOND SEASON OF ANTHOLOGY DRAMA SERIES CRUEL SUMMER – AND THIS TIME AROUND, FANS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE SUMMER OF Y2K, WHERE LOVE TRIANGLES HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. AS WE CATCH UP WITH HIM ON ZOOM, GLUCK IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSED AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF A CHARMING OLD TOWN IN ITALY (HE LIKES TO TRAVEL), FOR A CHAT ABOUT PLAYING LEAD LOVE INTERESTS AND STEPPING UP HIS STYLE GAME.

Left Coat Loewe

Right Top, jacket and pants Givenchy, shoes Dr. Martens

So, let’s talk about Season 2 of Cruel Summer, with all its twists and turns, and your character Luke who’s entangled in a bit of a love triangle. You’ve also played the main love interest before in the Tall Girl movies. What do you think makes you the perfect leading man?

Oh, I’m the last person you should ask! Every time I get one of these jobs, I feel like I’m robbing the studios, because I’m actually just a regular guy. I think it’s just what’s most available at my age, for the demographic. Most of the roles I’m going out for are either a nerd or love interest, because that’s what I think most of the stories being written are about right now.

Which one do you prefer, the nerd or the love interest?

A solid mix of both!

Left Coat Givenchy

Right Sweater Kidill, Undershirt Givenchy, Pants Good Fight, Shoes Dr. Martens

Well, speaking of leading men, one fashion brand has their eye on you, as you’ve been collaborating with CELINE for a while now. How would describe your relationship with fashion since they took you under their wing?

I didn’t have the best fashion sense growing up, but that’s slowly started to evolve now. When I’m travelling with work, I really enjoy walking around and shopping and I care about how things fit, and how I present myself. I also think growing up in the public eye made me care about how people view me, and I wanted to look better, less nerdy! When Celine joined the picture years ago when they sent me some gifts and I went to one of their shows, it definitely helped me step up my fashion game – at least when it comes to events and red carpets. I thought, “oh ok, this is what I could be dressing and looking like.” Celine dressed me for the Cruel Summer premiere too, and I don’t think I ever want to go back to dressing myself!

Well fashion is an important element in this next season of Cruel Summer, as it’s full of Y2K trends. I bet you just loved that whole flip-flops and cargo shorts look, right? Does the costume / wardrobe aspect help when getting into character?

Oh, I’m not into flip flops and cargo shorts at all! I do wear Birkenstocks, but they’re a solid fashion choice. I think for any role, wardrobe can tell you a lot about how the character views themselves. That’s the fun thing about fashion, that you can get into the relative psychology of it all; it’s like if a person dresses a certain way, it says a certain thing about them. It’s not always a negative or positive thing, but it helps you figure out who that person is, it shows personality. So, for any character I take on, even if I don’t like how they dress, it immediately tells you that my character chose to wear this stuff today, in this world that this person exists in, they don’t have a wardrobe person choosing their clothes for them – they choose to wear these clothes every day. So, I didn’t like Luke’s clothes in Cruel Summer, but I had to wear them every single day and say, “Luke really likes how he looks!”

Full looks Celine Homme

What about the music, does that also help with immersing yourself in Luke’s shoes? Did you make playlists of any iconic 90s tunes?

Music didn’t play as huge a role for Luke, weirdly enough, I just thought that Luke wasn’t a huge music guy, and it was never part of the script that he listened to music, other than at parties and stuff. So, it didn’t seem all that important to me. That being said, everyone in the cast had early to late 90s and 2000s playlists going, which we would use to get into the vibe and mindset of being in that era.

So maybe Luke isn’t into music, but are you?

I’m a big music fan! I have a speaker that I would bring to set every day and I would let anyone connect to it, and play anything from the 90s to the 2000s, but I had one rule that if I said, “skip”, they had to skip!

Left Celine Homme

Right Top, scarf and shorts Good Fight, shoes Givenchy

There’s obviously a lot of lovey-dovey songs as a backdrop soundtrack to this next season of Cruel Summer. Do you have your own go-to track that you listen to when you’re in love or break-up situ?

There’s one song, I love You So by The Walters. I listened to that a lot when we were filming, and in my own past breakups.

There’s a real nostalgic element with the show and its soundtrack, because they’re relatable to us all, in that sense of finding yourself as a teenager and belonging to something. Did you draw on any personal teen high school experiences to really get into the essence of Luke’s character?

Absolutely. That was what attracted me to the role in the first place. Luke’s just a silly teenage boy who’s making a lot of mistakes, and the best way to learn from something, is to make that mistake and let it teach you. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, like in romantic or personal relationships with people, and I like to think I’ve learned and become a better person because of them. So, it was really nice for me to be able to get on set and try to be that Luke character and draw from all those mistakes. It was almost cathartic in a way, it felt weirdly, badly good, to revisit those mistakes and see them in a different context.

Left Jacket Kidill, shorts Goodfight, shoes Dr. Martens

Right Full look Acne Studios

The show has a strong fanbase, and there is a pressure with every next season to live up to the last one.  Did you feel that pressure at any point, coming in for S2, not wanting to disappoint the fans who likely have high expectations?

Obviously, the pressure was there, but I tried not to think about it too much. In my mind I knew we were going into a new season, that had a new cast, a new storyline and it had nothing to do with the first season at all. So, in my mind it was a new project entirely, with the same name and structure, but other than that, it was a new show. The pressure mostly came from me wanting to make a good season of TV, and what we’re doing is so wildly different, and I hope they take this show for what it is now. We’re not trying to do season one better than they did, or do the same thing, we’re trying to do something different, and I want people to enjoy it just as much.

Were you given any freedom to explore Luke’s character and maybe put your own stamp on him, and was the show in any way challenging for you at all?

I had no say in Luke’s direction and obviously I’m the one portraying him, but in terms of the things he did and said, I had zero control. Our show runner was very particular about the lines and wanted to make sure the lines were said exactly as they were written, which is a new thing for me. I’ve always done shows where I thrive best when I have that room to play and explore the character, and if I feel like maybe he would say something different, then I’ll say something different! That’s my background, that’s the space I feel most comfortable in, being able to improvise a little bit and get to sit with the character and not be so word perfect. I feel that’s when I lose the sense of being in the moment. It was a challenge for me personally, I would’ve liked to have had the freedom to let loose with Luke. That being said, the writing is fantastic!
I’m nervous as to whether people will like this season, as it’s a job that took me out of my comfort zone, which is good, as that’s how you grow as an actor.

Left Full look Loewe

Right Top, jacket and pants Givenchy, shoes Dr. Martens

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

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

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Donna Lisa

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Grooming by Zaheer Sukhnandan

Stylist's assistant Alex Levy

INTERPLANETARY HEROINE

YOU MAY RECOGNISE BRITISH ACTRESS ELLA-RAE SMITH FROM NETFLIX’S THRILLER THE STRANGER, IN WHICH SHE PLAYED THE CHARACTER OF DAISY, ALONGSIDE HER OTHER APPEARANCES AS NIX IN INTO THE BADLANDS, PHOEBE PARKER-FOX IN BBC’S TV THRILLER SERIES, CLIQUE, AND ISLA IN THE INDIE FILM SWEETHEART. NOW SHE’S REIGNING AS QUEEN SARETH, THE POWERFUL MONARCH OF A GALACTIC EMPIRE, IN APPLE TV+’S SCI-FI EPIC FOUNDATION. WE CHATTED WITH THE RISING YOUNG TALENT ABOUT DRESSING AS A QUEEN, VS DRESSING FOR A MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Left Coat and dress N°21, earrings Valentino

Right Full look Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

You’re appearing in season 2 of Foundation on Apple TV+ – had Foundation been on your radar before you joined; had you seen the first season?
Foundation had been on my radar for a few years as I’d auditioned for a role in season one. It was only after I got the role of Queen Sareth that season one began airing, so I was watching it with the rest of the world alongside getting ready to join the cast.

Queen Sareth as a character is such a positive and relatable force for women, particularly in how she’s confident, fearless and intelligent, and also not afraid to show her vulnerability and emotions. What was it like to play such a powerful monarch?
I loved playing Queen Sareth, she is so well written and the journey she goes on is tough but ultimately really rewarding. It was really interesting to approach the idea of entering an arranged marriage with someone you feel is your enemy and I love how she manages to resolve the situation. The way she leads as a monarch is a complete contrast to Brother Day; he has always known he would be in charge and is actively seeking to prolong that rather than pass it to the next in line. Sareth did not expect to rule her own planet, let alone theirs! Where Day chooses violence and aggression, she chooses to listen and show compassion. They’re a terrible match. I hope audiences will root for her and feel satisfied with how the series ends for her.

