Talks about all of her not-so-secret upcoming roles
We’ve done a lot of crazy things to bring you stories. But, braving last night’s Isabel Marant for H&M preview sale may be the most daring act yet. While frenzied customers ransacked the store in search of the last pair of sequin cigarette pants, we took cover with the impossibly Zen Milla Jovovich. The actress just so happens to be the face of the collaboration’s campaign, and one of the designer’s biggest fans. In between excited screams and dashed hopes, we managed to get her take on, well, life. As it turns out, she’s as guilty of emotional shopping as we are — and, she filled us in on all of her not-so-secret upcoming roles.
So, these shoppers are crazy!
But, this is nothing compared to what it’s going to be tomorrow!
What’s your shopping style? Are you into these frenzied sales, or do you prefer the comfort of online shopping?
I’m all business. Online is when I’m feeling guilty or feeling depressed. I start thinking, you know, ‘I’m working, and I can afford this, and I can do this for me!’ And, then the guilt starts coming, and my husband wonders what I’m doing. When I’m feeling really good, I’ll go out to a store and try stuff on, but I think online shopping has a lot of guilt involved. When you’re tired or just not feeling good because your boss yelled at you, and you think ‘F*** it, I just want to get that really cute dress.
Tell us how you got involved with this campaign.
I have been a fan of Isabel’s for 10 years. I was an avid collector of her clothing when she first started. I launched her first campaign, and that’s where I met her personally, and since then, we’ve been chatting. That day Isabel asked me where she should open her store in L.A., and I said Melrose Place is where I think it’s up-and-coming. And, then she calls me recently to say she’s opening a store in Melrose Place and asked me to host the party.
For this campaign, Isabel’s people contacted me to ask if I was interested in doing it, and I was in Paris at the time, so I wanted to support. It’s pretty monumental that suddenly her style is going to be accessible to the masses. I feel like America needs Isabel Marant to be in people’s closets. There’s something to be said for the fact that guys aren’t into supermodels — normal guys in America just don’t find that aesthetic attractive — but, at the same time, I feel like more women need to dress for women rather than dressing for men. And, I think Isabel really coins that anti-overt sexuality, but still sensual and sexy look, because you’re covering up wearing that oversize jacket with a miniskirt.
What is your personal philosophy on high-low dressing?
I’ll buy clothes anywhere, to be honest. I don’t care what store it comes from as long as I feel good about it, and I feel like it’s a steal. I’m very lucky because I get gifted a lot of things from designers, so I don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on crazy stuff. But, when I do spend a lot of money on something, I do it because it’s by a friend of mine. Like Isabel, going to her store and spending money there. Or, I’ll go to Prada. I support people that I love and that I’m happy for. If I know that I’m spending a bunch of money on something it better last for a long time. I get the staple, and for the trend, I’ll find it in some other place that’s a little more affordable.
You do so many things, from modeling to acting — do you have any thoughts on where your best strengths lie?
To be honest, I feel like I probably haven’t found my best strength yet. I’m still looking for it. I love designing. I love making music. But, I have yet to figure out what I’m really gonna do. Being so young when I started, I kind of got into this industry and that’s what I did, but I think I’m still soul-searching for what I want to do in the future. It’s super-exciting, because now that I’ve gotten to this point where I understand things more, and I have more interests, there are so many opportunities.
What are your criteria for choosing movie roles?
I like to play strong female characters. There were way too many years where only men did those kind of roles, and I’d like to see a change in the film industry where women are given stronger parts. I mean, I don’t have to do action movies per say, but I do like strong females. But, then, at the same time, I’ve done indie movies where I’ve played tiny parts and weak females. My criteria, at this point, is that it can’t be crazy sexual, because I’m a mom now and the violence.
I’m doing Resident Evil, so there’s nothing I can do about that at this point, but outside of that I’m not doing too many violent films anymore. It’s always changing, and it depends what I’ve done on my last film; for the moment, I’m not doing too many this year, because my husband was working and somebody needs to always be home with my daughter. I have a film I’m doing next year, and we might do another Resident Evil next year, so that’s that.
What is the training like for all these action flicks?
It’s intense. Since I had a baby, it’s hard. I work out like crazy, but it just takes a lot more. In the end, it’s hard to get it together — last time, I did six months of training, and I still felt like I couldn’t get rid of my tummy. It’s crazy. You can work out as hard as you can, and you don’t get rid of it. I should have worn a corset; I heard Jessica Alba wore a corset. My mom also said I should have worn a corset, and it’s just another reason my mom was right.
Can you tell us anything about the rumors that have you starring in The Expendabelles with Meryl Streep?
No clue. People keep talking about this, and I have no clue. I guess it’s like The Expendabelles for women, but I haven’t read a script, so I don’t know anything about it.
Is there anyone that you’re dying to costar with or a movie type you want to conquer?
I love historical pieces. For me, I would love to put on a British accent and do Jane Austen or something. That’s something I’ve never done and something that would be very hard for me to do because historical movies tend not to make much money, and nobody wants to do them these days, unfortunately. I had a really great idea for a film that I want to produce, so maybe I’ll do that one day.