How did you feel about bringing the story of Catherine Dior to so many people that perhaps didn’t know of her amazing life?
Like a lot of women in history, her story isn’t as widely known. But she’s such an important part of this show and I feel really grateful for that because she was such an integral part of Christian’s [Dior] life and their relationship was something that went on to inspire a lot of his work. When we think about the New Look [Dior’s very first collection] and the impact that it still has on fashion today, I just love the butterfly effect of that. It’s a lot of responsibility but I think that any time we can shed light on a story that’s untold is a good time.
Does fashion hold a special place in your life?
Yes, I’ve always been a fan of fashion. I kind of knew about the New Look and the history of the Dior fashion house more so than I knew of Catherine and her story before coming on to the show. Fashion is the way that I love to express myself and it’s something I love to admire in others, whether that’s on the runway or in the history books. It’s a big part of my life so being part of this show feels full circle.
What do you think of Catherine and her strength?
Her art does really serve Christian in lots of ways and becomes a huge source of inspiration for him. It’s so important when looking at a storyline like that to find the human connection to her. When we think about the history of fashion, we don’t often think about Catherine Dior, but what I love is how important her journey is in telling this overall story and hopefully that gives people the insight into how important her life is to all of us.
What was it like working with Ben Mendelsohn, who plays Catherine’s brother Christian?
I really love working with Ben. Immediately he was so open. We just jumped in and found a real vulnerability and openness about our families and about our siblings – where we sit in our families and how that influences who we are. Ben has this incredible ability to bring a performance out of the actors that he works with. It’s not just about him and what he’s doing. I felt like I was kept on my toes and was able to do better work because of working with him.
What did fashion mean to you before you did this show and what does it mean to you now?
I think that fashion both before and now is a form of expression. It’s something that brings me a lot of joy. I think that maybe what I’ve learned more about is the human stories behind these huge fashion houses. To build these legacies and to build these iconic brands that we know today, it took the unwavering vision of these individual men and women. That’s so inspiring and that’s easy to forget when we look at these huge logos and fashion shows.
Where to watch The New Look
Stream The New Look now on Apple TV+ with a 7 day free trial. Subscribe here.