Emma Corrin's Gender-Fluid Aesthetic Is an Asset on the Screen and Red Carpet

The business of Hollywood is, of course, the suspension of disbelief. But it takes a truly talented actor to transcend time, space, gender, and genre from one role to the next. For 26-year-old Emma Corrin, however, this constant metamorphosis is quickly becoming routine. 

Corrin, who is British and nonbinary, began acting in 2017 and won viewers’ hearts and critics’ praise around the world for their portrayal of Princess Diana in the fourth season of The Crown on Netflix. Now, Corrin’s latest project, My Policeman, places them in a similarly recognized yet less universally revered role: the 1950s housewife.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video in early November, My Policeman premiered last month at the Toronto International Film Festival and features modern-day global icon Harry Styles in the titular role of a young policeman named Tom. Corrin plays Marion, Styles’s sweet but naïve wife, who is an unknowing third wheel in the romantic relationship that is at the center of the film. While it is not quite love at first sight for Marion and Tom, the rapport between the actors came easily—they had met prior to filming thanks to their mutual stylist, Harry Lambert. "We were friends before, so it was really nice,” shared Corrin over Zoom. "I knew that we’d have a great time, and if you’re working with people you like, it’s always gonna be a positive experience.”

Both Corrin and Styles are known for their fluid fashion sensibilities, which makes it interesting to see them play opposite each other in such traditionally gendered roles and costumes. Marion, a young teacher, spends most of the film in knee-length skirts and cardigan sweaters befitting of the post-war era. Yet both Corrin and I liked Marion’s retro swimwear the best. "The costumes are wonderful, and we had a great time doing very collaborative work with the costume department,” they explained. "You get to a certain point after thinking about the character, and then the costumes are the last piece of the puzzle for me.” In fact, the entire seaside town of Brighton felt like a character itself with so many extras on the beach in period-appropriate attire, providing a moment of levity in an otherwise shadow-encased film.

Fashion, no matter the era, plays a significant role not only in Corrin’s transformations on-screen but also in their public presentation of self. Seen on the August issue of Vogue, Corrin—the first nonbinary person to appear on the cover in the magazine’s history—was clad in a sparkily Louis Vuitton tank dress and classic New York Yankees baseball cap. Their signature style was front and center again on the TIFF red carpet, where Corrin stunned in a custom bikini-cut Miu Miu bodysuit with billowing sleeves and a flowing train, iridescent makeup, and sheer tights—no pants. "My Miu Miu family is incredible, and I love the stuff they’re doing,” effused Corrin, who is the face of the brand’s current campaign. "The recent collection is so fluid and really boundary pushing. That’s something I really love, and I’m really grateful to be involved.”

While Corrin tends to favor more avant-garde looks on the red carpet, the star is equally at home in the ’70s and ’80s silhouettes that color their off-duty style. In fact, Corrin sports an original Harry Lambert design during our video call—a graphic sweatshirt with a large snail motif—which they proudly showed off during our conversation. Although the duo has only been collaborating since early 2020, it’s clear that Corrin and Lambert speak the same sartorial language. "[Lambert] is a really close friend, and we know each other very well. There’s so much trust here, and he loves pushing me out of my comfort zone, and I sort of go wherever it leads me,” Corrin mused. "But also, he knows me very well. And that’s pretty relaxing.”

It’s obvious when you think about it: Corrin is such a chameleon on the red carpet that it only makes sense that they would look equally at home portraying the people’s princess or a humble housewife on-screen. I can’t wait to see how their character choices and style evolution transform next.

Catch My Policeman in theaters now and streaming on Prime Video on November 4. 

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