Well, her introduction to the empire brings a fresh perspective on motives and power dynamics.  What are her true intentions in having a biological baby with Brother Day? Can you enlighten us?
Sareth actually isn’t interested in having Day’s baby, that and the marriage are very much his desires. Before meeting her, his expectation is a passive bride who will mother his children... He doesn’t even question whether or not any of this is something she wants. In choosing her as his bride he attempts to take her power, to reduce her to a body that will create his heirs. Without spoilers, she works to regain power in a very interesting way. It’s a situation where for her own safety, she allows him to believe he is in control which in some ways mirrors the relationship between Day and Demerzel.

Left Dress and shoes Isabel Marant, jewellery Sweetlimejuice

Right Full look Valentino

So how else did you prepare for the role?
I don’t often have specific preparation techniques per se, I just read the scripts, delve into the imaginary world, and begin crafting my character based on what I can learn from the script and conversations with the other creatives. I think my main element of preparation going into any role is relaxing into my new surroundings, being comfortable in my workspace. Feeling safe, forming positive working relationships and friendships with my colleagues allows me to do my best work. I guess psychologically, it allows me to be more vulnerable in my work when I know people have my back.

I imagine the costumes, hair and make-up all helped you to transform into character and embody the role of Queen Sareth too? Do you have a favourite look?
Absolutely! My favourite look is a one shoulder sky blue gown printed with a cloud-like pattern that was crafted in silk and floated in the air as I walked. It was my last costume to be made and I can remember the first fitting, it was honestly the same level of excitement as trying on a wedding dress. I was blown away by the artistry of the dress. The magnificently talented seamstress Emma Reeve, who previously worked in couture, worked on all my pieces and her craftsmanship is impeccable. I’m so grateful to her and our costume designer Jane Petrie for creating the most beautiful costumes I’ve ever worn.

What was the dynamic like on set between you and other cast members? Did working with people like Lee Pace and Laura Birn inspire you in terms of evolving as an actor, learning new things and improving your craft?
In its essence acting is reacting, so working with super talented actors only makes my job easier. Finding yourself suspended in a moment which in actuality is imaginary, but you are both so deeply committed to existing within it, feels like electricity. You know the shape of the scene, but when you’re both living in it like that you have the ability to surprise each other and respond accordingly. It’s like emotional ping pong. I felt that working with both Laura Birn and Lee Pace; they are incredible actors, and both were an absolute joy to work with.

Do you have any personal highlights from being on set?
Throughout my career I’ve worked in a lot of really cold places, but Foundation saw me in much warmer locations. It was dreamy being outdoors in the sun between setups with my cast mates, chatting and drinking iced coffees. Though saying that, the built sets in studios were also insane. The palace on Trantor, the mural and Sareth and Day’s bedroom are all full-scale sets. My favourite thing was the dining table which was beautifully laid with an intricate space styled feast.

What do you hope for your character in future seasons… maybe we’ll see your home planet, Cloud Dominion?
No spoilers... but I would love to see Cloud Dominion. I love the idea of a Queendom run by Sareth, I imagine it would be a complete contrast to Empire. Also, from a production design perspective, based off the season two costumes and makeup, I think the planet itself would look magical - I see it as something like flying above clouds at sunset. But those are my imaginings - not a reality!

Left Shirt Isabel Marant, necklace Dries Criel

Right Coat and dress N°21, earrings Valentino, shoes Miu Miu

You had a fantastic imagination as a child too, as I read that you liked to create imaginary worlds and dramas with your dolls – was acting a dream career for you then?
Before I discovered acting, writing was my favourite thing. I think ultimately, I have a love for storytelling in all forms; song lyrics, novels, my friends explaining in great detail some crazy thing that’s happened in their lives. My Barbie and Bratz dolls were basically living in a soap opera, with the singular Ken likely being the main source of their drama. I feel like most of my childhood was spent in my imagination; with dolls, playing make believe with my friends and writing stories. Aside from the dolls, not much has changed.

Is there a specific genre you’d like to explore?
I’ve been a huge Wes Anderson fan for years (my fave is The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) so working with him is my ultimate dream. Greta Gerwig, of course. I love her and Noah Baumbach’s writing, specifically their work together on Frances Ha. But I have a very long list of dream directors that I’d love to work with: Amma Asante, Steve McQueen, Barry Jenkins, Jonathon Entwistle, Ben Sharrock, Damien Chazelle, Bar Lurhman and Joe Wright.

I’d love to do a musical too. I can’t think of anything better than singing and dancing all day long. I’m by no means a trained musical theatre performer, I’m just a huge fan of musicals and I know I would love the process. I’d also love to do something historical; I would really enjoy deep diving into research on something or someone.

Full look Miu Miu

You’re also a writer I was told – what stories do you like to tell and what’s your process? Will there be a new release soon?
I’ve been secretly scribbling away at some ideas, though I’m not sure if or when I’ll share them with the wider world. I’ve always written in different forms and even though I’ve been reading scripts for years, it’s only recently that I’ve begun writing them myself. I think the overarching theme of all my stories is my humour and tone. I’m a 1998 baby, just on the cusp of Gen Z, so I hope my voice is relatable to that audience in particular.

Well, audiences will also know you from those familiar Rimmel, ‘Live the London look!’ ads, as you’ve modelled for many brands too. You were born in Bristol, but you live in London now, so what’s your London look then, are you into style and do you prefer red carpet/night out or casual?
I left Bristol and came to London when I was seventeen and spent two years in-between in Brighton. I love all three cities, but Bristol will always feel like home. I love how anonymous you feel in London and how no matter how long I live here, I’ll never know every corner of it. But Bristol... Bristol is just so much fun. Not to mention its proximity to the South Coast, Dorset and Devon and Cornwall. I recommend a trip to anyone who hasn’t been!

As for my wardrobe, it’s an eclectic mix of both. I sort of collect clothes, so I have lots of unique special occasion pieces in my wardrobe and then my day-to-day tomboyish style, usually completed with a pair of Dr Martens. I also have to divide my wardrobe between what’s dog friendly and not - I’ve had too many pale trousers muddied and delicate jumpers snagged over the years!

I saw on your IG stories that you went to the Womad festival this year. In a time when young people feel more fragile, do you think music festivals help to restore hope, joy and spread love and support to everybody?
My family and I have been going to WOMAD since I was little. My earliest memory of going is wading through thick sticky mud to watch Nile Rogers & Chic with my mum. I think musical festivals create a sense of freedom that can be hard to find in normal life - they are essentially adult playgrounds where a collection of likeminded people gathers to dance, eat and laugh before going back to their individual lives. They definitely restore joy and spread love; besides I much prefer dancing outdoors than indoors!

It’s impossible to think of festival style of course without thinking of the Glasto days of Kate Moss or Alexa Chung. What’s your vibe then, the look we’ll all be talking about and trying to copy years from now…?
I have to say, I pick function over fashion at festivals. A bumbag and comfortable shoes are essential, but my outfit choices are heavily weather dependent. If the sun is out, then I’ll be putting thought into styling my craziest and most colourful clothes, but if the English weather turns and the heavens open, then it’s survival mode: wellies and waterproofs all the way!

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

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

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Ho Hai Tran

Fashion by Steven Huang

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Hair by Stefan Bertin

Make-Up by Emily Wood

Set Design by Tom Hope

Photographer’s assistant Josh Hippolyte

Stylist’s assistant Niamh Mannion

Set designer assistant Titus Hope

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE VILLAIN

PLAYING THE BAD GUY DOESN’T COME NATURALLY TO SAMUEL BOTTOMLEY. BUT YOU’D NEVER BE ABLE TO TELL BY WATCHING HOW TO HAVE SEX. HIS LATEST MOVIE MAKES HIM THE CATALYST FOR A DARK TWIST IN A SEEMINGLY LIGHTHEARTED FILM. THE BAFTA NOMINEE CONFESSES IT WASN’T AN EASY TASK TO BE THE VILLAIN, HAVING TO DIVE INTO THE MIND OF A PERSON WHOSE ACTIONS HE DESPISED. THE SCARIEST PART, HOWEVER, WAS THAT HE WAS PLAYING SOMEONE WE’VE ALL MET, THE TYPE OF MAN THAT CAN BE AT EVERY PARTY, IN EVERY BAR. BOTTOMLEY’S FIRST TIME PLAYING A DARK CHARACTER MIGHT BE ONE OF THE LAST “FIRSTS” HE HAS LEFT. THROUGHOUT HIS FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD CAREER, THE YOUNG ACTOR HAS ACHIEVED MORE THAN MOST CAN DREAM OF. BUT HIS HORIZONS ARE STILL DISTANT. DESPITE HIS EARLY START, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

Left Full look Versace

Right Coat Loewe

You’ve mentioned that How to Have Sex feels like a movie that speaks to your generation. Why do you think that is?
I think a lot of it was in the language they used. Reading the script was just like hearing someone who went to school with you. It just felt so free-flowing. There were also so many moments that were improvised that made it all so much more authentic.

