The first thing Noel noticed? My messy makeup
Julianna is 32, works in the entertainment industry and lives in Wychwood Park. She says, “My style is utilitarian-minimalist and rock ’n’ roll chic. I live in boots, jeans, T-shirts and jackets.” Julianna says, “I come across as aggressive, a tough girl, but it’s all a front.” She says she is also “driven, ambitious, highly intelligent and a social instigator.” Julianna says, “In my free time I offer guidance on friends’ creative projects and work on my own projects. I also write songs and am learning how to play the guitar, but I haven’t done anything with that yet.”
Noel is a filmmaker I met at an industry event in Los Angeles, but he’s from Toronto. I always gravitate to the other Canadians in the room. We just couldn’t stop talking and it felt friendly, but there was also a bigger energy happening. It wasn’t clear to me right away how that mutual interest would flow.
The next time Noel was in Toronto happened to be the Toronto International Film Festival. This was before COVID-19, so the festival was in fine form. We made plans to go to an industry party together the night he got to town. We would be surrounded by people we knew, but that’s as close as you’re going to get to a real date at TIFF.
I was getting more and more intrigued by the idea of Noel and, even though I was unbelievably stressed with work, I kept googling Noel to find out more about him. I was fixated!
I tried to put together something sexy but casual from the piles of clothes on the floor for the date. I settled on a “day-tonight” look that didn’t try too hard, and included sequins, combat boots and a bomber jacket. I went hardcore on my makeup, which I never do, and created a dramatic look with eyeliner, mascara and different kinds of eye shadow, including a sparkly top layer.
I had a long day, biking between screenings and, after that, I biked over to the party where I was meeting Noel. I was nervous and felt my stomach churning. Stress, exhaustion, booze and a first date is not a good combination.
The party was an amazing, sweaty mess. When I spotted Noel at the party he was deep in a conversation so I decided to let him find me.
I lost track of him for a while and got another drink, and then another, and talked to people I knew. I had given up on the idea that we were meeting up and decided to focus on networking when he found me and gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek. I was not expecting the kiss, but I liked it.
I noticed he was looking at me oddly and then he said, “Your makeup is smudged.” We were standing right beside a bathroom so I went in to check out the situation.
The heavy eyeshadow I had put on hours earlier was smeared all around my eyes and the glitter I had put on over top had migrated to my cheeks. It looked like I was totally wasted. I looked like a crazy person. I realized I had been talking to people with this mess on my face all night.
I wiped it off with a paper towel and left the bathroom, determined to play it cool. I had halfassumed Noel would have found someone else to talk to. In reality, he was waiting for me right outside. He seemed small and unassuming waiting for me with his hands behind his back. I realized he was wearing a suit and guessed that he had also put some thought into his outfit.
Noel said I looked great. I think he could sense I was embarrassed. He said the makeup craziness had actually looked cool. I loved that he was trying to make me feel better, and I was really happy that he didn’t ignore it or act like I was a freak. He was kind and totally attentive to me when some of the coolest people on the planet were literally walking right by him.
The rest of the night was a whirlwind of drinks and making out in a cab going back to Noel’s hotel, but for me it was the moment outside the bathroom that made it a great date.
Julianna rates her date (out of 10): 9