On how she wakes up
I wake up with my puppies—they usually wake me up before my alarm goes off, then I take my time in the bathroom, if I have time. I’m not really a morning person. I need my coffee next to me and a little music. I’ve learned over the years—and lately, since we’ve all had so much time at home not doing much—to enjoy [the morning] and use it to really take care of myself. Beauty isn’t only about doing your make-up, it’s the process of it. What you do [in the morning] is your rituals, at your pace and time. All these things help me wake up and figure out what I feel like that day.
On how she does beauty when she’s in a rush
To be honest, I put my eye masks (or full mask) on in the car. I don’t always have much time in the morning so what I don’t do in the morning, I do at night. I always make sure to have a little moment when I massage my face with a rose quartz tool, as well as serums and oils.
On her high school beauty look
I always wore lip liner that was too dark—classic dark lip liner and the two strips of hair in the middle of my face. I regret it! I’m glad I don’t have photos of that era.
On the best beauty tip she’s received
I’ve been told many things but I remember when I was doing my first movie in Cuba. I was 16 years old and the costume designer told me to sleep without a pillow so I wouldn’t get wrinkles on my neck. I didn’t understand what he was saying. Now I do, but at the time I thought that sounded really strange.
On her beauty signature
I don’t wear much make-up every day but my eyes are always what make me feel I’m awake and ready for the day. So I’ll always wear mascara and maybe do a little wing on the eye so I feel ready—and usually some blush too. It makes me feel fresh and young.
On the secret to brilliant skin
Obviously everyone has different skin types and it’s crazy to speak as if everyone has my skin—what works for me might not work for someone else. I don’t have perfect skin. Every day when I wake up I’m super sensitive and anything gives me a rash, redness or pimples. I think sleeping is really good in general. And sunscreen is key. But mostly I think that beauty is about your emotions. How you’re feeling is what comes through.
On how her beauty regime has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic
Before the lockdown I used to go regularly to spas and get facials and all that—and now we can’t do that. So you have to learn to do it yourself and figure out how to get that same glow on your own. Not much has changed [otherwise] other than that my skin is happier from taking a break. When I work I wear make-up a lot, every day and for long periods of time. So at the end of the day, my skin is tired.
On her favourite perfume
My favourite is Estée Lauder’s Beautiful Magnolia—I love this fragrance. You can tell you have it on but it’s light and fresh and I love floral scents. I put it on my wrists and in my hair too – not super close but around my head.
On meditation
I do meditate. I like it very much. I’m still learning—it’s a process! When you start doing it and you’re consistent with it, you realise how much it helps with all the things that come up for you.
On how she trains for a film
I have to prepare for this action film I’m doing with really intense, physical work, training and choreographies. I do it from 9am to 2pm and then I get a break—and then on the weekends I go to the shooting range and I practice shooting with firing arms that I have to use in the film. And some knife training, too. I enjoy it very much—it’s part of the excitement for a new project and playing a part that I haven’t done before.
On having bangs cut in
The directors of my next movie asked me to [have this cut] for the film that we were supposed to shoot in January. Now it’s late March… so I feel I cut it too soon! It feels fresh and new and I love the bangs—I don’t really do much to my hair but it feels I always have something done even if I pull it back because of the bangs.
On being a Bond Girl
The experience was great. I loved doing that movie and working again with Daniel Craig and Cary Fukunaga, the director, who I had really wanted to work with for a long time. It was a really fun project to be a part of. I was finishing shooting Blonde so I didn’t have much time to get ready for [my role as] Paloma. Paloma is a really beautiful woman in her own way—and she’s badass and very glamorous. She lives in a Bond universe but, at the same time, doing her work. And she needs to blend in. She was never sexy and glamorous just because.
