Last month, we turned the spotlight on five women giving us new reason to love fall television. This time, we’re turning our attention to the big screen and calling out the women every movie fan should know. With award season just around the corner, Hollywood is bringing out its heavy-hitter films and this year’s lineup is filled with something for everyone. You have your star-studded twisted thrillers, your historical biopics, your Timothée Chalamet and Lucas Hedges tear-jerkers, and of course, your buzzy indies.
But it’s these noteworthy ladies who are bringing something fresh to the table. Not only are we impressed with their incredible work on the screen, and in one case, behind the camera too, but we asked these on-the-rise stars to share their fall fashion picks as well. Truth be told, they’ll have you reaching for your wallets stat. Before you make a beeline to the theaters (or Netflix), meet the women you’ll be talking about all season long.
WHO: Lorenza Izzo (@lorenzaizzo)
WHAT: Chilean actress Lorenza Izzo has had herself a busy start to fall with not one but two September feature films—both of which hit theaters on the same day. The first, family-friendly The House With a Clock in its Walls, had Izzo tapping into her humorous side alongside Cate Blanchett and Jack Black, while the second, Life Itself, put her dramatic acting chops to the test. Izzo can be seen next in one of the most anticipated films of 2019, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. While she can’t reveal too much about her character yet, she assures us it’s a project worth waiting for.
Unless you were on the set of The House With a Clock in its Walls you might not know that… “I’m the most energetic person, I’m the biggest goofball, and I love to entertain constantly. I love being the center of attention and thrive on it… haha. It’s not a very attractive quality, but there are very few things I enjoy more than making my family and friends laugh at my silliness.”
Life Itself is a must-see for moviegoers because…"It’s like therapy, but more than that it’s a beautiful, heartbreaking, multigenerational, and international family story, which at its core gives hope, reminds you that life is actually very simple, and it comes down to those moments you’re not even aware of that shape your entire future. Contrary to what critics have been saying, I believe it is a very special film, which only time will tell.”
The thing I am enjoying most about filming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is… “EVERYTHING. Literally every single aspect of it. I have this way of thinking that my work is auditioning and audition prep. When I book a project, well that’s the gift, being on set and getting to learn and grow. This one project in particular is a dream come true, and I’m not just saying that—it is. I have a list of dreams and one of them is working with Quentin Tarantino. Well, actually a couple of those items in the list have been checked off because of this film but, I can’t reveal them… YET.”
The one thing I can say about my Once Upon a Time in Hollywood character is… “She’s larger than life. She’s a full blast of magnetic personality, and I love playing that!”
I’m drawn to female characters who are… “human. Women who are flawed and vulnerable and, because of that, brave.”
The actor I’m dying to work with is… “Claire Danes, Penelope Cruz, and Lily Collins.”
The people I love to follow on Instagram are… “@latinoswithattitude, @overheardla, @thechain, and @rupikaur_.”
The Chilean beauty secret I swear by is…“less is more is the Chilean beauty motto. Women in general wear very little make up or none at all. I’m not sure that this is very Chilean only, but my grandmother taught me to never dry my face harshly, to tap lightly with the towel and to spray rose water at the end of my daily beauty routine. I always do that after washing my face.”
I instantly feel like myself when I put on… “my perfume. Scents are a huge thing in my life. I mix scents and rotate them. I have Santal 33 from Le Labo, and depending on the season and mood, I will add another scent. It also varies when I’m filming. I like choosing a perfume for each of my characters.”
My fall wardrobe would not be complete without these three pieces…
“These Rag and Bone booties are SO comfortable and go from day to night so easily. I swear by them and I already have them in white. They are modern and trendy without losing a classic timeless feel.”
“This dress is the best for a day to night look. It fits amazing and has such a feminine and sexy vibe.”
“I love a chunky sweater. There’s nothing like that cozy, comfy feeling of being wrapped in one. I adore this one from Acne and am especially obsessed with the color.”
