Interview
Tessa Swantex
Photography Graham Dunn
Creative Director Deborah Ferguson
Adria Arjona, Puerto Rican born actor, had a bit of a nomadic childhood in which she reinvented herself as her surroundings changed from the cerulean blue Puerto Rican shores and the pastel toned art deco architecture of Miami to New York City’s warmly lit skyline. With one velvety spray of Giorgio Armani’s My Way Intense, which Arjona represents, the scent of orange blossom and vanilla mingle to “encapsule intense experiences and authentic encounters around the world.” The feeling My Way Intense represents is one that defines Arjona well and has seeped into her career as an actor. For her recent role as Dr. Martine Bancroft in Morbius, she filmed in London and not long after traveled to Cuba to act in and executive produce Los Frikis alongside Cuban actors who had never left the island. It seems that she feels most rewarded and grateful when she is experiencing different cultures and ways of life as she tells us about her experience working on her recent and upcoming projects. With a similar intellect and articulation to Dr. Martine Bancroft, Arjona tells us about how she’d like to become more like Bancroft, details her time as a struggling actor in New York, talks upcoming projects, climate change, and her sustainable cosmetic journey with Armani Beauty.
Top, Skirt : Giorgio Armani
Intense floral fragrance for women
First, I just wanted to start off by talking about your past a little bit because you seem to have had such an interesting childhood given that a lot of it was spent on a tour bus as your dad played shows. Did you ever feel like it was difficult to define yourself in changing surroundings even to this day since your career involves changing locations and roles?
First of all, hi! Yeah, my childhood was an interesting one. I loved every single bit of it- I think it’s helped me a lot to be the person that I am today and to live this nomad style that I think every artist lives in. It’s given me the tools to be able to live this life, so I’m really grateful for all my experiences on the road. I didn’t find it difficult to define myself in changing surroundings. The interesting thing about being on the road and going from place to place or city to city was that I got the opportunity to reinvent myself multiple times and learn from my mistakes and move on. I didn’t have anyone reminding me of the things I did right or wrong. I don’t mean that I would change my whole personality, but I could move on quickly from what I left behind- not the people though, that hurt the most. But you get to meet so many different people and cultures which helps define who you are even more. The broader your social group, the better perspective you have on life.
Suit : Giorgio Armani
At one point you were working in New York as a waitress while you were pursuing your acting career. Is there a memory that sticks out to you from this time in your life? Did you perceive New York as a place of dreams or a place of struggle?
Yes, I did work in New York as a waitress pursuing my acting career. I had to work, and I also did events for a company that hired models or actors that needed work to go and do events. I did a lot of high-end events and met a lot of people that I now run across who had no idea I was there. I got to see that which was interesting and humbling. The struggle sticks out when I think of New York. The more you struggle, the more crazy, fun stories you have. I’m so grateful for that and it made my skin tougher. I had to fight for myself and what I knew I wanted to do. I think I see New York as a place that is for character building- where everyone is a dreamer- and everyone is struggling. You feel that hustle and ambition from every single person walking New York City- it’s contagious and makes you a fighter and true believer that you’re going to make your dreams come true no matter what. When you come to LA, every day is beautiful and people are more relaxed and you think ‘Oh, I could do that tomorrow.’ The energy is completely different. I’m really happy I came to LA in the moment I did when the ball was already rolling because in New York, everyday lit a fire in me and I fought.
Skin: Luminous Silk Primer
Luminous Silk Foundation #5.75
Eyeshadow: Eye Tint #11
Mascara: Eyes to Kill Mascara #black
Lips: Lip Power #504 mixed with Ecstacy Lip Balm #3
R: FLUID SHEER GLOW ENHANCER MINI
A multi-purpose liquid highlighter, bronzer, and blush
with a sheer coverage, and lightweight formula
that delivers a radiant, dewy skin makeup look.
Shifting to your recent role as Dr. Martine Bancroft in Morbius, I think it’s really interesting how much your character has changed from the comics to the screen. In the film she is on equal footing with Morbius academically, and her intellect defines her well. How did you feel about this redefining of character?
There are so many versions of Martine and I’m really glad that is our version. She is an equal and it makes them partners. It’s based out of respect where he wants to hear her opinions and she’s interested in his opinion. There’s a reason Dr. Morbius trusts her to do this procedure. She’s studied this, she knows it, she’s been there since day one. I like that she wasn’t hyper-sexualized, you know her because of her intellect. When she opens her mouth, people listen, and I really like that aspect of the character.