Do you enjoy having that freedom to improvise or do you prefer a more rigid script?
I think it depends. If I’m playing something closer to me - I mean, if I’m playing a Northern young man who comes from the working class, things will come a lot easier to me. In that instance, it’s good because my experience can offer something to the role I’m playing, especially with my dialect and slang. But if I’m playing a 1914 servant, there’s a limited number of contributions I can make. But creatively, I’m always looking for ways to pitch in my own thing.

Left Full look Miu Miu

Right Coat Loewe, pants Miu Miu, shoes J.M.Weston, watch Omega

How to Have Sex brings up a lot of heavy issues. What kind of conversations do you hope it catalyzes?
I think it’s a reflective film that will make young men look into themselves and ask themselves very scary questions. I think a lot of those happened on set.

What was the set like? Because it is a party movie in its essence, but it has a deeper meaning…
I think everyone felt a strong sense of responsibility to bring “it” every single day. We all had a sense that this was a movie that could be almost educational. I think this could be played in schools. This is something I would like to show my kids when I have them. We all felt a responsibility to keep it authentic. When you’re working on a movie, a lot of things can disappear from the script, and we really didn’t want that. This was our baby.

Your character is the catalyst for the dramatic turn in the movie. Do you find it hard to empathize when you’re playing the “bad guy”?
Definitely. Even though I think his actions come from a place of the lack of education, he is very selfish. I have never felt sorry for him in any way. To be honest, I hated him. He was one of the toughest characters I’ve ever played. At moments I thought, “Why couldn’t I have Shaun’s [Thomas] character?” But then I got myself back to Earth. There was a reason why I was playing him. So, once I got over the initial stage, I was very proud I pulled it off.

I think that’s what was interesting, he is a very specific character…
That’s the thing, he doesn’t think he’s a bad guy, which is something everyone experiences. Everyone thinks they’re the hero in their own right. That stuck with me throughout my entire creative process. The thing is… We all know someone like him. That’s the scariest part, there’s a guy like that at every party.

Left Full look Versace

Right Coat Loewe

Even though the movie has such a dark undertone, you filmed in an amazing place,  Crete. Did you manage to enjoy it while you were there?
100%. Shaun and I had already worked together, so we were running around having fun. My dad had just passed his sailing license, so I had him come out with my mom. We rented a boat. We dropped anchor on the beach of Malia and… the anchor is still there. We dropped it on some rocks. So, there’s a piece of us forever in that sea forever. We made it out in one piece, but I had to swim 18 meters to the bottom of the ocean to try and pull it off. We had a blast.

The conversation around child actors has resurfaced recently. Since you started in the business so young, what was your experience like?
I think when people hear “child actor”, they instantly think of Home Alone. But, to me, I remember understanding that I was living in a special situation. That’s all it’s ever been for me, knowing how lucky I am. My mom and dad reminded me of my privilege. It does bring its challenges. I think growing up, while you’re still discovering things about yourself, it might not be the best thing. But for me, I have always just wanted to act. I would have been very upset if I had never had that opportunity. 

Since you started so young, did you ever think about doing something else?
When I did my first movie, Tyrannosaur, I remember my mom asking me, “Do you want to be an actor now?” And I told her, “No, I want to be a cameraman.” That lasted all but that day. Ever since then, all I’ve wanted was to act. I think at some point, later in my career, I’d love to create my own stories. I want to create my own environment on a set. To write and direct.

Left Full look Miu Miu

Right Full look Prada

Do you have an idea of what that story might be?
I always try to sit down and figure it out. So far nothing special has come out. But the number of lives I’ve had throughout my career, I have to at least have one good idea. I know that it’s going to come at some point, I just don’t know when.

You’ve worked with some amazing actors at a very young age. As you reach your adulthood, how do you think they’ve contributed to the person you are now?
I think the generation of actors that was just above mine has had a real influence on me. Jack O’Connell, George MacKay, and Alex Roach all had a massive impact on me. They were young too but still much older than me at the time. I remember Jack telling me to walk into every audition and, in his words, “fucking smash it”. No matter if I liked the script or not, go into an audition and make an impression on every person you meet. That’s something I carry with me. Even now, in this interview, I want to make a great impression.

Since you’ve already achieved so much in your career, what goals do you have?
Lots of things. There are still loads of people I would love to work with. I’m nowhere near the middle of my career. I still have so many good films and series to come along. For now, I just love to work. I still want to make films with my favourite directors. People like Guy Ritchie, Shane Meadows, or Quentin Tarantino. I know there’s such a massive dream to fill out. But I’ve achieved others, I’ve worked with Tim Roth. It can happen, I’m in the right place to have it happen. In this industry, I never feel too silly dreaming about anything.

Interview by Pedro Vasconcelos

Photography by David Sessions

Fashion by Steven Huang

Grooming by Sven Bayerbach at Carol Hayes Management using Daimon Barber

Casting by Imagemachine CS

Stylist assistant Elisa Carcano

THE ROAD AHAED

FRANKIE CORIO SAYS THAT HER DAY-TO-DAY LIFE HAS NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH SINCE STARRING IN CHARLOTTE WELLS’ POIGNANT INDIE EXPLORING A FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP, AFTERSUN – WELL, MAYBE EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT SHE NOW HAS A FAN PAGE ON INSTAGRAM. THE FILM HAS BEEN CORIO’S DEBUT ON THE SCREEN AND THE 13-YEAR-OLD SCOTTISH ACTRESS EXCELLED IN HER TOUCHING PORTRAYAL OF SOPHIE, SHOWING HER INCREDIBLE EMOTIONAL RANGE THAT IS SURE TO BE SEEN IN MANY FEATURES TO COME. THANKS TO THE PROJECT, CORIO ALSO GAINED A NEW FRIEND – HER CO-STAR AND OSCAR NOMINEE, PAUL MESCAL (THE TWO ARE STILL IN TOUCH AND OFTEN SEND EACH OTHER FUNNY MEMES AND PHOTOS). WHAT’S MESCAL’S MOST DAD-LIKE QUALITY? “LET’S BE HONEST, IT’S DEFINITELY THE WAY HE DANCES!”

Left Jacket and shoes Miu Miu, skirt Andersson Bell, tights Falke

Right Knitwear Paul Smith, hat stylist’s own

Aftersun was your very first role - what surprised you the most about the way films are made?
The thing that surprised me the most was that the scenes are not shot in the order of the story. Also, just how many people it takes to create a film!

What did you find most helpful about understanding the experiences that your character was going through? Were you aware of how the story would end?
Charlotte, the director, didn’t want me to know what was really going on so that I would remain a bit more innocent. I think it was easier for me to be able to do it without knowing what was happening. But I understood it all once I saw the film.

Left Knitwear Paul Smith, shoes and bag Zadig&Voltaire, hat stylist’s own

Right Hat Pronounce, cardigan Pariser, shirt Christian Dior

In the movie, you have a very believable father-daughter relationship with your co-star, Paul Mescal. How did you guys build that bond off-screen?
Paul and I came to Turkey two weeks prior to the shoot to get to know each other but I don’t think we needed that much time – we got close very quickly after just a couple of days.

Did you do any fun activities during those two weeks?
We would do things that people usually do on holiday. For example, I never knew how to play pool, so he taught me how to and we would play it, sometimes with my actual dad as well. Also, we did a lot of swimming. And a lot of eating ice cream and waffles. [Laughs]

Left Jacket, skirt and shoes Prada, top 18.01 archive, tights Falke

Right Jacket Miu Miu

Who was better at pool? Paul or your dad?
Oh, that one’s hard!

Or maybe you were the best out of the three?
I wish, I definitely was not! I would say Paul, but I think my dad might be sad that I said that. [Laughs]

Are you and Paul still in touch?
Yeah, we still text. I actually text him quite a lot and send him quite random things. He probably gets sick of me messaging him a lot but he deals with it, so it’s all fine.

Left Jumper Isabel Marant, necklaces Slim Barrett, jeans 18.01 archive

Right Full look Miu Miu

[Laughs] What was the last thing you sent him?
I think it was a photo that someone took of him, a paparazzi photo.

What was the scene in the film that brought you the most joy while shooting it?
I really enjoyed jumping into the pool with my clothes on. I don’t think I’ll ever get to do that again. [Laughs] Also, the dancing scene.

Having this brilliant experience, is acting something you want to pursue more now?
Yes, I definitely want to keep doing it more in the future – it’s the best job you can have!

Jumper Isabel Marant, necklaces Slim Barrett, hat stylist’s own

What do you find most exciting about being an actor?
Probably going to the award shows. It’s really cool because it makes you feel like a celebrity.

Which of the events that you went to felt most glamorous?
The BAFTA awards.

What do you remember the most about that night?
The fact that I lost my ring that was borrowed and I was freaking out that I would get in trouble. I lost it on the floor and then at the end, everyone in the rows next to me was helping me look for it and we found it under someone’s seat. Also, obviously, the fact that Charlotte won awards – that was really cool!

