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admin | Oct 16, 2023
Gwendoline Christie on the three creatives that have helped shape her success

The colourist, the dancer and the chef

I’ve never really felt conventional. I’m naturally drawn to misfits; to outsiders,” Gwendoline Christie tells Bazaar. Today, we’re on set with the Emmy-nominated actress, who has been widely celebrated for her portrayal of complex, multi-faceted and nonconformist women, from Jan Stevens in Flux Gourmet to the formidable Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones. “As an artist, I’ve always been interested in what exists in the margins – the untold stories. It’s where I feel most at home.”

Christie, 44, has seen her fame catapult in recent years, following starring roles in Netflix’s Wednesday and The Sandman. While her talent and magnetism is undeniable – she’s articulate, charming and possesses a thunderous laugh – we’re meeting with the actress to explore the notion that behind every successful individual, there’s a team of supporters helping to raise them up, drive them forward and unlock their full potential. “That love you feel from your friends, and for the people that go out of their way to help you, can be transformative,” says Christie.

Bazaar is joining Christie as she embarks on a journey with Porsche to illustrate how together, we can go further – a concept the actress and luxury car brand believe in passionately. Along the way, we’re meeting three talented creatives who have played a significant role in the actress’s life, both personally and professionally.

The colourist

Christie met celebrity colourist Josh Wood in 2018, just after she’d filmed her final scenes for Game of Thrones. “I’d been an admirer of Josh’s work for many years. His name kept cropping up in so many fashion shoots I loved,” says Christie.

After being introduced by a mutual friend, the star remembers: “I was nervous to meet Josh because he’s iconic – a visionary – and someone I’d always wanted to work with. In reality, he’s incredibly kind and funny. He wants people to feel good. I never expected to have such a hoot in the chair with him.”

“Gwendoline’s hair was very short and very bleached,” recalls Wood of their first meeting. After seven years playing a character synonymous with androgyny, Christie sought a transformation that would enable her to reconnect with her femininity. The pair worked together to give her the hair she’d been coveting for years – soft, long and pale platinum. “I wanted hair that felt closer to my natural colour and more authentically ‘me’; hair that would allow me to express myself and experiment with different looks,” she explains.

Working closely with Christie’s stylist, Jerry Stafford, Wood helps the actress to get ready for both roles and red carpets, often meeting Christie out of hours at his west London salon. “Gwendoline’s incredibly experimental with her approach to both beauty and fashion, and is constantly pushing me creatively. She brings her own ideas, so it’s a wonderfully collaborative process,” he says. “She’s also got a wicked sense of humour. We can find a joke in every sentence, which makes it brilliant fun.”

At six foot three – “I’m extremely tall. It’s my defining feature” – Christie has spoken openly about her struggles with being accepted as an actress. To her, her relationship with Wood has been more than just physically transformative. “I feel very lucky to be in Josh’s orbit,” she says. “He’s a brilliant listener, he’s incredibly generous with his time, and when he shines his light on you, you feel like he truly sees you. He’s given me the gift of self-acceptance and has helped me to feel beautiful.”

The dancer

As a child, Christie loved dance and gymnastics. “It’s the ultimate marriage of discipline and freedom,” she says. Before meeting, the actress had admired dancer Harry Alexander’s work for many years, watching him perform in shows at the Barbican in London. “Harry was always very clearly a star,” she says. “He’s a sensational dancer. I found such inspiration in his performances and wanted to learn from him.”

In 2020, Christie reached out and presented Alexander with the opportunity to become her movement coach. Having previously only ever worked as a dancer at Sadler’s Wells, it was a career move he’d dreamed of. “I was very, very flattered,” Alexander recalls. “I’d watched Gwendoline in Game of Thrones but in real life, she was so much more bubbly and engaging than I’d imagined. It made me admire her acting talent even more.”

Alexander now helps Christie prepare for TV roles and accompanies the actress on set, supporting her to extend her frame of reference when it comes to the language of physicality. “We talk about each character and what they’ve been through, what their relationships are like and how they react to people,” he explains. “How do these experiences affect their posture? How do they hold themselves when they’re alone?” And even when they’re apart, they remain connected. “When I watch Gwendoline on screen, bringing each character to life, I can’t help but WhatsApp her to tell her how amazing she is,” says Alexander.

As well as encouraging her to embody her characters in new, deeper ways, Christie also credits Alexander with helping her to accept her body. “Harry’s taught me so much about posture and gesture, where we hold energy in our bodies, and what that reveals about our psychology,” she says. “Inevitably, this has flowed into my everyday life. He’s drawn me out of myself and given me more confidence. He’s allowed me to embrace who I am and how I was born. I absolutely walk taller as a result of knowing him.”

The chef

“When Gwendoline’s in the room, it’s never a dull day,” laughs head chef and author Margot Henderson, co-founder of Rochelle Canteen in London’s Shoreditch. Henderson and Christie’s friendship first blossomed when Christie was a “frustrated” actress, yet to get her big break. “Margot has been a much-treasured friend of mine for a long time now, and her restaurant is legendary,” says Christie. “She’s fed me, literally and creatively, for 15 years.” First introduced by a mutual friend, Henderson says of their initial meeting: “Gwendoline was extraordinary. Clever, full of energy, great conversation. I think I fell in love.”

Henderson has since witnessed Christie’s meteoric rise to fame, helping her to land her breakout role as Miranda Hilmarson in Top of the Lake by facilitating a conversation with friend and screenwriter Jane Campion, and going on to watch her star in one of TV’s most globally recognised shows. “Margot has helped me hugely with my career, thanks to the talented creatives she’s introduced me to,” says Christie. “Her energy is infectious and she has such a huge passion for life. When I’m around her, I feel like anything is possible; like I can conquer the world.”

While Henderson reveals that Christie has yet to cook a single dish for her, the pair’s most treasured memories are closely linked with mealtimes. “My favourite meals with her have always been at Margot’s house, surrounded by her family – her husband, Fergus, and their brilliant children. She just loves bringing people together,” says Christie.

For Henderson, it’s about nurturing those support networks that allow each of us to flourish. “We all need encouragement from our friends,” she says. “Gwendoline feels like she’s an oddity but by playing unconventional women, she’s offering young girls a different type of role model.”

The pair’s longstanding friendship has also helped fuel Henderson’s own success as a chef. “Gwendoline’s brought so much to my life and my business, filling my restaurants with friends and cast members. When she walks into the room, there’s an electricity in the air. She’s been an incredible support.”

As our journey with Christie draws to a close, the actress takes a moment to reflect. “I’m very lucky with the friends I have, and these three individuals are so accomplished and so talented at what they do. Just being around them pushes me to keep growing and evolving. When you’re held in a state of love by your friends, you can really achieve anything.” [Source]



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Wednesday
Role: Principal Larissa Weems
Release Date: 2022
Follows Wednesday Addams' years as a student, when she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a killing spree, and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents.

The Sandman
Role: Lucifer Morningstar
Release Date: 2022
Upon escaping after decades of imprisonment by a mortal wizard, Dream, the personification of dreams, sets about to reclaim his lost equipment.

Severance (Season 2)
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Release Date: 2024
Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.
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