Though she’s expected to “run around like a rabbit in the headlights” at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Poppy Delevingne has a pretty peaceful air about her as she discusses her program on the French Riviera.
The actress, model and entrepreneur is back in Cannes as an ambassador for luxury jeweler Chopard, so her itinerary is packed with appearances and events on the red carpet. But she will also attend some project related meetings and probably do some handshaking as Delevingne has a movie coming to the Cannes market courtesy of Rohit Karn Batra topical story The gun on Second Street. Prior to hitting the Croisette, The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Delevingne about all things Cannes, travel must-haves and the latest plans for her prosecco brand Della Vite.
You said in a 2015 interview with W magazine prior to your first trip to Cannes that you hoped you wouldn’t fall down the steps of the Palais. I assume that didn’t happen, but what else do you remember about that night?
I was literally so convinced I was going to fall flat on my face and remarkably I didn’t. You would think after all these years I would be over it but coming back in 2023, that is still my biggest fear. I was here last year too, in this beautiful belted Dolce & Gabbana dress, almost like a coat of mail, in which I had to be sewn because the zipper wouldn’t go up. It was a Joan of Arc kind of moment and it was no easy feat. I had to leave my beloved agent Joseph, whom I love more than life, at the bottom of the stairs and wait for me so he could help me upstairs. Next time I think I might need a wheelbarrow to get around. I still get the same nerves every time. I don’t feel like a professional at this in any way.
How do you prepare? Maybe a beta blocker or a glass of champagne?
Breathe deeply. Last year I was so lucky because Augustine Bader was in Cannes and I got the most incredible facial from this incredible man. Not only was it an average facial but he also did light therapy along with a 20 minute meditation with light breathing exercises. It was something I’ve never done on a red carpet before and I highly recommend it for anyone who is nervous as it totally calmed me down and made me feel present and very much in my body.
But I always surround myself with the most amazing team, the most amazing stylists and the most amazing hair and makeup teams. They are not just people, they are my great friends. Being around people you love and can have fun with and laugh with is also an instant nerve-soothing for me. I’m one who tends not to drink before a big event like this, but a small glass of Della Vite Prosecco – just a few sips – can always help to give you an extra boost of confidence.
You are going with Chopard this year and you have worked successfully with them over the years by wearing their jewels here. How is the process of selecting jewelry here?
It’s insane. We always stay at the Martinez and on the roof they have all the jewelry. It’s like Fort Knox there, but you go to the top with your stylist – in my case it’s Nicky Yates – and go through security. At that point, you’ve already chosen what to wear and just find jewelry that will work. I’ve been a magpie since I was a kid, so anything that shines and glitter sets my heart on fire. So this whole extraordinary process of selecting jewelry is amazing and then you get in and out with security and a bodyguard to make sure you don’t run off.
Everyone at Chopard is so nice and so it kind of becomes a breakfast at Tiffany’s moment – it’s lots of smiles and a real pinch-me moment. I sit there thinking, am I dreaming? Is this really happening? Do they have the wrong person? How did I end up here? I look at other women like Julianne Moore or Anne Hathaway, who is my ultimate style icon right now, and think they always seem to know what they’re doing, while I always have imposter syndrome. Like, somebody’s going to find out and say, “Get her out of here.”
Your looks have been so memorable and beautiful here, from a yellow dress to the gunmetal, both from Dolce & Gabbana. You’ve been wearing Chanel. What is your style strategy?
Cannes is where you can pick pieces that really stand out and I think that’s key. I like the standout moments on the red carpet with the juxtaposition of the more casual moments or when you have free time and you’re just meeting or walking the Croisette. It all sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? I like simple things for those moments, like great jeans with a T-shirt and gold sandals. The juxtaposition between the two is always very special.
What are your other Cannes travel must-haves?
You want a great pair of shades, such as Miu Miu cat-eye shades. A good book for the plane. Right now I’m reading Patti Smith’s Just kids, which is fantastic. I love a rose face spray from Envy Organics, something to make you feel fresh. A beautiful lipstick from Charlotte Tilbury. I also have this vintage Gucci bag that I’m taking with me this year. Maybe a Mason Michel hat. Sandals, frayed denim. Also a good sense of humour. You have to have a good sense of humor to get you through the chaos, the fun, divine chaos.
Any favorite spots in Cannes?
The Hotel du Cap is such a beautiful, special place. During the height of the festival it is so busy that to be honest I love just wandering the Croisette. There are so many restaurants on the beach. Everyone drinks rosé all day long and that is so normal here. I don’t feel that’s normal anywhere else in the world. But the French know how to drink during the day. They are extraordinary. I like to wander, and if I have a minute more I might pop into the original Petite Maison. When I was filming Riviera, I lived in Nice for six months. There’s a Petite Maison in London, but the original is in Nice and they always have live music and tomatoes and lemons the size of your head on the table. You mix it with olive oil and salt before eating and the food is exquisite.
Since you have your own prosecco line Della Vite (with sisters Cara and Chloe Delevingne), do you drink it alone or taste the competition while you’re here?
I stick to my brand. The reason we got into this business is because my sisters and I were huge prosecco drinkers and we were always frustrated with what was there and what was presented to us. The best proseccos in the world come from Italy and Valdobbiadene. So we went out and found a winery that shared our values and sustainability (ideals) and we came together to create Della Vite. Now that I’m spoiled by my own brand, I don’t think I can taste the others. You’ll have to try some.
That’s so nice, thank you. Those days are over for me since I’ve been sober for 13 years.
That’s great, congratulations. We come up with a zero percent…
Wow, I wondered. I saw your sister, Cara, at the Vanity purse Oscar celebrated and congratulated her on her sobriety and all Fashion piece that was beautiful. She described so clearly how her life has changed through recovery.
Absolute. The Fashion piece was just so powerful. She’s so incredible and it’s clear that as sisters we still have this brand that we love and adore. It’s our baby that we created and of course the way her life is moving and our lives are moving we thought why not create a zero percent line. So many people are down to earth and Della Vite as a brand values inclusivity and we want everyone to be a part of it. That is the next step for us as a brand, investigating how we can make a no-secco prosecco. And we’ll see where that takes us.
That’s such a smart idea, because non-alcoholic spirits are on the rise and in demand. There’s no easy way to part from prosecco to gun violence, but you just signed up for a new movie, The gun on Second Street, described as “an allegory of the arms crisis in the United States.” What attracted you to the story?
I was approached by Rohit Karn Batra, the writer-director-producer of the film. The first thing I was drawn to was I wanted to change my directing and do something that was very honest, very real and true and authentic. This one is unlike any roll I’ve done so far. What this character goes through and the arc of her story is very interesting, grounded and gritty in places. I don’t feel like I’ve ever had a part like this before and it really appealed to me. The topic is very relevant to what is going on in the US and I hope it grabs people’s attention. It’s a challenging role for me and one I’m so eager to take on.
