Phoebe Dynevor is opening up about the chaos of Hollywood.
The 29-year-old Bridgerton actress spoke out for the latest cover feature for NET-A-PORTER’s digital title, PORTER,
During the conversation, Phoebe spoke out about emerging in the industry and the beginning of her career, her family’s involvement and nostalgia for the ’90s, women’s identity politics and the possibility of doing a rom com.
Keep reading to see what she had to say…
On her industry emergence: “I think that happens a lot with actors. I read Paul Mescal talking about it recently, in regard to [his breakout role in] Normal People. Most people are [working for a long time] in this industry. Unless, I guess, you’re a child actor and it happens overnight, then it happens overnight.”
On the start of her career: “I think it’s really healthy to have a lot of rejection. I think you have to fight for something for you to feel ready for it… I think I felt ready for the chaos as best as I could.”
On her family’s involvement in the industry: “Everyone had a small or big part in the industry in my family, and I just kind of knew I wanted to be in this somehow.”
On her nostalgia for the ’90s from shooting A24’s upcoming film Famous with Zac Efron: “I’m listening to so much ’90s music, which is fun. And the clothes are so cool. I’m wearing these low-waisted jeans that are, like, underneath my hip bone. I understand now why everyone had the butterfly, the back tattoo.”
On what inspires the roles she takes on: “I mean, it goes back to playing [Bridgerton’s] Daphne. I loved that character so much, because she was still complicated. She wasn’t just this young, innocent flower. She did some stuff that wasn’t right, and she was a complex character. I’m always looking for that. I’m always excited when I find that in a role. I know this is such a general answer, but in this industry, especially for women, to find that is very important. I want to see the women that my girlfriends are, that my mum is, that women in my life portray. I don’t want a one-dimensional, idealized female part.”
On women’s identity politics whilst creating digital content: “Women are actually self-writing themselves on TikTok, and you see it’s kind of the idealized, stay-at-home-cooking mother versus, you know, the messy… It’s funny that those things are now being so polarized in content, too. Like, we’re all both of those things.”
On her preference for watching classic films and the state of world currently: “I think it’s so important to look back and watch old movies, listen to old music and keep expanding your view of the world. I do worry about the state of the world right now and if it’s going to keep going in the direction that we, I think, want it to go but also, this is when the best art comes about.”
On doing a romcom: “When I was growing up, I feel like everything I watched as a teenager was romance and romcoms and I think we’ve gone through a drought of that, in a way.”
On embracing life as a true Los Angelean with her fiancé, producer Cameron Fuller: “There is also my new favorite thing: the 5:30pm dinner reservation.”
On work-life balance: “I mean, I don’t think I’m a workaholic anymore. I used to be. But life is too precious.”
To see the full interview with Phoebe Dynevor read
PORTER at net-a-porter.com.