Finally, what’s a film that you love to watch over and over again?
The Parent Trap. It just brings me so much joy!

Left Hat Pronounce, Cardigan Pariser, shirt and skirt Christian Dior, tights Falke, shoes Zadig&Voltaire

Right Knitwear Paul Smith, hat stylist’s own

Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Nathan Henry

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Hair & Make-up by Mairi Gordon using Milk Makeup & Eleven Australia

Stylist’s assistant Rachel Allison

SUPERNATURAL HIGH

MAKING HIS TV DEBUT ON OUR SCREENS AS HARLAN BRIGGS, IN THE SUPERNATURAL DRAMA, WOLF PACK, TYLER LAWRENCE GRAY HAS ALREADY EARNED HIMSELF A PACK OF FANS HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF (PUN INTENDED), FOR MORE OF THIS TEEN BEAST FAVOURITE!

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HIS CHARACTER IN THE SERIES, WHICH COMBINES TEEN ANGST, POLICE INVESTIGATIONS AND WEREWOLVES IN ONE PRETTY PACKAGE. AWOOOOOL!

You’re a newcomer to the industry but have been crazy popular on TikTok creating entertaining and relatable content for your audience. So how was it making your TV series debut in Wolf Pack, and did the social media interaction help your confidence with the way you engaged on screen and on set with the cast?
I definitely think that it helped prepare me for what the outcome of the show would feel like, having that attention from people whether it’s positive or negative, and having to be okay with either. It also led me on a path to more creativity and critical thinking when it comes to entertainment. However, I had been studying and training acting before I started social media, so I really consider it more of a way to showcase your personality and talents.

Left top Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

Well, you’re showcasing your acting ability to play diverse and interesting characters, like Harlan Briggs in Wolf Pack, as he’s a gay student who moonlights as a werewolf! What was your approach in portraying a LGBTQ character?
One of the things that I love the most about acting is that it challenges you to get out of your comfort zone, to portray someone or something that is unique. Harlan Briggs’ sexual orientation is different than mine, along with his appearance after a full moon! So, although I don’t share some of these qualities with the character whose portrayal is a gay werewolf, I was excited to embody this kind of role. Whenever I’m bringing a character to life, I don’t let any mental barriers get in the way. I’ve been inspired by so many actors and quickly realised that my all-time favourites can separate their own personas and egos from a character they’re playing. The true art of acting is to live in your characters shoes and tell their story. It was an honour to play Harlan alongside the cast on this show, and to be able to represent the LGBTQ community with such a fun, charismatic character.

What’s the fans’ reaction been to Harlan, and do you love all this new attention coming your way?
I really couldn’t have had a more positive reaction to Harlan’s character! When you do projects that are going to be seen by a large audience, you have to be prepared for all kinds of thoughts and reactions from viewers. The positive almost completely outweighed the negative feedback for me, and I really couldn’t be more thankful to all the supporters of the show. The feeling of not only embodying a character, but having people tell you how much they enjoyed watching him, is truly an incredible feeling.

Left Full look Prada

There’s a bit (a lot) of skin and a more adult tone to this series. When you booked the role, were you nervous about your butt also making its debut on screen?!
It did make me nervous at first, especially for my family and friends to see it! But at the same time, it was kind of funny to me. The more I realised it’s no big deal, the more I was okay with it. Also, I’ve always been into body building and aesthetics and whenever I see those people on stage, they’re not scared to expose most of their bodies, as they’re passionate about what they do. I’m passionate about acting and how actors will often stretch to the extremes for the love of their craft and work.

What were the biggest challenges for you then with this being your first major project, and what were the best bits about being on set?
The biggest challenge was getting over my nerves and how high the stakes were regarding the production and the level of talent all around me. Chloe, who plays Luna in the show, gave me great advice, and helped me realise that I was there for a reason, and to just let go and have fun. The best part about being on set was meeting and getting along with the entire cast and crew, they become your family for the entire time the project shoots, and it’s a very wholesome thing. It was great to watch all our characters in the show grow and change as each episode progressed.

The series is from writer / producer Jeff Davis who created the Teen Wolf drama. Did you ever see that show, and what kind of research or preparation did you have to do for this role? Like, did you have to learn all about the behaviour of wolves, or practising how to make the ‘awooo’ sound?!
Yes, I’ve seen a lot of Teen Wolf and I obviously watched even more of it when I booked this role. I did research how wolves interacted with each other in a pack because I wanted to have that knowledge, and Jeff is a brilliant writer who integrated those behaviours into all our characters, even when we were in human form speaking to one another. When it came to the growls and noises, we practised different variations of sounds, and Jeff chose the ones he thought were the most unique!

The series also marks the return of TV sci-fi royalty, Sarah Michelle Gellar too! As part of the new generation of teenage sci-fi stars, did you understand the gravitas of sharing a storyline with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
For sure! I remember the first thing that myself, Chloe, Bella, and Armani did was watch Cruel Intentions. It was a little intimidating, but it also gave us the reassurance that this show was going to be even cooler than we anticipated it might be. Sarah is an icon and just being able to talk to her, and then get to work with her too, was unreal!

Pants Dsquared2

What did you learn from being on set with her and working with other seasoned professionals, are you an observer, taking it all in to apply to your next acting projects?
Working with actors like Sarah, Rodrigo and Lanny was so special. They have decades of life and acting experience which made me nervous, yet eager to pick their brains and learn from them. They all have extremely different approaches. Sarah was always cracking jokes and gave me great advice on what my goals should be, and how not to get distracted in an industry like this. Rodrigo had such a deep passion for acting which I found so beautiful to watch. Having the opportunity to be part of the show with them, and build relationships with them, and even some of their family members, has truly been a blessing.

Left Top Isabel Marant

Right Sweater R13, shorts Ron Dorff

So, what’s in store for Harlan… will there be another season and what do you hope for him?
I hope there will be another season considering where we left off with him and everyone else in season one. Harlan needs to get out of jail and save his romance with Cyrus, but he also needs to find the rest of his pack and family to make sure they are all safe. He’ll have a lot of emotional ups and downs once he finds out who his real family are. I’m sure whoever watches the show is already imagining the possibilities, which are endless!

The show tells a story about finding your pack. Who are the people in your own life who have shaped the person you are today?
My family, who I thank for everything. My brother, sister, mom, and dad all deserve the best that this world has to offer. They are the most trustworthy and genuine people in my life, and I will always stay very close with them. Some of the cast members from Wolf Pack have also become my best friends because we shared such a special experience together. I look for people that help me to work my hardest and stay focused on my goals in life.

Each of the wolves in the Wolf Pack has a different ability, with Harlan and your twin Luna having enhanced senses of hearing and smell. If you could have an enhanced sense in real life, what would it be, and what would you use it to do?
As much as flying or a super strength would be fun, I would choose the ability to time travel. Being able to experience moments so deep in the past or so far in the future would be beyond profound! To relive some of the smallest but greatest moments of my life would bring tears to my eyes. An ability like that is almost too overwhelming to even fathom, so maybe I would just stick with super strength or speed, something fun haha!

Was acting always on the cards for you? You mentioned your passion for bodybuilding, and we can see that on your social media. So, perhaps your next role could be a big action hero or lead in a physically demanding movie, maybe a Marvel sci-fi adventure is next…?
I didn’t even consider studying acting until I was about 16. Which coincidentally was around the same time I lost a lot of weight and started getting into the gym and taking it seriously. I’ve always had a creative mind and enjoyed many forms of art including sketching and sports… yes, I do think sports are an art form, haha! I gained confidence in the gym, which I guess has carried over into acting, and it would be a dream to combine both my passions and play a superhero, soldier, athlete, or villain – any role that could also showcase my physique. I also love dinosaurs and was a huge fan of all the Jurassic Park movies when I was younger, so a dinosaur-themed movie or about a sci-fi creature would be really cool as well!

Left Jacket K-Way

Finally, the last line of your IG bio reads, ‘Just trying to spread a message’. What’s that message then? And do you have a special one for your fans and our readers?
I want to spread my empathetic values and insight on how I feel about people and the world we live in. What I mean by this, is showing people that you can be whoever you want to be in this life, and that you should never take anything for granted. Anything you think about doing or achieving is possible if you don’t let mental barriers and people hold you back. To my fans and anyone reading this, please don’t compare yourself or your life to others! From someone who has suffered from severe dysmorphia with my appearance, there are no expectations for you or your appearance. Live your life the way you dream of and push yourself in the process!

