Carey Mulligan covers the June issue of InStyle to promote what would have been the release of Promising Young Woman, only the release date got pushed back (indefinitely, at the moment). Still, Carey managed to go to Paris to do the cover shoot just before Europe started going into lockdown. They cut it so close that Carey’s InStyle interview had to be done completely over the phone/Zoom. She’s currently locked down in Devon, England, where she owns a small farm with her husband Marcus Mumford. Her days are spent being a mom to two kids, Evelyn and Wilfred. You can read her InStyle profile here. Some highlights:
Going to Paris for the photoshoot before lockdown: “Well, at that point the train stations were still jammed, no one was wearing masks, and they weren’t advising people not to travel. But once I got to Paris, it felt odd. I brought one of my best friends, and we were like, “What if we get stuck here? What if someone has it in the hotel?” A week later, none of us would have gone. But I have to say, Paris was still fun. We stayed up late and watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in French…. There were huge crowds of people there that day. Now, life has been shut down in that sense. Our ability to travel is curtailed, but we’re all still curious. I found it so cool how many monuments, zoos, and aquariums started livestreaming their exhibits.
Life in lockdown on her Devon farm: “We wake up early and do a Zoom class for school. It’s a toddler check-in, which is 20 kids all shouting over each other for 10 minutes. It’s hilarious. And then we do some schoolwork. My favorite game to play is filling a tray of toys with water and putting it in the freezer overnight, and then the kids get to “rescue” their toys. They love it and it takes hours.”
She makes casseroles: “Do you know the spicy broccoli salad at Sweetgreen? We’ve made our own version and have it probably four times a week. We’ve gone back into comfort mode and started to eat more casseroles. When the world is chaotic, you need warm food. Variations on casseroles. That will be my cookbook.”
Doing social media promo: “I looked like I didn’t even know what the Internet was. When I’m not in a press environment, I’m not massively clued in to what’s going on. And I think that helps it not consume my life.
She’s not a workaholic: “I don’t work that much. I’ve never done more than two films a year. And 23 days to make Promising Young Woman was not a massive commitment. It’ll get more complicated the older our family gets, but right now we’re quite mobile.
Being a young wife & mother: “I have the best job in the world, but I’ve learned that it isn’t the be-all and end-all. As someone who finds the public side of this quite intimidating, having a family has made me feel that if I wear a dress that people hate, or if I say something stupid, or if people don’t like a film I’ve been in, it doesn’t matter as much as it used to. It’s freeing, in a way.
Her beauty tricks: “I love facials. If I’m lucky and happen to be in America at the right time, I see [aesthetician] Joanna Czech. She’s incredible. In London I go to Pfeffer Sal. But for day-to-day, I just do a little concealer, curl my eyelashes, and use Glossier Boy Brow because I like to comb these bad boys out. I have also really fallen for baseball caps. I used to feel self-conscious about wearing one because I’m not American, but it’s a great way to navigate life without makeup.
I remember Emily Blunt (also British) talking about how British People Don’t Wear Baseball Caps and how John Krasinski will wander around England wearing his baseball cap and it, like, fills her with a deep shame. I’m not a baseball cap person either, but baseball caps are for everyone, every nationality! I think it’s funny as hell that Carey “feels self-conscious” about wearing baseball caps because she’s British. My lord. As for the rest of it… she sounds like she enjoys a more unplugged lifestyle on the farm. And the only casserole I’m into is a green bean-and-mushroom one without cheese.
Cover and IG courtesy of InStyle.
OMG, as an Aussie in the US, this is SO TRUE!!!! For the life of me I CANNOT make a baseball cap look “casual.” I just look like I’m playing dress-up.
Haha. I feel the same as a French person. I feel like I’m trying so hard.
On another note—love the Boy Brow shout out! It’s one of my makeup staples.
Lmao I’m an Australian in a Sydney and I do not know how to wear a baseball cap . I remember when trucker hats were at thing and idk how celebrities like Paris Hilton made it work.
I can wear a beret, fedora, tiara, fur hat, flower crown, vintage feather headpiece. I’ve even been known to wear a pirates hat. I just don’t know how to do a baseball hat and I admire how Americans do it instinctively.
So interesting! I remember being in Paris, and being able to identify Americans by their baseball caps and sneakers, so it rings true. But it’s such an ingrained part of our culture that I don’t think most of us think about it much!
Baseball caps are to America what Fascinators are to England.
Spot on!!
I’m american and now, I live in sweden because I marry a swedish guy and although I never liked wearing baseball caps, my husband tells me that he is happy that I hate wearing them; because they are a horrible look and not because they look too american, but because they look awful on anyone!! 😁
I’m from South America and in the past few years baseball caps have become a popular accessory here. I’m not against it, I even own a couple myself and I like to wear them during the summer to protect myself from the sun and the wind. Still, I completely understand how Carey feels about them. To foreign eyes, they’re very much a part of North American culture.
OMG yes. Actually, they’ve been a thing in Buenos Aires for a long time. My bf, who is 37 years old, has been wearing them since the age of 5. He actually owns over a thousand and collects them. It’s strange when he’s not wearing one lol
I was self conscious about them before I started to wear them for sun protection in the heat. They are easier to wear and don’t fly off of my head like lady like woven hats do in the breeze. It’s an issue of practicality for me, not fashion, and I am an American. I’m grateful they exist because they are comfortable and work well for what I need.
This! I never used to wear them, but now I reach for one every time I walk my baby. They’re great, because they stay put!
Don’t forget to sunscreen your neck and EARS! Have noticed in dermatology a bit of a trend for ears being partially/totally removed because of skin cancer. Baseball caps protect the face reasonably well, but give me a hat any day.
just got a basal cell skin cancer diagnosis on my face, I definitely have been wearing more hats- including baseball hats- in addition to my sunscreen. with my coloring and thin hair I should have something on my head. I hate them, totally screws up my hair but so will surgery to remove cancer from my scalp.
Yes I completely agree with her. Facials are sublime. If I’m in New York, I simply must visit the Erno Lazlo Institute or book a room at the Mandarin Oriental or Ritz Carlton. In London, I’ll stay at the Dorchester to simply spa saunter, and of course, always the Ritz. I have so many favorites. 😑😂
Hahah I’m assuming this is sarcasm? I felt exactly the same way reading that portion of the interview! But if I’ve misread your tone and you’re sincere, good for you 🙂
I wear glasses so when it rains, i wear a baseball cap. I mean, its from the New Orleans Jazzfest, not a sports team. But it keeps the rain off my glasses,
This is hilarious as are reading everyone’s takes on this. As an American, I LOVE my baseball cap. I feel so comfortable and hidden in it. I bought a Panama hat (actually the one Meghan has) and I feel so dressy and try hard when I wear it, I envy those who can pull it off. Until then I will rock my yankee hat!
Boy brow is awesome! Not a huge fan of baseball caps. I wear skirts a lot, so have a big, dramatic woven hat works for me.
Baseball caps are one of the very few hats I can pull off! Hats look horrible on me, except cloche hats and baseball caps
American. Have never worn one.
My exboyfriend is English and he wears a baseball hat all day, every day around London. He wears them in Paris too. People in Paris do as well. I didn’t used to see girls but noticed more and more people wore Yankees caps. It used to annoy me because I doubt anyone of them has even played baseball but whatever. It’s a fashion thing.
So intrigued by her comments on how much — or should I say, how little she works. Two films a year, her last film was just 23 days of work. It’s unreal to me that there are people in this world who can live in luxury on a couple of months of work a year while other people are working 2 or 3 jobs, 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year, just to make ends meet.