Face to face with Kate Winslet
December 17, 2007
SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN gets a whiff as the actress talks about being herself and being the new face of Lancome’s Tresor fragrance.
Q: How did you come to be involved with Lancome?
A: They approached me. It immediately appealed to me because I’ve never done anything like this before. And it felt like such an honour to step into the shoes of Isabella Rossellini who was Tresor’s previous “face”.
They wanted something beautiful, romantic and enigmatic for the ad. At the same time, they wanted to convey the message about being comfortable being yourself. I am of the same mind too. So it turned out well.
Q: What are your thoughts on fragrance?
A: I wear fragrances for special occasions, whether it’s a date with my husband or a big event.
Scents have to reflect your feelings as well, besides the occasion, and who you’re going to be around with. You respond emotionally to someone else’s perfume. Fragrances are therefore very personal. They should be barely discernable, however, not over-powering.
Q: What was your first fragrance moment?
A: I had a boyfriend when I was 16 who bought me a fragrance I was not crazy about, I have to confess.
I think he got the message when he realised the bottle was gathering dust in the bathroom cabinet!
Q: How do you feel about Tresor?
A: Tresor is gentle and romantic. There is a sense of nostalgia about it.
I remember the Isabella Rossellini ads and they were beautiful, so evocative and mysterious. All the Tresor ads, whether with Isabella or Inés Sastre, were really telling a story.
You want to know what happened before and after.
Q: How was the experience of working with Peter Lindbergh?
A: I was thrilled when I was told Peter would be directing the commercial and shooting the photographs for the ad. Peter, to me, is one of the best, if not the best, of the great fashion photographers.
It’s such a joy and an honour to have had the opportunity to work with him. He depicts people as they really are — he doesn’t try to change their appearance with his lens.
This is important to me because I like to be myself.
Source: nst.com