Photography by Heidi Tappis
Creative Direction by Deborah Ferguson
To begin, where do you live?
Los Angeles.
Where are your “go-to” places to eat, drink, shop, groom, be a tourist, see a movie?
Petit Trois for everything on the menu. Sunset Tower for the Tower Smash margarita, Go Get ‘Em Tiger for coffee, Little Dom’s for brunch, Garde for home wares, J Colby Smith for piercings, Biba de Sousa for facials, Nino Meir Gallery for art. For movies?….my couch. As a tourist, Griffith Park. I could get lost in any one of the trails…or any one of the shops on Melrose Place.
Comedies, dramas, dark detective thrillers – you name the genre, Michelle Monaghan has done it. Nearly 20 years into her acting career, Monaghan is as versatile as ever. As of late, Monaghan tackles new ground in the timely biopic Saint Judy and revisits her role in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Jaimie Kourt caught up with the actress to discuss her upcoming projects and life in LA.
Where is your top spot to be in all the world?
Without question, Burning Man. It restores my faith in humanity each and every time.
Is there a place you haven’t traveled to, but think it might be a favorite place?
Africa.
“Strong and fragile, calculated but reckless and too smart for her own good. She’s complicated as hell and I love her.”
You grew up in a pretty small town, what gave you the bravery to move to the big city of Chicago and then New York?
Wanting a higher education. I mean that literally and figuratively. I was lucky to have my folks’ unconditional support.
I had the desire and they only encouraged me. They were the ones who were brave.
You studied journalism in college. Have you done any work in that profession to date?
No but I hope to play one one day.
What occupation would you still like to pursue, if any?
I’d love to produce more. I think I’m naturally good at bringing people together and I consider myself to be a good communicator and problem-solver. I believe after spending years exploring this career and zeroing in on my craft that I have a real sense of clarity and confidence in the kinds of stories I want to tell.
What is your favorite part about being an actress?
That truly I get to put myself in other people’s shoes. I consider it a deep honor and one that I take very seriously. Getting to explore the human condition, without judgement, is tremendously fulfilling. I’ve learned so much about various people and their experiences that I am honestly so humbled that this is my career.
You have a bunch of new projects on the horizon; First off, Mission Impossible: Fallout; This is your third film in the series. This go around, what has changed about your character, “Julia”?
Life-wise, internally and externally? She’s physically moved on but emotionally, she’s still right by Ethan’s side. Their love is extraordinarily bittersweet.
I was a teenager when Top Gun and Risky Business came out. We all LOVED Tom Cruise. Who was your first movie star crush?
Christian Slater was plastered all over my walls.
You’re currently in production on Messiah, which is a 21st century political thriller for Netflix. Tell me a bit about your character ‘Eva Geller.’
Eva is a US Intelligence Officer who travels to the world to bring the “Messiah” to justice but at what cost to her humanity.
What is about this character that is exciting and/or unique to you?
She’s tenacious to a fault. Her world is very black and white and as a result, she lives a lonely existence. She can confront a threat to the world but can’t confront the mortality in her own life. She’s a wonderful double-standard as so many of us are. Strong and fragile, calculated but reckless and too smart for her own good. She’s complicated as hell and I love her.
“I hope our children see us as human – inspiring, grateful, fun and not always perfect.“
It’s an interesting time in our world (to say the least). I believe, raising children in this place and time must require a great deal of thought and consideration. How do you parent your children to be the best people they can be?
Compassion. Respect. We live by the golden rule in and out of our home and everything revolves around that. My husband and I believe it starts with us. We definitely try to lead by example.
To understand the world realistically, but still with wonder and hope?
I believe that as long as we, as parents, still care about the world around us and are invested in making a positive impact within it, then hopefully some sense of adventure and social responsibility will be instilled in them. I hope our children see us as human – inspiring, grateful, fun and not always perfect. We’re here to teach them that there is a silver lining in everything. I hope we help our children develop and appreciate all the things that make them uniquely them. And in turn, they have that same appreciation in others.
As a mother to a daughter do issues about her feminine existence come up?
Mostly on how to move through this world with respect for herself and for others. My hope is that i can provide her with the honesty, the insight and the experience for her to make her own colorful journey. My daughter looks up to me and I’m very conscious of her having a healthy perspective regarding my career and how she sees me navigate it. I’m very proud of my success and express immense gratitude for it but even more importantly, I believe, is my responsibility in letting her know my journey in getting here: the challenges, the mistakes, the stepping stones. To understand that confronting your fear is healthy and exciting and a sign you’re moving out of your comfort zone. There are a number of ways in which i teach her these lessons and seeing her apply them is extraordinarily rewarding for both of us. I also believe in instilling self-respect from a very young age. For example, when someone
says or does something to upset you and they apologize you don’t say, “it’s ok” or “don’t worry about it”, rather, I’ve taught my daughter to acknowledge the apology, and simply say, “thank you for apologizing”…it helps her honor her feelings and at the same time allows for the other person (currently it’s her brother!) to take responsibility instead of it being an empty apology. It took me thirty years to learn that kind of self-respect. Hopefully she’s on the fast track!
You are very funny too. I so adore you in comedic films. Your acting is so natural and often stays so in the silliest of situations. Are these movies as fun to make as they seem they would be? Does this skill feel organic to you or is it something you must work and train in for a role? I hope there are more comedies in your near future.
I would say one of my strongest traits is a good sense of humor. On a daily basis, I’m generally operating from a pretty laid-back, goofy place. That being said, I find comedy the most challenging genre to make. It’s easy to roll through your day making funny comments but to be funny on cue, is a whole other ball game.
FASHION MAGAZINE QUESTIONS
Favorite pair of Jeans? Redones
Favorite jacket? Rick Owens
Best pair of shoes? YSL boots
Most beloved piece of jewelry? A necklace that belonged to my mother-in-law
Favorite red carpet designers? Herrera, Rosie Assoulin, anything vintage.
Favorite things to wear at home? I live in cashmere pieces by friend my Madeleine Thompson and Raquel Allegra and Doen. Out to dinner? Redones, ysl silk blouse or a wolford bodysuit and pumps. And lots of gold jewelry. And I never leave the house without red lipstick.
Is there an up and coming designer you love that we should know?
I adore Julien Dossena of Paco Rabanne.
What do you do to get ready for bed? Have a glass of wine, put on Moby’s Long Ambients album, open the windows and cuddle to up to my husband.
How do you unwind after an intense day at work? I meditate. Religiously.
Are there any personal goals you are yet to accomplish? I want to work on stage.
Is there any wish for the world that you hope fulfilled during your lifetime? World hunger. No one should die from a lack of food. The world needs to learn how to share better. And stop being so damn wasteful.
CREDITS
Photographer: Heidi Tappis
Creative Director: Deborah Ferguson
Art Director: Charlotte Lethbridge
Make up: Shane Paish using Dior at Crosby Carter management
Hair: John Ruggiero at The Wall Group
Manicurist: Sheila Monaus at Vision Nation Artists
Image Retoucher: Lisa Langdon-Banks
Thank you Retrouve Luxury Skincare
