Gugu Mbatha-Raw is on the cover of the March issue of Town & Country. She’s in a gorgeous formfitting white gown with a bustle serving as a subtle nod to her Belle character. T&C’s profile of Gugu, 31, is just as flattering as their classy editorial. She’s a formidable actor with an interesting background, and multiple actors gush to T&C about her talent and the pleasure of working with her. I know Gugu from Belle, in which she plays historical figure Dido Elizabeth Belle. After seeing the trailer, I assumed it would be an overwrought period film, but it’s not. Belle is a delight and Gugu plays the lead with such grace and vulnerability. I’m surprised she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for that role, but I suppose it would be even more of a surprise if the Academy actually paid attention to actors of color for more than a year in a row. (Despite coming out in 2013 at TIFF, Belle was eligible this year.)
The article notes that Gugu played an entirely different kind of character, a narcissistic pop star, in Beyond The Lights, out last year. She’s also in that bloated scifi mess, Jupiter Ascending. (Who isn’t in that? I almost feel sorry for the Wachowskis, because I actually liked Cloud Atlas. So did the content director for Netflix apparently.)
Here are some quotes from Gugu in Town & Country, with much more in their full article:
On acclaim for her film Beyond The Lights
I mean, it’s really lovely. It’s great for the movie to, you know, have that establishment stamp from the New York Time. But reviews, numbers—they’re not for me. They’re for other people to read and absorb and analyze.On her personal style
In my daily life it’s about being comfortable. I wear a lot of black. But now, to promote these films, I’ve been working with a stylist. I’ve had some fun Cinderella moments in red carpet land. I love the Audrey Hepburns of this world, and I think Cate Blanchett is stunning and always nails it.It’s important to know that it’s okay to be your natural self. It’s also okay to dress up and wear makeup and hair extensions if you want, so long as you don’t feel like you need that or will be worthless without it. The point is, it should be a choice.
Gugu strikes me as smart and grounded here. Her quotes about going natural vs. glamming it up are in reference to her Beyond The Lights character. I’ll have to rent that. Gugu has three films coming out this year including The Whole Truth with Keanu Reeves and Renee Zellweger and Concussion with Will Smith. I was hoping to see more of her and it looks like that’s about to happen.
photos credit: Victor Demarchelier for Town & Country via E! and WENN.com
I think she looks stunning on that cover (and in the other pictures). So glad her career is taking off!
She’s gorgeous,
No need to mess with perfection.
Absolute perfection!
Commenting to say hurrah for more coverage of Gugu! I think she’s stunning and I love her style AND she gives a great interview.
Talented, gracious, and an interesting interview. Girl-crush cemented.
Yep, mine too. Gugu, Emma Stone and Natalie Dormer are my current girl crushes.
Agree completely, she looks amazing on the cover.
Wow, T&C published something that had nothing to do with the special snowflake towheaded scions of the Hamptons?…good on them. Pigs must be flying outside.
On a better note, Gugu is go-gorgeous. Would love to check Belle out.
Belle is a great movie. About time C/B covered Gugu. I’ve been raving about Gugu for quite some time while others were fawning over Lupita. Yes, I compared Lupita’s performance in 12YS to Gugu’s performance in Belle. IMO Gugu was better, hands down. She’s talented and beautiful. She was also great in Beyond the Lights another movie that a lot of readers on C/B probably haven’t seen. She deserves this recognition and that cover is gorgeous.
Why was it even necessary to compare them just because they both of African /black descent ???. For one They were two Completely different roles plus Lupita was A supporting character with less screen time whilst GuGu was the lead in Belle
Why do some women especially some black women feed into the concept that in order for someone to increase someone else must decrease . Like seriously two different women playing two different roles cant co exist in your world without a better than /less than
In case you haven’t notice a lot of celebs are compared to each other on this site. I have compared JLAW to Emma Stone, do you take issue with that also or just with the Black celebs that are compared? I’ve compared RDJ to Charlie Sheen once and Hiddleston to Cumberbatch, do you have an issue with that? I’ve even compared Riri, Beyonce and Katy Perry. I have more than once compared Beyonce to Emeli Sande because I find Emeli’s music more to my liking. Why is that an issue?
It doesn’t matter if it was two different roles. I was comparing their acting ability, their body of work and how I think some people fawn over one yet knows so little about the other who IMO I find more talented.
