CLINTON CONFIDENTIAL

From her real thoughts on Bill’s infidelity to her campaign make-up secrets, Hillary Clinton reveals all in a new series

When the definitive history books are written, will Hillary Clinton’s hairdresser get a mention? There are many revelations in a new four-part documentary about the one-time presidential candidate, but particularly mind-boggling is her own assessment that, while on the campaign trail in 2016, she spent an estimated 25 whole days having her hair and make-up done.

Her Democrat opponent, Bernie Sanders? The idea he needed more than a quick comb is laughable. And let’s not get onto the subject of the hair needs of the eventual victor (and now president) Donald Trump.

It’s all the more remarkable, given the Hillary Clinton we’re first introduced to, via archive footage and home videos at the start of this epic documentary, eschews make-up totally, to the point where her future mother-inlaw (yes, Bill’s mum) is suspicious of her, because she’s so far from the glossy beauties he usually brings home. He was famously dazzled by the brilliant young law student of the 1960s with big glasses and bigger dreams about female empowerment and equality.

The series, tracing Hillary’s rise from lawyer to presidential candidate, may be grand in scale (as well as 35 hours of interviews with Hillary, filmmaker Nanette Burstein had access to 1,700 hours of footage from the Clinton camp’s 2016 campaign trail) but it’s intimate too. Not only did Hillary agree to address the matter of her husband’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky but Bill went on camera too, to give his side. Excruciating for all involved.

It took two attempts to get Hillary to open up. But she did lay bare her distress at the moment when Bill sat on their bed to confess. ‘I was devastated,’ says Hillary. ‘I couldn’t believe it. I said, “If this is going public you have to go tell Chelsea.”’ Which of them was easier to question about Lewinsky? ‘Bill’, says Nanette. ‘He doesn’t dislike talking about his feelings. She hates talking about her marriage. They’re different characters.’

And only one was destined to be president. Why? This series will make you think long and hard about that.

Hillary and daughter Chelsea in 2016. In the series they tell how Chelsea kept her parents together after the Monica Lewinsky scandal Bill and Hillary at Yale Law School in the early 70s. She wore ‘Coke-bottle glasses,’ says Bill. ‘My mother didn’t know what to make of her’ Ex-president Barack Obama was among many who took part in the film. ‘People who know her, like her,’ said one acquaintance