WHO: Cailee Spaeny (@caileespaeny)
WHAT: When you know, you know, and about this I am certain: Cailee Spaeny is a star on the verge of a meteoric rise. The actress made her big-screen debut this spring in Pacific Rim: Uprising, but it’s her follow-up performances to the blockbuster that have us cheering for more from the 20-year-old. This month, Spaeny has audiences on the edge of their seats opposite an all-star cast, including Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, and Chris Hemsworth, in the ’60s-based mystery thriller Bad Times at The El Royale. And come Christmas, you’ll see Spaeny in an entirely different role, as Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s sister Jane in Focus Features’s On the Basis of Sex. With a TV series already lined up for 2019, Spaeny is primed to become your favorite fresh face too.
The reason I’m so drawn to characters like Rosie in Bad Times at the El Royale and Jane Ginsburg in On the Basis of Sex is that… “they are so completely different from one another. I always want to keep pushing myself to do something different.”
Unless you were on the set of Bad Times at the El Royale, you might not know that… “Jeff Bridges carries a panoramic camera and a game called Pass the Pigs with him at all times.”
The thing I enjoyed most about portraying Jane Ginsburg in On the Basis of Sex is… “all of the research I got to do and how inspired I was by so many powerful women like Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Gloria Steinem.”
The biggest step I took outside my comfort zone in the last year was… “exploring my independence and finding my own voice.”
The actor I’m dying to work with is… “Emma Stone! She just seems like the coolest person to be around.”
The people I love to follow on Instagram are… “@love.watts. They post so many weird/creepy/inspiring visuals that I’m really into.”
I instantly feel like myself when I put on… “something comfy yet stylish. I do believe you can be both.”
I would describe my first fashion week experience as… “a whirlwind of inspiration. The colors and collaboration of cinema that Raf Simmons used were so smart.”
My fall wardrobe would not be complete without these three items…
“I just love the fit!”
“As the summer ends and fall begins, my makeup artist Loren [Canby] uses this bronzer on me to keep my skin looking fresh.”
“Never too early!”
WHO: Jessica Barden (@jessybarden)
WHAT: Jessica Barden had me, and so many others, asking “Who is that girl?!” when she delivered a spectacular performance as the troubled Alyssa in Netflix’s The End of the F***ing World back in January. Luckily we get to see Barden’s star power again in The New Romantic, recipient of South by Southwest’s Best First Feature award. In the film, out next month, Barden plays college senior and writer Blake who dives into the world of sugar babies—women who date older men in exchange for gifts—in attempt to better her relationship column. Next, the 26-year-old will appear opposite Charlie Hunnam and Jack O'Connell in 2019’s Jungleland—swoon!
My elevator pitch of The New Romantic would be… “it's a movie for anyone who has ever made a series of decisions in their 20s based around the idea that this is what you are supposed to be doing in your 20s.”
The thing I enjoyed most about being on the set of The New Romantic was… “working with Carly, the director, and all the actors. It was really amazing working with a director that was the same age as me and being able to speak as openly as we could about scenes we genuinely related to. Hayley Law is also one of my closest friends now, and we didn't even have to act with each other; we just became best friends.”
The rom-com revival is so exciting right now because… “I feel like romantic comedies are different now. They challenge the female characters more. It's the perfect genre to keep pushing the boundaries on what types of characters we see on screen, as ultimately being in love or not is something everyone can relate to.”
I couldn’t wait to start filming Jungleland with Charlie Hunnam and Jack O’Connell because… “Jungleland is a movie about brothers and how complicated but also loving that relationship can be. I really love my brothers, and I wanted to make something they could watch as well. I had looked up to Charlie and Jack for years and had always wanted to work with them. I knew we would all connect in some kind of way and I think we have.”
I’m drawn to female characters who are…
“anything that I see that is like me or someone I know, and it makes me be like 'OMG! you would do that.'"
The actor/actress I’m dying to work with is… “Isabelle Huppert.”
