Have You Met Ms Jones?

Shiseido Group’s prestige beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté has found a new muse in Academy Award nominee Felicity Jones, writes Elizabeth Soong

Having seen her as a tough and relentless rebel leader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, gave me the impression that she’s larger than life. Though, meeting Felicity Jones in an airy garden suite in Beverly Hills Hotel for the first time, I was struck by how petite she is—dressed demurely in a rib knit top and full skirt, sporting shades of cream and pink, with no trace of the British upper lip. In a word she’s just lovely, with green eyes that crinkle as her radiant smile lights up the room. And with such clear, gorgeous skin as hers, I could see why Clé de Peau Beauté chose her as their new face, but it’s more than that. As brand director Yukari Suzuki said, “A crucial element of Clé de Peau Beauté is that customers feel our brand belongs in their lives. Felicity is aspirational yet highly relatable, which makes her ideal. She embodies the brand’s DNA: intelligent, uncompromising, and exquisite. Her passion and dedication to her craft have also impacted the world and those around her.” Felicity’s body of work is nothing short of inspiring, as the Oxfordeducated actress has a penchant for playing strong female characters. Her raw portrayal of Jane Hawking in The Theory of Everything earned her a nomination for multiple awards such as the BAFTA, SAG, Golden Globe and the Academy Awards. In A Monster Calls, she played a terminally-ill mother who mustered the strength to help her son come to terms with her illness. And as the spirited heroine Jyn Erso, she was the Force that brought the Rebel alliance together in a daring mission that would cost them their lives. Her choices come in part from who she is and what she stands for. Brought up by a single mother in a town outside of Birmingham, England, she says, “I remember growing up, my mother was a very strong, independent woman. She always encouraged my brother and I to express our personalities, to express who we are. She emphasised that it is what’s inside that counts, and I remember having a very strong sense of that.” A self-proclaimed feminist, Felicity has always been interested in championing women. So much so that she was nicknamed Tiny Warrior, and she hopes that her work portrays women in a realistic way. And being true to form, she reportedly made twice as much as her male co-stars for Rogue One, as she believes that she should be paid fairly for the work that she’s doing. There is no role she would take that she doesn’t have an affinity for, so on being the face of Clé de Peau Beauté, she firmly says that “It’s important to me that my values align with any brand I’m affiliated with. Clé de Peau Beauté made it clear that they approached me because of my principles and dedication.” Plus, it’s clear she enjoys makeup, as the subject brings out a girly, excitable side in her. “I’ve always loved makeup,” she enthused. “It’s fun; I love colours and the process of applying it, so it felt like a great fit to work with a brand like Clé de Peau Beauté, because we have very similar interests.” The 34-year-old debuts in Clé de Peau Beauté’s spring/summer 2018 campaign, which was shot over two days in London, by renowned photographer David Sims. The film focuses on different facets of Felicity’s life; for her, it is about “letting the power of your essence—your intelligence, beauty, confidence—shine in everyday moments.” She adds: “The key is to be yourself. I know it sounds cliché, but I think it’s really an exciting time for us to be women, because we’re now getting to this new landscape where we can make the rules.”

“Felicity is aspirational yet highly relatable, which makes her ideal”