In Anya Taylor-Joy’s world, there are only contradictions. One minute, she’s amping up on the drama—zhuzhed-up mane and witchy glamour in tow for the Dune press tour—and the next, she’s opting for red carpet elegance, with a sculpted bun giving way to ethereal beauty: rosy cheeks, soft shadows, a coral lip. “I feel most comfortable when I’m able to express two things at once. Having that contrast probably makes me feel more confident,” the adored actress confesses to a room of journalists. All here to discuss one of her most exuberant roles to date: the face of Dior.
A longstanding ambassador for the French maison, Taylor-Joy’s latest stint sees her stepping into a candy-hued universe alongside fellow ambassadors Jisoo and Willow Smith for the relaunch of one of the beauty house’s most irresistible lines: Dior Addict. The lush, gorgeous icons that have been refreshed with a magnetic new tempo. At the maestro’s hands of creative and image director Peter Philips, the Lip Glow Oil has been given a swooping facelift to its formulation. Not only has it been infused with a nourishing cherry oil for a lock in on hydration, the sumptuous, high-shine gloss now comes in two new glazing finishes on top of its highly-coveted pH-activated technology. Meanwhile, a triptych of delectable fragrances composed by Francis Kurkdjian have dawned as well, welcoming the captivating muses to its gourmand fantasy world with delight.
Entering the sugar-tinged scape of candy sprinkles and dollops of cream together with Taylor-Joy, the irreverent actress lets Vogue Singapore in on her personal beauty rituals, how certain make-up looks slot into her everyday work, and the new chapter of Dior Addict.
How does beauty help you explore different sides of yourself?
I’m very interested in contrast. This probably stems from when I was growing up, when part of my internal struggle with myself was trying to fit myself in a box. So I feel most comfortable when I’m able to express two things at once. Sometimes I just like to lean in and just go very pretty. But there are definitely moments I want to toughen up a look—and I think it can either be through fashion or through make-up. I think having that contrast probably makes me feel more confident, to be honest. I always like for there to be a twist.
As one of the maison’s ambassadors, what has it been like expanding your relationship with Dior?
It’s been fun to explore and fun to experiment. I think one of the things that I love the most about working with Dior is that I’m lucky enough to work on many of their campaigns, and through them, I get to explore and enjoy different aspects of myself. They’re usually shot back to back, so it’s quite exciting to go from being the Dior Addict girl to the Dior Forever woman all in the space of 48 hours, you know?
Many people are inspired by and often recreate your signature beauty looks. What do you think defines the quintessential Anya look?
I would say in the last year or so, it’s probably an extended brow for me. I was unaware of an extended brow until the Dune premiere in New York, and it was such a spur of the moment decision. I was in the van and about to step out, and my make-up artist just looked at me and said,”Should I extend the brow?” And I was like, “Yeah, sure, do it.” It was such a split second decision. And now I’m obsessed with it. If I go on a red carpet now and my brow isn’t extended, I feel a tiny bit naked. So I would say, the arched villain brow is my new personal favourite.
As a longstanding ambassador for Dior, what always amazes you about the new launches of Dior Addict’s creations?
I think it’s seeing how excited Peter Philips gets. I love that man so much. He is such a beautiful gem of a human being. And every time that we get together after we’ve caught up about our lives, I always ask him, “So, tell me about the new formula” and his eyes just light up. It’s so delightful to be around people who are so passionate about what they do, and I find that that passion is contagious, and so I love to hear it directly from Peter’s lips.
What are you currently addicted to in a creative sense?
I am addicted to being around people I admire. They don’t necessarily have to be successful in a stereotypical way, but if somebody looks at the world or thinks about things in a way that I haven’t before, that makes me really excited. I love “yes, and?” people. I think if people will follow your train of thought and give you a completely new way of looking at something, that’s such a gift. And so I really enjoy being around people that I admire.
How would you describe the Peachy Glow fragrance to someone who has never smelt it?
I love its combination of floral and fruity. All three of the fragrances feel very juicy, and it was so fun to have all those cakes and lollipops on set. It all felt very “gourmand”, as you say in French.
How do you think the idea of beauty has changed for your generation of women?
Well, I hope that we’re learning that beauty is less about covering up and attempting to fit into a standard ideal, and it’s more about accentuating what you already have. I think in an ideal world, it should make you feel like more of yourself, or allow you to explore aspects of yourself, rather than hiding away or attempting to look like somebody else. I think I feel most confident when I’m accentuating the features that I already have. When I was starting out, I had a couple of make-up artists do my face and say that they were correcting my face. And whenever I would look in the mirror then, I would always be like, “Whoa, I don’t know who that person is.” I looked crazy. So I’m very glad that I’ve worked that out now, and I hope that the women of my generation feel a similar way.
Do you have any personal beauty rituals that you’ve made your own?
I am obsessed with my bath. I have a bath every night, regardless of which country I’m in, regardless of how late it is. I love it. It is my personal time. I’m quite a social person, and by nature of my job, I’m usually surrounded by a lot of very wonderful people. But when I go into my bathroom, everybody knows that’s it, she’s out, and you will not speak to her for at least an hour and a half to two hours. It’s my time with my podcasts and my music. I also mix my own bath salts and my own bath mixtures. I find it’s like a little bit of alchemy, a little bit of magic, and then a lot of peace.
You’re one of the faces of Dior alongside Jisoo and Willow Smith. If there was a creative project you would consider doing together outside Dior, what would it be?
Yeah, we should do Charlie’s Angels, and it should be a musical. Like, we’re so ready for it. We’re prepared. Every time we’re together, we’re like, why do we not have a routine? Jisoo is so pure. She’s just utter sweetness. She has the best heart. I have such a soft spot for her. Willow is so deep; her soul is just on display consistently, and we really take care of each other. You know, on these days when you’re working so hard, there’s technically not a lot of room for friendship, but we make room. We make sure to check in with each other. We make sure that every person is having a good day and feels supported, and we’re just helping each other out the whole time. It really is quite a beautiful thing to be a part of.
How does the beauty industry slot into your work—or how does make-up help you transform into your characters or on the red carpet?
I first fell in love with both fashion and, you know, the beauty industry through the lens of my characters. Prior to that, I had been such a tomboy, and I would spend all of my time outside. My clothes were very utilitarian, but the first time that I really saw a character—that had previously only lived in my head and on the page—become a real person, was when I had gone through the process of picking their clothes and seeing when they woke up in the morning. How do they present? What do they want to say about themselves in the world?
In terms of red carpet looks, I’m always trying to create an image that will both make me feel confident and at ease. But also, you’re doing something that’s very public facing, and you will be consumed. So why not try and spark a bit of joy in people, since people are going to see it. You’re either going to play it safe or you have the opportunity to do something that might make people delighted or excited. And I always want to take that opportunity.
What make-up is in your everyday arsenal?
I haven’t actually had that much time to practice and get it wrong in a low stakes environment. My realm is in concealer, mascara, a lip pencil, a good lip and some highlights there and that’s it. One day I will have enough time to mess up a smoky eye. But that day has not yet come. At some point you will see me with a delightful chocolate eye, and I will have worked on it long enough for it to actually be able to go outside.
What do you hope this new chapter of Dior Addict will bring?
Oh, I hope it feels fun. I hope it feels like play. I think that’s how it should feel. It’s very interesting, because when you take something so seriously at a certain point, you can’t just stop at serious. You have to go all the way through and get to play. And that’s my favorite state to be in, where it means the absolute world to you, but you’re also just like because it means the world to me, I’m just going to play with it. So I hope that people play with these products and that it makes them feel sparkly and more confident.
Explore Dior Addict here.