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Hadar Pitchon

Fashion by Gorge Villalpando

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Grooming by Joanna Faivre

THE FINAL BOY

SOMETIMES WE GET SO LOST IN THE BRUTALITY AND FUN OF HORROR MOVIES THAT WE FORGET THEY ARE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH HOPES AND UNFULFILLED DREAMS SLASHED BY MASKED KILLERS OR INFERNAL CREATURES. BUT FROM TIME TO TIME, SOMEONE APPEARS CAPABLE OF RETURNING THE HUMAN TOUCH TO THESE WILD STORIES. ENTER IVÁN PELLICER. FOR THE SPANISH ACTOR, HORROR HAS BEEN ONE OF HIS SPECIALITIES EVER SINCE HE STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY AS A TEENAGER - THE ACCLAIMED FILM ÁNIMAS, THE INTRIGUING SERIES PARADISE AND NOW KILLER BOOK CLUB HAVE SHOWN THAT IVÁN IS A TRUE SCREAM KING. BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WORLD THAT HE’S CAPABLE OF MASTERING: DRAMA, COMEDY AND EVEN MUSICALS ARE GENRES FROM WHICH HE MANAGES TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS, JUST LIKE ALL THOSE SURVIVORS OF MICHAEL, FREDDY OR JASON WHO RISE TRIUMPHANT ONCE THE CREDITS START ROLLING. IVAN'S ADVENTURE HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.

Left Leggins Loewe

Right Cardigan Prada, pants Diesel

Iván, it's a pleasure talking to you. How are you feeling today?
I’m really happy. I’m immersed in very cool professional projects and, at the same time, I’m fulfilling many personal goals related to my people and my family. In addition, a new movie will soon be released on Netflix and it’s called Killer Book Club.

Yes, the first Spanish slasher produced by Netflix.
Exactly! We have transferred the classic story that takes place among young American teenagers who risk visiting a summer camp next to a lake to a Spanish university. That has been very special to me because we have been able to explore the classic characteristics of the slasher genre from our own perspective. The cast was also a great motivation for me since among them I have several good friends.

Were you a fan of the slasher genre before joining the project?
I confess that no, I was not a fan of this genre, and the fact that they offered me this film aroused my curiosity.

How would you describe the experience?
At first, I felt a conflict inside me since I have just participated in very different projects with a lot of emotional weight. The slasher has certain absurd touches that I found very shocking and about which I felt somewhat insecure, and I didn’t quite connect with them. But I was introduced to the codes of this type of cinema and suddenly I was soaked in fake blood and hiding from a masked murderer. That’s when I began to feel much more comfortable, and I got used to all that madness that the film is about.

You mentioned the cast before. The main characters of the film represent the classic slasher prototypes: the innocent girl, the bad boy, the geek, the suspicious boyfriend... you embody the latter. Why do you think they chose you for that role?
Somehow, I think I resemble my character. At first, I didn't want Nando to be so humble and so nice, but I had to give in since the bad boy archetype had already been assigned to another actor, so I had to differentiate myself with certain tender and sweet traits. As you say, slasher forces you to stick to some classic characters that are very defined.

And you? How did you approach this character?
I've been playing very sensitive roles and I was looking to do something very different. Nando seems to me like this guy with a very cool vibe and his dyed blonde hair that gives him a certain badass touch. But, deep down, everything is a facade, a way to protect himself from the other guys from the club and the rest of the world. Under all that, there is a nice boy very much in love with his girlfriend.

Left Jacket Palomo, shorts Journal Moon

Right Cardigan Miu Miu

Did you see any movies to prepare for the role?
Before joining this project, I had no idea about this type of cinema and when they hired me, they gave me a long list of films. One with a guy wearing a white mask was one of my favourites. Scream I think it was called.

I love that franchise.
I had a lot of fun watching that one. But with all my respect, the rest of the movies on the list were very difficult for me to see, to enter their universe. I consume other types of cinema. The funny thing is that I had a great time shooting the film, it was a super cool experience.

Jamie Lee Curtis said that horror movies allow us to face the horrors of everyday life and she is right.
Yes, that's true. It is deeper than it seems.

It is not the first time that you participate in a horror film. Years ago you starred in Ánimas, directed by Laura Alvea. What differences have you felt when approaching these two kinds of horror?
I approached those two films in a very different way. I think that for me Ánimas was a much more accessible project as it is a much more psychological story while Killer Book Club relies more on a physical factor due to the fights and hide-and-seek moments in which the characters are involved. The codes of this Netflix film were more difficult for me. Ánimas did not even border on comedy and if it did, it was in a very discrete way. Instead, Killer Book Club required me to play by some rules completely unknown to me.

Most of the characters you play are teenagers but you are already in your mid-twenties. How does it make you feel to re-live those years?
We have talked about Ánimas and that film did make me re-evaluate what I was living then as a teenager. I always try to understand my character from the vital moment that I am going through. Yes, I’m growing up, but I still look young and that makes me continue to play teenage roles that are increasingly difficult for me to understand but also represent a kind of therapy for me. Adolescence is such an important moment in life and it means a lot.

Right Cardigan Prada, pants Palomo

It’s a tremendously important time of everyone’s life but when it’s remembered, almost no one can understand it.
Preach! Those years are ruled by impulsiveness, by many irrational emotions. At least, that's how I feel. Love is an example, if I hadn't lived it with that absurd intensity and drama, maybe I wouldn't be the way I am now.

All teenagers are hopelessly dramatic.
That is a beautiful way of putting it.

Do you think you have been the teenager you wanted to be?
What a question! Damn, I would say yes, but I regret that sometimes, I have stopped doing things out of fear, out of insecurity, because of what people will say, and that bothers me a lot. An example is masculinity, I felt a lot of pressure to represent the kind of masculinity that men are supposed to represent. Over the years I just realized that it was all bullshit! I wasted time arguing over things that weren't worth it, that didn't make sense and that made me kind of distant from people around me.

How has being an actor affected all those insecurities you just mentioned?
A few years ago, I would have answered that being an actor has helped to cure my insecurities, but now I’ll tell you the opposite. This job forces you to expose yourself and that can arise many insecurities that you didn't even know you had before. External opinions used to affect me a lot, really. But with time, I have come to understand that as an actor I can’t constantly please everyone.

Has it been difficult for you to create a healthy way to interact with the audience?
Now I know that my work is going to generate opinions, so everyone can say what they want. I’m also part of the audience because I also can go to the movies and afterwards talk about it with my friends over dinner, you know? I have to separate each part of my life very well. This summer, I just shot a film about the musical group Locomía, called Disco, Ibiza, Locomía, and it has been so intense and emotionally demanding that some days, I even forgot who I was. You have to get out of the studio and go home and be you, just you. If someone gives an opinion about your job, great, let them. But what’s not right is to talk about the person, the human being who is just doing a movie.

Left Top Dior Men, shorts Journal Moon

Right Jacket Miu Miu, skirt Dior Men

We have talked about horror movies, but I would like to know more about your own fears…
It's a little strange what I'm going to tell you. In my life, I have a recurring fear that appears when I swim in the sea. There is a moment when I submerge myself in the water and dive, suddenly, I feel an immense terror at the thought that there may be a huge and silent whale around. I don't know why, but my brain sends me that image and it scares me a lot. It has nothing to do with being eaten by a whale. It’s the sensation of being in a very cold sea where a whale is hovering near me.

Where do you think that fear comes from?
Maybe from my childhood. Once I went to the Oceanografic in Valencia and saw a beautiful whale. I read on a poster that they lived in very, very cold waters and maybe I kept that memory inside my head, and every time I get into the sea, it resurfaces to terrify me. I feel very, very small next to that whale.

You have mentioned filming Disco, Ibiza, Locomía about the Spanish music group, Locomía. What can you tell me about that experience?
Getting out of that shoot mentally has been difficult, the experience has been very special, but it has taken a lot of work. It has demanded a lot from me on a physical level since I have had to dance and I have had to shoot for many hours. My character appears throughout the film and that has required a great commitment. I've had a great time and I think this movie is something I hadn't done before.

Have you met some of the members of the group?
I've met everyone except the character I'm playing! The opportunity to meet him didn’t come up. At first, I really wanted to know more about him, but then I felt the need to put my essence into this character. I decided to build him on my own, taking into consideration that he's based on a real person but bringing my own vision to the table. That's how I managed to take the pressure off the experience.

Left Top Loewe, shoes Prada, socks Kenzo

Right Top Kenzo

The success of Locomía was during the late 80s and early 90s. Now that you've shot a film set in that era, what has the experience of living for a few months in those years been like?
It was not the first time that I participated in a project set in that period, the series Paradise also took place in the ‘80s and ’90s, so going back to those years was not something very surprising for me. What really interested me was becoming aware of the impact that this musical group had. They did something huge. They were kind of unique. Until I started filming, I was not aware of the magnitude of the Locomía phenomenon.

Do you understand their success?
Yes, I do. Spain had just gone through some very screwed-up years and they dared to do very ground-breaking things. I really liked getting to know their history and everything they lived through.

Have you listened to a lot of music from that period?
Yes, several songs. I also have to tell you that I ended up a bit saturated. I rehearsed for two months before I started filming and, of course, when I finished and went home, I didn't want to listen to any songs from that time. I preferred to listen to music by Sen Senra, Bad Gyal, or Rusowsky.