Why do some people Andy feed into the better than/less than? Well because if that didn’t exist we wouldn’t have all these award shows that basically say this actor/ singer was better than her counterparts and that’s why they won the award.. I’m willing to bet if this was Stone and JLAW instead you wouldn’t be throwing out the ole why do women, especially Black women statement. Don’t make things more than what they are.
Beauty and brains – the whole package.
+1
Awe she is pretty, she looks like she could be the sister of Kerry Washington’s photo shopped picture lol ( not saying Kerry isn’t gorgeous )……. js.
She looks like Sharon Leal to me.
Wow she looks gorgeous. I hope her career continues to climb, I ADORE her name.
Beautiful photos!
Soooo Pretty.
So Elegant.
Loving her whole vibe.
“Underdone” how? She looks lovely. Very classy and elegant.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw is my lesson in “you just never know” with actors. A few years ago she played a reoccurring role on Doctor Who and to be honest, she was really mediocre. Not a great season/character but also nothing about her stood out at all. I never would have picked her to break out. Well what to I know? LOL! Congrats to her!
I think GuGu is gorg has some acting chops and is going to be the next big thing
But Yes she has grown over the years and this is the catch 22 for me in the biz the actresses who keep getting work (sometimes based on what they look like) have the greatest opportunity to hone and develop their craft
This has lead to the dichotomy in the Black Community where pretty much all of the under 35 female talent that is being developed are biracial women
And often you hear …But but they were the best actress for the job and often because of what I stated above they are right
Anyhoo I do like GuGu and wish her continued success
This is sad, but true.
I have a friend who is an actor, he invited me to a showcase where his entire class all did various scenes. Agents and Managers were there scouting.
After all the scenes, I was sitting in the back of the room waiting for my actor friend who was getting requests from agents for headshots, or video, mpg. dvd, anything he may have that they could look at him further.
While I was sitting waiting for my friend..I was sitting close to where several African American actresses were chatting amongst themselves about the scenes they did, when a AGENT or MANAGER walked over and asked ONE of the actresses for her Headshot. She gave it to the Agent , then the other African American actresses said would he also take their head shots Just In Case…., He Bluntly said….I Basically handle biracial or mixed actresses …when submitting For African American roles. ..
The ONLY girl, he took the headshot from was the only noticeablly mixed African American/ …. Standing in that group. It broke my heart to hear these African American actresses basically being rejected because they were not Biracial or did not look biracial. So sad.
I was like WTF….. The thing is ,there was no one they could really go to…to complain, he would have just denied he said it. The actresses looked at each other like they had heard this all before. It was so sad.
She annoyed the crap out of me in “Doctor Who” (I think she was sort of supposed to) but she was phenomenal in “Belle.” I think she’s a wonderful actress.
I ADORED her in Belle. I am totally in love with her now….
the whole thing is just a delightful read and she has a presence in her too.
i’m glad to hear that she’s getting acting gigs, and long may she grace our screens.
I saw Belle this week-end – it was lovely and I’ve developed a massive crush on Sam Reid. That voice!! That ginger curl! Sigh.
Stunning.
I like her.
I always see her as the spunky, carefree college kid who kissed Tom Hanks in Larry Crowne. She’s so gorgeous!
*Leans on the Horn So Hard I startle everyone around* HOOONNNKKKKKKKKKKKKK
My More Gugu Dreams are coming true!!
Beautiful woman, love the skin tone on the cover.
Yes!
Simply gorgeous!
A perfect A!
I have never heard of her but she is Angelina Jolie stunning. I pray she never gets any work done.
Ohmygod. She is perfection. I think I am in girl lust.
I liked Cloud Atlas too!!! And also really enjoyed Belle. A gorgeous film with terrific performances. I have definitely been rooting for Gugu Mbatha-Raw ever since I saw the movie and am glad she is building her career. One day I predict she will get the nominations that she really deserved for Belle.
She and Boris Kodjoe were on a terrible show called “Under Covers.” My husband and I watched it religiously (for all 6 weeks it was on) because Gugu and Boris are quite possibly the two best looking people on Earth. She is ridiculously gorgeous–these pics don’t even do her justice.
Oh, god! Yes. They really are. I was sad when it was cancelled.
Oh wow I watched that show , had no idea it was her.
Drooling over her cover dress. Love period clothing with a modern touch like that.
Sadly, Belle wasn’t great for me. I loved her performance in it, but it lacked something to make it memorable.
Stunning woman.
beautiful