The one character I’ve played who’s surprisingly similar to me is… “Blake in The New Romantic or Alyssa in The End of the F***ing World. That sounds crazy if you watch them, but I am genuinely both of those characters at the same time.”
The people I love to follow on Instagram are… “I love to follow Kelly Oxford, Joan Collins, and The Archbishop of Banterbury (you should follow them for memes!).”
The British-girl fashion staple I can’t quit is… “I am obsessed with jackets of any kind. Mainly leather, but it has to be amazing enough to make an outfit better by itself. And it has to have pockets because I lose my Oyster cards if they go in my handbag.”
My fall wardrobe would not be complete without these three pieces…
“I will make an exception for a trench coat because they are so iconic in films. I genuinely feel amazing when I wear one. I also want to wear softer colors at the moment. I don’t know why; it just appeals to me.”
“I really want some white boots because, again, they feel like something a character in a film would wear. I like wearing things that make me feel good and I like attracting attention.”
“I love Shrimps because all of its leather and fur are fake, and I love big fur coats, but I don’t want it to be real! I feel like this coat needs no explanation. It is incredible and so fabulous!”
WHO: Hannah Marks (@hannahgmarks)
WHAT: Hannah Marks is 25 years old and already she has acting, writing, and directing credits to her name. That’s no easy feat. At a time when we need it most, Marks is keen on telling the stories of complex and flawed women—and we’re keen to watch. With her directorial debut After Everything, Marks puts her own spin on the romantic comedy and has audiences experiencing a roller coaster of emotions when a young marriage (portrayed by Jeremy Allen White and Maika Monroe) is put to the ultimate test. Marks’s second fall project, Banana Split, finds her both in front of and behind the camera and explores an unlikely friendship between two teenage girls, one of whom is dating the other’s ex. Did we mention Dylan Sprouse is the boyfriend? Yes, please!
As a writer, director, and actress, the stories I love telling are… "ones about flawed girls. It’s so great that more and more stories by and for women are being told, but I think it’s important that the characters are complex and imperfect.”
What sets After Everything apart from other romantic comedies is… "it’s not about what you think it’s about. It’s about navigating a young marriage where the couple doesn’t know each other as well as they thought. It’s hopefully more frank and honest than a lot of movies about young people.”
After Everything will make audiences… "I hope you laugh and cry and hug your loved ones!”
Unless you were on the set of Banana Split, you might not know that… "Dylan Sprouse is a huge nerd. Liana Liberato, Haley Ramm, and I have been friends for over a decade and have always dreamed of working together. Lots of former child actors in this one.”
The biggest step I took outside my comfort zone in the last year was… "boxing! I hate exercise more than anything—I feel so uncoordinated and stupid when I try—but boxing slowly but surely makes me feel stronger. And also drumming lessons.”
The women in Hollywood who inspire me are… "Lena Dunham, Greta Gerwig, Ava DuVernay, Catherine Hardwicke, Tina Fey, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, Karyn Kusama, Desiree Akhavan, Jill Soloway, Reese Witherspoon… There are so many!”
The best fashion lesson I’ve learned from a costume designer or stylist is… "try something new! Don’t be afraid to mix patterns! Love your body!”
I instantly feel like myself when I put on… "jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers. (And, let’s be honest, pajamas).”
My fall wardrobe would not be complete without these three pieces…
“These Adam Selman heartbreaker glasses are rad!”
“Any kind of velour zip up is awesome, like this one.”
“I wear these constantly. They are so comfortable.”
WHO: Danielle Macdonald (@daniellemacdonald)
WHAT: The 2017 cult hit Patti Cake$ may have put Danielle Macdonald (and her surprise rap skills) on the map, but the Sydney-native is about to become a bona fide star, thanks to two major Netflix projects. In Dumplin’, a comedy musical based on the young adult book of the same name, Macdonald portrays plus-size teen Willowdean Dickson, who in protest of her mother (played by Jennifer Aniston) enters a beauty completion, turning the outdated pageant industry on its head. She’ll follow that up with another book adaptation for the streaming service, this time the post-apocalyptic thriller Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock and Sarah Paulson.