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

Interview & production by Juan Martí

Photography by Isaac Calpe

Fashion by Javier Vaquero

Production by Juan Martí

Hair & Make-Up by Mar Muñoz

Art Direction by Alex Boutin

Photographer’s assistant Miguel Germán

Stylist’s assistant Raul Iglesias

Production assistant Lucas Lei

A GREAT INSTINCT

ALESSANDRO NIVOLA IS AN ARTIST WHO EXCELS IN CREATIVITY. WITH HIS PERFORMANCES IN GRIPPING DRAMAS LIKE THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK, AMERICAN HUSTLE OR DISOBEDIENCE, AS WELL AS HIS UPCOMING TAKE ON A VILLAIN IN THE SUPERHERO MOVIE KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THE AMERICAN ACTOR IS THE MASTER OF BUILDING NUANCED CHARACTERS. THE KEY TO HIS SUCCESS? FIXATING ON REAL-LIFE PEOPLE WHO IN HIS EYES CONNECT TO THE ROLE HE’S PLAYING AND LEARNING TO IMITATE THEM DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL. FOR US, NIVOLA TALKS ABOUT THE BASIS OF HIS INTRIGUING PROCESS, FEELING FEARLESS WHILE ACTING AND HIS ATTACHMENT TO THE ITALIAN ISLAND OF SARDINIA.

Full look Prada

Over the years, you became known for your superb ability to disappear into your characters - what is the research process that you like to delve into for each of your roles?
I fixate on a real person. Someone I know, someone I’ve met somewhere, or someone I’ve seen on YouTube. And I teach myself to imitate him. It doesn’t matter if the person has anything to do with the world of the film or bears any direct resemblance to the character as described in the script. It may just be that his behaviour, way of talking, facial expressions, rhythms, confidence or low self-esteem, feelings about his life, his relationships, or his worldview, are useful to me to bring something very specific to the character and help tell the story of the film. A couple of examples: to develop a character in an upcoming project, I used a family friend named Philip Nikolayev.  He is a Russian poet who teaches at Harvard - a far cry from an oligarch turned crypto-currency villain who transforms into a raging monster as a result of a biochemical treatment gone wrong. For a role in one of David O. Russell’s movies, I went on YouTube and typed in “Angry New Yorker”.  I found a video captioned “Small, Angry Man Yells at Trumpet Player in New York City” and he became my model.

Teaching myself to imitate these people is a long and involved process that is different with every role and can include listening to voice recordings all day while I walk around, dialect coaching, recording my own voice a million times and listening to it back, listening to the music the character likes, reading books, watching videos, learning new skills that to him are second nature (I learned to play polo, to play Scott Joplin songs on the piano, and to speak decent French for a movie I made about Coco Chanel and her lover Boy Capel), historical research, physical work to change my body, experiments with hairstyles and becoming familiar with objects that he might use habitually – a knife, a pen, a hat, Orthodox tefillin, a Bible – anything. That’s just a few. There’s no methodical way to do this. But the goal is to find what is specific to this one person in the minutest detail. And these things then start to change the way I think and feel. By the time we are shooting, I don’t have to think at all. What happens then I can’t explain.



I read that you have a principle of choosing films based on the directors that you want to work with - who are some that are on your list right now?
Jonathan Glazer, Sofia Coppola, Brady Corbet, Ruben Östlund, Joachim Trier, Edward Berger, Bennett Miller, Steve McQueen, Shannon Murphy, Martin Scorsese, Emily Mortimer, Bong Joon-ho and Ben Stiller. But I wish Miloš Forman was still alive.

Left Full look Miu Miu

Right Suit Zegna, shirt Nanushka, shoes Louis Vuitton

You’ve played a couple of villains throughout your career - what are the biggest joys of playing a bad guy?
Most well-written villains don’t fit comfortably into society, so they usually have something surprising and unusual about their psychology or behaviour and that fires my imagination with all kinds of possibilities. It’s also liberating not having to be attractive. They should usually be at least a little funny. People who struggle to fit in are often funny, even when there is a growing awareness of their frustration having potential danger. The best is when they’re funny and then scary with no transition in between. With bad guys, there are lots of opportunities to entertain in a flashy way, but it’s also important not to succumb to the temptation to be outsized just to call attention to yourself. Reality is always more interesting and, in the end, more compelling. So, I always try and understand why they are feeling so angry or vengeful or full of self-loathing and see the world through their eyes and feel their pain. I don’t judge them or comment on them as the actor. They are the heroes of their own stories.



Aside from your screen career, you have an extensive experience as a stage actor. Which of your theatre roles has been the biggest challenge and why?
The Elephant Man was the hardest because I had to have a dumb-looking moustache for a year. I got a Tony nomination for it, so I guess it was worth it.



You grew up in between two cultures - what’s your most Italian and most American quality?
Growing up between two cultures has left me with no clear identity at all. In Italy, I’m foreign, and in America, I’m kind of foreign too. But... I would say my most Italian quality would be wearing a heavy gold Saint Christopher medallion that was forged by the Vatican goldsmiths with the words “San Cristoforo Prega Per Noi” inscribed on the back, even though I’m not religious. Most American quality - good personal hygiene.

Sweater Ferragamo

Your family has roots in Sardinia - what does that place mean to you and what are some of your most important spots on the island?

I love my grandfather’s museum in the village of Orani, the Museo Nivola. It’s one of the most beautiful small museums in the world. Although I visited Italy with my family many times when I was young, the first time I was allowed to go to Sardinia was for the opening of the museum when I was about 14 because before then, there was a real threat of “banditi” kidnappings - local bands of small-time criminals who would hide people in mile-deep mountain caves for ransom. They assumed my grandfather was a rich American now that he lived in New York, and word spread fast whenever he would return to the island. The problem had died down by my mid-teens and so I started visiting my extended family there every summer. Everyone in the town is related to me. When I would see a beautiful girl in the street and point her out to a cousin, they’d say, “No, no, no - she’s your cousin too!”

There is also Cala Gonone, a small town on the east coast where you can rent little boats that take you down the undeveloped coast (it’s a protected national park) and drop you alone in little beach coves. Meanwhile, all over the island, there are Iron Age monuments and ruins called “Nuraghe” which are some of the oldest structures and remnants of civilisation anywhere in the world. Over the years, I’ve become more and more determined to force the Sardinians to embrace me as one of their own. This year, I was given an award at the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival so maybe I’m slowly breaking them down.



You are part of a family of actors - what’s a film that you watched recently with your wife and kids that blew you all away?
We watched Tropic Thunder again and it holds up. It’s Robert Downey Jr.’s best performance. Also, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King. It’s a documentary we stumbled across about a man named Jimmy Ellis - an orphaned child who was adopted at five years old and grew up on a horse farm in rural Alabama. He was both blessed and cursed with a killer singing voice that sounded indistinguishable from Elvis Presley. People went weak in the knees when he sang but he couldn’t find success because there was no room for more than one “King”. But in 1977 when Elvis died, a pulp fiction novelist wrote a book called “Orion” about a fictional character, loosely based on Elvis, who had faked his own death to escape the prison of his own fame. He had reconstructed his face and re-emerged with a new identity. Jimmy made a Faustian pact with the head of Sun Records, Shelby Singleton, who proposed to record an album and send him out on tour if he agreed to become Orion and wear a bejewelled Zoro-like mask at all times – in the supermarket, at restaurants, walking his dog – anywhere outside the confines of his own home. Orion became a sensation and he seemingly had achieved the rock star life he’d dreamed of, but the manipulation at the hands of Singleton and his complete loss of identity soon began to drive him insane with tragic consequences. It’s hilarious and devastating and we optioned the doc and are now adapting it into a narrative feature film.

Left Top Miu Miu, coat Kenzo

Right Full look Louis Vuitton


Your kids recently starred together in a movie - what advice did you give them prior to the experience?
None. They weren’t interested in what I had to say.

Greil Marcus said once about you, “Alessandro Nivola is magnetic. You want to know what he’s going to do next. You don’t ever know what he’s really thinking, and you’re not even sure he knows. Maybe he’s running on instinct, but he’s got great instincts. He’s afraid of absolutely nothing.” Is there anything that you’re afraid of?
Greil Marcus is the best journalist ever to write about music and the people who make music. He’s not a film insider but he knows about performance of all kinds, and I think that review is the only one that I’ve never forgotten. But as for being afraid? I’m afraid of everything. Both external and internal. I have terrible dreams about the end of the world. I’m afraid of the future, of failure, of what people think of me, of not being able to do creative work anymore, of having no purpose, of life having no meaning, of nothing feeling new, of disappointing my children, of my children being unhappy, of the dog being unhappy...should I go on? When I’m performing, I don’t think about these things. I don’t think about anything. It’s heaven.

