Song Hye-kyo
The South Korean actress reveals the reasons why she wants to empower other women
Tell us about Chaumet’s new Joséphine collection.
I think the new collection represents elegance and femininity, which is very quintessentially Chaumet. The style is also distinctive of its muse, Empress Joséphine—an exceptional woman of yesterday who continues to inspire women like myself in the present era.
This collection embodies the many facets of Empress Joséphine. Do you relate to these qualities personally?
I consider such qualities like confidence, femininity, elegance and exquisite style important to me as an actress. While it is not easy to achieve all of these qualities at once, I do my best to stay honest to my beliefs and I hope that over time I will be able to live up to these remarkable qualities as well.
What are your thoughts on wearing a watch, such as the Joséphine Aigrette-shaped watch, as a piece of jewellery? Apart from telling the time, I think wearing a watch helps to create a sense of confidence to go with my look. The Joséphine Aigrette watch is one of my favourite pieces from the collection. The unique pear-shape design wraps around the wrist seamlessly without a buckle, almost like putting on a bracelet. I like my jewellery to be refined yet simple, so the watch works well by doubling up as a piece of jewellery.
What do you hope to communicate through this campaign?
For this campaign, I really wanted to celebrate femininity and the multifaceted aspects of being a modern woman. The definition of femininity today has evolved significantly from what it used to be and I think that there is no one way to be feminine—but to me, it means carrying myself with poise and grace yet being self-assured, confident and unapologetic in being myself. I hope to help all women find their own definition of femininity through this campaign.
Do you have a piece of jewellery that you associate with a particular sentimental value?
I feel that a woman’s bond with her ring is sacred, timeless and boundless— for me that would be the Joséphine Aigrette ring. I adore jewellery that is understated but elegant, enigmatic yet seamless. I think there’s a lot that you can tell about a person just from the style of ring they choose to wear.
How do you stay inspired and creative with the projects you’re working on? As an actress, I am constantly finding new ways to reinvent how I play different characters. I have been very lucky to have the opportunities to be a part of amazing projects that constantly challenge me through different roles. I always try to keep myself versatile in my work, so it is vital for me to keep an open mind so I continue to stay inspired and motivated. For me, it is very important to take occasional breaks to recharge and reflect on my purpose and aspirations so I venture into each new character I embody with a fresh and renewed perspective.
Why do you think it is important for modern women to be represented in media?
It is important to showcase the authenticity and multidimensional aspects of being a woman in our present time. I would say the way women are represented in entertainment has certainly changed over time—we get the opportunities to play more diverse roles that can be action-packed, mysterious or sometimes androgynous.