Emma Laird is busy at the moment. The English actor is currently juggling moving house, jetting between time zones, and working, of course. She has a number of new projects about to drop, among them period comedy Fackham Hall, crime thriller Blood On Snow and 28 years later follow up The Bone Temple, where she’ll transform into a post-apocalyptic cult follower, starring alongside Cillian Murphy and Ralph Fiennes. But despite her chaotic schedule, Laird couldn’t resist a major fashion moment, travelling to Paris especially for Louis Vuitton’s SS26 fashion week show.
When getting ready for any event, the Mayor Of Kingstown star needs a good amount of time to prep. ‘I don’t want to be stressed because if I’m rushing, then I feel stressed,’ she tells ELLE UK. Her check list? ‘A good night’s sleep, waking up early so I’ve got time to have a morning to myself, good people and good music around me while I get ready, and a good breakfast!’ (As for her playlist, ‘I’ll listen to The Voids, Wolf Alice’s new album called The Clearing, and DJO, an actor from Stranger Things, makes music like The Strokes mixed with Daft Punk.’) While getting ready for the Louis Vuitton show, the actor sat down with ELLE UK to talk about her upcoming roles, her style advice, and her fashion week essentials.
On her outfit for the Louis Vuitton show
Big. It’s just big. The size, the colour, the shape. I chose the loudest thing on the rack. I thought about a sleek hair look but then I decided to embrace my curls. I like wearing my curls because I don’t have to worry about it. When my hair is straight or blown out the curl will come back in the wind, or if it’s raining. This will last me days.
On her beauty look
The glam look was all about no make up and no hair [styling] kinda vibe. I said I just wanted a little black line on the eyes and not much else. Same with hair, we just enhanced my curls. I feel like myself today, which I like. [My regular beauty routine is] quite boring I think. Drink enough water, sleep, consistency with my skincare routine and products. I guess my essential is factor 50 sunscreen. Every day. Winter, days indoors. I wear it every day.
On her upcoming film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Initially I was drawn to that because it was Danny Boyle; Trainspotting and his films are so culturally significant for British and Irish people. He just tells these really dirty and grimy stories — there’s a real sort of working-class feel to Trainspotting and Intimacy in particular. I went in to audition initially for a different role, and then Nia DaCosta, who’s directing the second film, said, how about this role? I almost didn’t take it, because your team are often trying to get you the biggest role in the film.
But I went back to the script, and I was really connected to the smaller role. I got excited by the idea of playing someone with the mental age of a 13-year-old. I created a character that was so far away from myself — she’s mad, she’s absolutely mad — and I’ve always loved zombie films from a very young age, so it was a dream come true in itself.
On choosing roles that matter
There’s this pressure to take ‘profile’ roles — but often that means being someone’s girlfriend with nothing to do. I’m not interested in playing support to a man’s story. If I don’t connect with the character, if I don’t believe in her, I know I won’t do good work. What excites me is being scared. The comfort zone gets boring.
On working with Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is probably my favorite co-star I’ve ever worked with. I just did a film with him called Blood on Snow. He took such good care of me, and I was stepping onto a really big set for where I was in my career. I felt like maybe I wasn’t worthy of having that role. It was a set with Aaron, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Eva Green — a big role for me. Aaron took me under his wing, and we had so much fun. I learned a lot from him. He sets a really good example and is a wonderful actor.
On her personal style
I’ve always had a very loud style. I remember going back to my hometown wearing bright-colored, patterned pants, walking through town in them. I’ve always been quite garish in style, so that hasn’t changed. But I think as my body’s changed, and the people I’m surrounded by have heavily influenced my style. I have different versions of myself in my wardrobe that reflect my friends and the music I’m listening to.
On choosing what to wear in the morning
Fashion is art. With acting, where I have an anchor or one word for a scene that pulls me into it – sometimes it’s like that with dressing; you wake up and think, ‘Oh my God, I really want to wear this jumper. What do I pair around it?’ But honestly, I tried on like 17 different outfits this morning and I get so stressed out if I can’t find the right one.
Sometimes an outfit just works, and I wear it for three weeks straight because it feels amazing. Then I find a new outfit to wear. But this morning, I’m about to travel to Paris, and I’m like, ‘What do I wear?’ I’m currently moving house, so none of my clothes are here. Some mornings I have an identity crisis, and that’s just the reality of it.
On her fashion week handbag essentials
AirPods. Disposable camera. Hand cream. Lip balm and mint gum. Ibuprofen. And toothpicks because I quit vaping.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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