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

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


Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Pierre Crosby

Fashion by Shan Temuri

Casting by Imagemachine Cs 

Grooming by Jessi Butterfield

Stylist’s assistant Angelina Ding 

STRIKING GOLD

FINDING SUCCESS IN THE ACTING INDUSTRY IS USUALLY A GAME OF PATIENCE. SANG HEON LEE’S CAREER IS THE EXCEPTION THAT PROVES THE RULE. HIS ROLE IN THE HIT SHOW XO, KITTY WAS NOT ONLY HIS DEBUT PERFORMANCE BUT HIS VERY FIRST AUDITION. OVERNIGHT, THE YOUNG ACTOR HAS BECOME A PHENOMENON, CAPTIVATING FANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. HOWEVER, DESPITE HIS CURRENT LIFESTYLE, LEE ADMITS THAT HIS MINDSET HASN'T CHANGED: EACH DAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NEW ADVENTURE. HIS PERSPECTIVE WAS SHAPED OVER THE YEARS PRIOR TO HIS ACTING CAREER, THROUGH EXPERIENCES LIKE BARTENDING IN THE UK AND MODELLING IN SOUTH KOREA. LEE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF EMBRACING THE MISTAKES THAT ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH YOUTH. IN OUR CONVERSATION, HIS EXCITEMENT FOR LIFE IS NOT JUST PALPABLE. IT'S CONTAGIOUS. FROM HIS EVOLVING FASHION SENSE TO THE JOYS OF GROWING UP AROUND THE WORLD, WE CAUGHT UP WITH LEE TO DISCUSS HIS METEORIC RISE.

Right Full look Valentino

XO, Kitty is such a big hit and already got renewed for a second season. Did you expect this kind of success?
I don’t believe in having expectations. To be honest, I was just glad I made it through my first gig and that it was out. It was surprising to me just how much the fans loved it. And yeah, sure, some people might say that we already had a fan base from the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies, but I’m a very sceptical person. You never know with these things. I was just hoping people would love it.  I wasn’t expecting much but I’m very proud of it.

You just mentioned this was your first serious acting gig, I’ve also read that this was the first show you auditioned for. What does it feel like to have struck gold on your first try?
I'm not going to lie, it feels weird. I feel incredibly lucky. I know a lot of people that have been working for years or have been trying to debut and be a part of the acting industry. And they haven't made it yet. I'm not saying I made it, but I was able to start in the most amazing way possible. So, I'm just really grateful. I try to tell myself it's not about whether I deserve it or not, it's more like, I have to make the best out of this and not take things for granted. And hopefully, I'll meet everyone else's expectations.

Left Jacket Acne Studios, boots Zadig&Voltaire

Right Suit Louis Vuitton, hoodie R13, boots Zadig&Voltaire, hat Yan Yan

Your character in specific has become such a fan favourite. Why do you think people resonate with Min Ho so much?
That's a good question. I think the audience loves him because he portrays the cocky and overconfident guy, but really, he’s a softie. A lot of people can relate to that. Most people try to act confident, which is good, you got to fake it till you make it. People were rooting for him to be happy because he acts like he was always happy, but he wasn't. He is very vulnerable and lonely. He just wants love and attention.

One of Min Ho’s most recognizable characteristics is his style. Do you think playing a character with such a strong fashion game has influenced the way you dress?
No, not really. I have a horrible sense of style.  I used to have no idea of how to dress up until my friends started saying things like, “Oh, can you please dress up like this?” or “Why do you dress so weird?” I don't know much about styling either. I’m still trying to learn as much as I can. I’m starting to sharpen my eye. But for Min Ho, our costume designer did a fantastic job. And it was amazing because she respected my opinion and made sure I felt comfortable.

Left Hoodie, skirt & sock Prada, shoes Miu Miu

You spent your childhood moving all over the world. Do you still enjoy bouncing around?
So, I was born in South Korea, raised in Hong Kong, and then went to university in Northampton in the UK. After that, I went to military service for two years. Then, I did a year and a half of modelling back in Korea which is when I started my acting career.  And now, I’m always in and out of LA. But I still enjoy travelling. I do it as much as I can. Because I have lived such an international life, I have made international friends, even the casts of XO, Kitty and Gran Turismo. But I also love to host when they come to visit. Whenever any of my friends come to Korea, I always tell them: “mi casa es su casa.”

How do you think travelling around so much has affected you?
I think it definitely helped me because I became more aware of people's cultures and how different people are. I never get shocked or surprised by a different cultural background, food, clothing or dance. I have to thank my parents for it. They were the ones that instilled it into me. We moved around a lot in my childhood because of my dad’s job. Even while in Hong Kong, I went to an international school which I think helped me a lot at a young age. Oh shit, this is interesting! I think it must have helped me too when it comes to XO, Kitty. The show is placed in one of those schools, I guess that’s why I was so familiar with that dynamic.

Left Sweater Isabel Marant, pants Givenchy, shoes Miu Miu

Right Suit Louis Vuitton, hoodie R13, boots Zadig&Voltaire, hat Yan Yan

Despite your young age, you’ve mentioned that you had time to “live life” before dedicating yourself to your career. You’ve modelled, you went and did your military service in South Korea, you’ve even bartended in the UK… What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Oh, you know about the bartending!? [Laughs] You mentioned the word ‘lessons’, I’ll add another word to that: ‘life lessons’. I’m glad I have been able to make mistakes. When you’re young, you’re just naturally stupid. That’s when you have to make your mistakes. I’d say those experiences have shaped me. Now I think life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Every day I try to live life to the fullest. I have the most extraordinary life. I think my past experiences have contributed to that. Whether it was bartending in the UK, cooking barbecue in Korea or working at a warehouse in Hong Kong, they all taught me great lessons.

Do you feel like those life experiences impact you as an actor?
Definitely. I mean, I guess if you’re talented enough you can play emotions you’ve never had. But I think you have to go through something to portray it honestly. You see the real emotions in people’s eyes.

Beyond XO, Kitty, you are also in the new Gran Turismo movie. What more can we expect from you in the future?
Yeah! That's premiering in August. I can’t wait to see the whole cast again. But it’s hard to understand what’s going to happen with future projects. XO, Kitty has been picked up for a second season. But, because of the writer’s strike going on, everything is delayed. Even when it comes to future projects, auditions have kind of stopped. I really hope the strikes turn out well and everyone reaches a point where they’re happy. But, for now, I am going to appreciate my time. I want to reassess everything I have been through and what I’ve achieved in a short period. I want to spend time with my family and friends. Do my little hobbies, rock climb, watch movies… I want to think about my next steps and figure out new milestones.

Jacket & pants Acne Studios, boots Zadig&Voltaire

You've just mentioned your love for rock climbing. While doing my research, I was hypnotized by your Instagram page dedicated to this hobby. What attracts you to this specific sport?
I think it's the adrenaline. I’ve tried a lot of sports: football, basketball, tennis, cycling. And I think I eventually realized I didn’t like most of it. But rock climbing gives me a sense of achievement. The feeling of adrenaline rushing through your body is unreal, it scratches an itch. I also really love the fact that I don’t have to diet because of it. For five or six hours you’re doing a full body workout and the thrill is constant. And then, when you leave, you can kind of eat whatever you like, which I appreciate. I hate diets because I’m a huge foodie. That combined with the achievement level is unmatched.

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

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

Interview by Pedro Vasconcelos

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Jensen Edmondson

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Grooming by Sonia Lee at Exclusive Artists

FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY

ALTHOUGH ARMANI JACKSON HAS BEEN ACTING SINCE HE WAS SIX YEARS OLD, HE DESCRIBES HIS YOUNGER SELF AS SHY. NONETHELESS, THESE DAYS, THE YOUNG ACTOR IS TAKING CENTRE STAGE WITH HIS LATEST ROLE IN THE PARAMOUNT+ SUPERNATURAL DRAMA SERIES WOLF PACK — WHERE HE PLAYS A DEEPLY ANXIOUS CHARACTER NAMED EVERETT LANG OPPOSITE HOLLYWOOD HEAVY-HITTER, SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR. WITH HIS GROWING RÉSUMÉ, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO BELIEVE THAT JACKSON, LIKE HIS WOLF PACK CHARACTER, DEALS WITH ANXIETY. BUT FROM HIS NERVE-RACKING FIRST AUDITION TO THE LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE FOLLOWED, ARMANI IS NAVIGATING HIS LIFE AND CAREER BY PUSHING HIMSELF TO CONQUER FEAR AND PRIORITIZING HIS MENTAL HEALTH ALONG THE WAY. WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM TO CHAT ABOUT HIS GROWING CAREER, HIS DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FEELING THE FEAR AND DOING IT ANYWAY.

Left Full look N21

Right Shirt, pants & shoes Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, jewellery Boucheron

How did you get your start in acting?
In the beginning, the main reason I wanted to start acting was because of my sister. She started a couple of years before me — she's two years older than me, so everything she did, I definitely looked at as something that was cool. She had a meeting with a manager when we first moved out here [Los Angeles] from Wisconsin and asked if I would go in with her. I had no intention of being an actor at the time, but I went because she offered me a stuffed animal that I wanted.

