‘I’m really fascinated by female surrealist artists that have been neglected. Gertrude Abercrombie is someone I’m obsessed with,’ shares Lucy Boynton when asked about the historical figure she’d love to play in film. ‘Her art is so abstract but has such a specific feeling of feminine power, anger and everything in flux. Her work is just stunning.’
Speaking to ELLE UK via Zoom, it’s clear that telling the stories of formidable, yet often under-appreciated women in history is something the 29 year-old is drawn to. Her chameleonic nature has seen her portraying Mary Austin in the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, the grieving Countess Helena Andrenyi in 2017's Murder On The Orient Express and icy Astrid Sloan in Ryan Murphy’s The Politician.
Boynton’s career has seen her sailing through every decade imaginable, something that has informed her own approach to beauty.
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‘I've become increasingly less precious about my own idea and aesthetic of what beauty is, because you're constantly stepping outside of yourself and your identity,’ Boynton, who's currently the face of Chloé perfumes, tells ELLE. Having the freedom to experiment with varying looks in her work has translated to a more decorative approach to red carpet beauty through use of embellishments, imaginative colour combinations and an otherworldly vibe that’s anything but prosaic.
Ahead, Boynton shares her make-up bag staples, perfume sensibilities and her love for all things shiny.
How does your work influence your relationship to beauty?
‘It forces me to take a step back from any sense of ego and vanity. I think it's encouraged a really healthy relationship (with beauty), and quite an exciting one, where you get to experiment with loads of very different looks than you otherwise would or that is associated with a contemporary beauty standard.’
Where does your love for experimentation come from?
‘It was really liberating meeting Jo Baker, who's a make-up artist I work with, because we share that love for make-up being experimental and (a form of) self-expression.
She's someone who pulls an eclectic range of references and gets inspiration from the least obvious places. It has made the events that you have to go to for this job way less daunting and actually something to look forward to when you go very much feeling like an elevated version of yourself.’
What colours and products bring you confidence and joy?
‘I’m drawn to anything red and shiny. (Jo’s products) are really easy to use for someone who doesn't have a skill for the graphics and the specificity. The eyeshadow palettes are beautifully pigmented. All the Playbox gems are really easy to apply, too.’
What’s your first memory of perfume?
‘My mother’s perfume, it was a really beautiful, powdery smell. I remember so clearly smelling that every time my parents go out for an evening. It has such a sense of completion and elegance to me.’
How does fragrance fit into your creative process?
‘Once I started working with Chloé and investigating my relationship with fragrance much more, I no longer would use my own perfume for a character. I found that has been a tangible way to differentiate yourself and the character.
I'll now usually find a little fragrance or a new scent when I'm finding a character.’
What’s your favourite way of using fragrance?
‘I do like the idea of having an aura of scent. I love it when someone's fragrance is really tethered to their identity. When you smell it, you really think of them. The Chloé perfume is so perfect for that because you can't really do too much with it since it's such a delicate fragrance but it lasts all day.’
If you lost your make-up bag, what are the products you’d immediately replace?
‘Jane Iredale compact powder and YSL Touche Éclat concealer because those are such great on-the-go touch-ups. Chanel has beautiful water-based foundations, which are much lighter on your skin but with good coverage. A balm that is both a lip and cheek tint. Olio E Osso do great ones and Glossier; I use those. Bakeup Tarantula Lash Mascara is my go-to because it's like 60s lashes in a tube. If I’m doing a minimal look I’ll always go for lashes.
ELLE Edit: Lucy Boynton's Beauty Must-Haves
How do you keep your hair in amazing condition?
‘I’m most loyal to Mark Selley who does my colour. He has all the answers. The K18 products are something I’m experimenting with at the moment and it’s really helping. When I’m blonde, the Christophe Robin Baby Blonde Hair Mask feels really hydrating and keeps your hair that ashy blonde that I like.’
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