Dumplin’ will make audiences feel… “happy, I hope! It’s definitely a feel-good movie. It was the kind of movie I wanted to see as a teenager, and honestly, still love to watch. Hopefully people feel happy, hopeful, inspired, or confident watching this movie, just like I felt after reading the book.”
The most incredible part of working alongside Jennifer Aniston is… “[she’s] a very giving actress. We met up before we started shooting to get to know each other, and she was always willing to tuck behind camera to say her dialogue just so I could see one of her eyes to help me. She is so talented and quick, and it was honestly so much fun to work opposite her, especially in the scenes where we are challenging each other.”
The most rewarding part of making Dumplin’ was… “I mean, I honestly just had the best time on that set. It was so much fun, every day. Long hours, long days, rehearsals on days off, but with the BEST people. The cast was amazing, the crew was amazing, it really just felt like we were all in it together, and we never let it get too serious. There were always jokes and good times. All of us had game nights in our hotel rooms when we weren’t working. Anne (our director) would be dancing at 4 a.m. to keep us energetic, and it was just amazing. I will never forget this experience. It really just felt like we all were lifting each other up every day.”
My first thought reading the Bird Box script was… “wow. I was actually filming Dumplin’ when I read the script. I had no time to read it before they wanted me to Skype with Susanne (the director), so I woke up after four hours of sleep to read it and Skype with her before I went back into work. It was crazy! I was wondering if it was the lack of sleep that made me so emotional while reading the script, or if it was just that good. But I loved it, and it held up even after I got a full night's sleep. I’m really excited for people to see this one. Sandy [Bullock] is such a strong, loving, flawed character, and I love watching her journey through this movie.”
I’m drawn to female characters who are… “strong. And flawed. And vulnerable. And real. Honestly, I love getting to play all different types of people. I feel like you always find something new within yourself every time you play a different kind of character, and I love that self-discovery. I feel like it opens you up more as a person and really allows you to be more empathetic in life in general because you can’t judge a character you play, even if you would in real life. When you play a character you would usually judge, you have to take the time to get to know them and see what makes them tick and see why they are the way they are.”
The biggest step I took outside my comfort zone in the last year was… “hmm, there have been a few instances, I guess. I filmed a movie called Skin earlier in the year, and that character called for me to do a lot of things that were outside my comfort zone. I also went to Barcelona to film a movie and was living there for two months alone. That was a big thing for me. It’s hard going to another country and living there when you don’t speak the language and you’re still learning and understanding the culture. It was definitely an experience where I learned a lot. I’ve always loved traveling, but actually living in a foreign city for a while was outside of my comfort zone, but I’m really glad I did it.”
The actor I’m dying to work with is… “The list is so long. Octavia Spencer, I love her. Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Hugh Jackman, Denzel Washington… the list is endless.”
The one character I’ve played who’s surprisingly similar to me is… “probably Willowdean from Dumplin’. She really reminds me of my teenage self. Obviously, there are a lot of differences, but I feel like a lot of what she’s experiencing internally is something I very much related to when I was a teenager.”
The people I love to follow on Instagram are… “Honestly I love seeing a good meme. They’re fun to share with friends. So lots of those meme-focused accounts. Oh, and animal accounts like The Dodo, and travel accounts like Epic Travels.”
I instantly feel like myself when I put on… “an oversize sweater, or flip-flops, which in Australia we call thongs, but that can definitely cause some miscommunication in the States.”
My fall wardrobe would not be complete without these three pieces…
“I love anything green. [This is a] really cute jacket that’s appropriate for fall in Los Angeles because we all know LA doesn’t really have seasons.”
“Whenever I’m in New York I love wearing scarves, especially late fall. It’s so beautiful there. I love this classic piece.”
“I love sweaters, it is my favorite part of fall. This is so cute, and I love that you can dress it up or down.”
For more, check out our spotlight on the five stylish women to watch on television this fall!
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