They had her do the cold read, and they asked me if I wanted to do one too. I was so shy back then, so it was really nerve-wracking for me. But I did it. They wanted to hire my sister, and they also wanted to hire me. I was six years old, and I didn't think I was going to do acting. But I said yes, and I took the chance — that's definitely one of the things that got me out of that shyness I had when I was younger.

Left Full look Celine Homme, necklace Boucheron

Right Full look Zegna, earring Boucheron

Was there a moment when you made a clear decision to pursue acting as a career?
The first time I felt like acting was something that I would be doing for my whole life was when I did a horror movie called Cooties. I was only nine years old when I did it, but I fell in love with horror at that moment. 

When I was younger, I always had a fascination with horror, even though it was scary. Being able to film an actual horror movie at nine and see the inner workings of it — that’s definitely when I fell in love with acting.

Left Coat Giorgio Armani

What drew you to Wolf Pack?
My sister was a big fan of Teen Wolf, so she was like, "Oh my God, the same creator is making another werewolf show? This could be really good." That, and I was excited to have the opportunity to tell a story that hasn't been told that much — reading the script, it seemed like one of those. And getting the chance to portray someone who suffers from anxiety was another part of why I liked it so much. There aren’t that many roles out there where you get to portray something as authentic as generalized anxiety, which is definitely something I deal with as well. So I felt like it was something that I didn't have to really try too hard at. I was just able to lean into the anxiety that I deal with on a daily basis.

Left Full look Loewe, necklace Celine Homme & earring Boucheron

Right Full look Prada & earring Boucheron

You started experimenting with music during COVID. What was that like? What inspired that experimentation?
It came from just the lack of being able to control my career during the pandemic. There were barely any auditions at the height of it, and there wasn't really anything going on with acting. I wanted to take something into my own hands, and I'd always wanted to make music. So making that leap was definitely really important for me. Writing and making my own music also helps with acting and being more in touch with your emotions. Now, I've fallen in love with music. I'm going to be releasing a lot more music later this year.

Left Full look Isabel Marant & earring Boucheron

Right Full look Celine Homme & earring Boucheron

You launched a non-profit, called Beautiful Minds, with your family this year — can you tell us more about it?
My mother, sister, and I started it after the death of a loved one. We created it to educate people on the holistic options to help with mental health, like ketamine treatments and somatic therapy. We partnered with the Social Impact Fund, and we're going to be launching an online fundraiser platform soon with our team — I'm really excited about that, too. Being on a show that deals with mental health, and now having a non-profit along the same lines, is definitely exciting.

Left Jacket, vest, sweatshirt, tee, jumpsuit & rings Givenchy, shoes Timberland, earring Boucheron

Right Full look Celine Homme

…

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

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

Interview by Jameelah Nasheed

Photography by Doug Inglish

Fashion by Andrew T. Vottero

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Grooming by Mira Hyde

Retouching Maxfield Hegedus

Production’s assistant Denise Solis

EXPLOSIVE CHARISMA

ACTOR JOSH HEUSTON WAS QUICKLY ANOINTED THE NEXT TEEN DREAM AFTER MAKING HEARTS FLUTTER AS THE INSECURE BUT OH-SO-GOOD-LOOKING DUSTY IN THE HIT COMING-OF-AGE NETFLIX TV DRAMA, HEARTBREAK HIGH. HAVING ALSO LANDED ROLES IN THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, BALI 2002 AND MORE THAN THIS, HIS BEGUILING BROODINESS AND NATURAL ACTING PROWESS HAVE CEMENTED HIM AS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S NEXT GEN OF RISING TALENTS WE’LL BE SEEING MUCH MORE OF… WHICH IS FINE BY US.

Left Full look PRADA

Right Full look BURBERRY

Firstly, can we just talk about the fact that you’re a Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Science and a Bachelor of Commerce?! That’s impressive. What was your career plan before the modelling / acting came along?
I never really had a specific plan while at University, I don’t think I had a proper path until I started acting.

Left Necklace ACNE STUDIOS

Right Full look GUCCI

So, after you were scouted as a model, had you already finished your studies, or did you find yourself traveling around the world walking the runways, with only a pile of schoolbooks to keep you company?
I was doing both at the same time and eventually had to make a choice between the two. I figured I could always come back to Uni, but the path of modelling might only be open for a smaller window.  I am so grateful for the opportunities I have encountered so far and here’s to loads more in the future.

Full look EMPORIO ARMANI

Obviously, your good looks helped bag you the modelling gigs, but acting is really where your passion lies, right? Being in the music video for Super Cruel’s song Sicklaced in 2017 really kickstarted the fire for you. Did you sign up for any classes at all after that?
Acting is where my passion lies. After that tiny part in the music video, I signed up to every acting class I could find in Sydney and from those, auditions started to happen.

Where do you get your confidence from?
I think my confidence comes from knowing who I am and being comfortable with the good and bad parts of that.

Were there films or TV shows you used to watch as a kid and thought, I want to be that lead guy?
As a kid I was obsessed with the Lord of the Rings franchise. I’ve watched all the films over 20 times! I’ve also always loved Fight Club.

Left Boxers HAULIER

Right Top CHANEL, necklace ACNE STUDIOS, shorts ISABEL MARANT, vintage belt stylist’s own

Your big breakout role was in 90s reboot Heartbreak High as Dusty Reid. You turned the typical high school heartthrob character trope on its head by revealing all his flaws and insecurities instead. It worked with today’s societal pull for more men to be open and talk about their feelings, rather than these hyper-masculine dudes. How did you approach that role, were you given carte-blanche to mould him as you wanted?
The writer of Heartbreak High, Hannah Carroll Chapman created Dusty with this energy of being not your typical high-school character.  My main goal was to make him feel as real as possible. Most interpretations of the quote-on-quote “heartthrob” in a high school drama are typically flawless and hyper confident, I wanted to show the other side of that.

What were you like in high school yourself, were you the guy that everybody wanted to go to Prom with?
Definitely not, there were plenty more popular guys in school!

Left Full look ZEGNA

Right Necklace ACNE STUDIOS

As well as representing and tackling topical discussions in the storyline, the Heartbreak High reboot also included a diverse ensemble cast, and helped more young Aussies feel seen on screen. How important was that, and is it to you now, in terms of your own cultural background and your progression in this industry?
Extremely important. I think Australia as a whole is very diverse, so screen should also reflect that.

The show’s impact on your career obviously opened doors for you, and you went on to do the TV drama Bali 2002 and then Marvel's, Thor: Love and Thunder alongside Russell Crowe and Chris Hemsworth. Were you pinching yourself on set with those acting heavyweights? Did you get any top tips and advice from them?
I’ve grown up watching both of those actors, so it was a surreal experience being on set with them. I learnt a lot just watching them work, from the way they engage with the camera or handle the text.  It was a masterclass to watch, and I look forward to more!

Left Full looks PRADA

Right Full look EMPORIO ARMANI

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?
At this stage of my career, I think I’m excited by projects that scare me or make me a little nervous.

Do you have a wish list of directors, and actors you’re itching to work with?
The list goes on forever, but I’d love the opportunity to work with Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, and Luca Guadagnino.

Left Boxers HAULIER

Right Robe BURBERRY

We must talk about Dune: The Sisterhood, your upcoming project, who do you play and what can fans expect from this prequel series?
I play Constantine Corrin, he’s the illegitimate son of the emperor. I think any fans of the film franchise will love it, but I can’t say much more!

What’s important in your life and your work? Do you feel you are achieving the kind of success you want to have so far, in terms of how you want to live your life?
Family is the most important thing to me. I feel like I’m on the path I want for my life.

Finally, what advice would you offer the young Australian sitting at home, who wants to act?
My advice would be to just start! Do classes, film scenes at home, everything, and anything to help, just do it!

Full look EMPORIO ARMANI

Discover the full story in our FW23 FANTASY Issue.

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

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Rob Tennent

Fashion by Thomas Townsend

Casting by ImageMachine cs

Grooming by Fernnando Miranda

Josh Heuston is represented by Kult Models

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

TBT_BTB_ARchive

Access to our exclusive interviews and features, selected weekly by the BTB team

TBT
©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
Givenchy_Antigona_DavideFanton_4x5_10.jpg
ANTIGONA CUBE
1.Miu Miu Upcycled 2024_Alice McGrath.jpg
MIU MIU UPCYCLED 24
Featured
ONLINE_layout2.jpg
AEONIUMS
ONLINE_layout2.jpg
SPRING BREAK
Featured
Thierry Gillier @Fred Meylan copie.jpg
AS THE PLANETS REALIGN
1998 Press clipping Graduation show.jpg
POLITE REBEL