CREMA NERA FIRMING PLUMPING ESSENCE
DOUBLE-SILK TEXTURED CREAM
If you could pick a scene in the film or a line of dialogue that you think defined Martine the best, what would you choose?
I think the line I like the most is, “It’s Doctor, actually” when she corrects the officer because he thought she was a nurse. It’s true, I like that she defends her studies which she had to struggle for. She’s not a nurse, and you have to respect what she achieved. I think not a lot of women would say that. I probably wouldn’t, I’d maybe be too shy. I like that she says, no you call me by what I am. I want that side of Martine to contaminate me in a way. I would let those things slide and that’s not right. I’m fighting to be heard, listened to and respected. As women we shy away from that because we’ll be called bitches or divas. We’re not, we are just hard-working women that know what they want and work harder at what they want and that’s Martine in that moment.
Top, Skirt, Flats : Giorgio Armani
I read that you took inspiration from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez because she has a quality of articulation that makes people listen to her. Is there a passion of yours that you would tell everyone possible about if you knew they would listen?
AOC speaks with conviction, so I took a lot of inspiration from her. I’m passionate about so many things- climate change, how we use our water, and a lot of topics regarding our planet. I do think people listen, but I wish they would listen more. I watched Don’t Look Up and it was incredibly frustrating to watch and broke my heart because that’s how you feel talking about climate change. They believe it, but don’t think it will happen to their generation. That’s pretty selfish in my eyes, we all share this planet and have to take care of it not just for our generation but many to come. It makes me want to shake people because we want to have kids and grandkids and great great great grandkids. We need to make sure we leave them a place that’s better than the one that we have now and that’s in our hands, so I feel very passionate about that.
Suit & Earrings : Giorgio Armani
I also wanted to get into your upcoming projects a bit since you have a lot of exciting things coming up like Andor, Los Frikis, and Irma Vep! I know you can’t give anything away, but you are executive producing for the first time ever with Los Frikis, right? The film is based on a true story involving Cuban politics in the 1980s, subculture, and the AIDS crisis. When a film is based on a true story, do you feel like it’s daunting to portray events accurately or does a story thrive when there is already a well-detailed context?
I have some really exciting projects coming up. Father of the Bride comes out in June and I think people are going to really love and enjoy it. It’s a movie we need at the moment with Andy García, Gloria Estefan, Diego Boneta, me, and Isabela Merced. It’s a Latin remake and is such a beautiful film. Andor Star Wars, I can’t say anything about that, because they’d kill me haha! It’s such a grounded version of Star Wars and I think people are going to be really shocked and inspired. For Irma Vep, I’ve been dying to work with Olivier Assayas, and he called me and told me he had a role for me, and I jumped at it and said yes, yes, yes in a heartbeat! We just got accepted for the Cannes Film Festival, so we are going there at the end of the month. I cannot wait, that’s been such a big dream of mine and I can’t believe I’m going!
Los Frikis is the movie that changed my life the most. Filming the movie changed me, even after it finished, it lingered in my body for months. It is probably one of the most beautiful pieces that I know I will be a part of in my career. I’m really lucky that Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz allowed me to be a part of it not only as an Actor but as an Executive Producer. The story is one that has to be told. I think for a story like this it wasn’t daunting to play a biographical story, it was more of a frustration on my behalf that I didn’t know this happened. That turned into a full urge of inspiration of needing to tell this story and let the world know what happened and how. We hired all Cuban actors that had never left the island so that was a humbling experience to see the world through their eyes. It was the biggest gift that any actor or person had given me and I’m grateful for every single one of them.
For the last few questions, I want to focus on Armani Beauty since you’re a brand lover and ambassador. Armani is so special given their commitment to sustainability, and community care. What has your experience been like shopping sustainably for makeup and skincare?
Yes, I love being one of Armani’s ambassadors. It is an honor and I take it dearly to heart. They have amazing products and happen to care about consumers and the planet they live in. They have a project called Aqua for Life trying to get water to communities without clean water. It affects a community- children going to school, health, and how the community grows. Sometimes we don’t see it because we just open a tap, and we don’t realize how lucky we are. Armani has opened my eyes. They do the work but also educate those around them. The My Way perfume bottle is completely recyclable, it’s the first carbon neutral perfume. They have a program to provide entrepreneurship to ingredient farmers among other really empowering programs. For me, shopping for skincare, now that I represent Armani it’s so important to look at all sustainable elements. I’ve started to really take that to heart. To be honest, I mostly wear Armani products and if not I’m so conscious about who I’m buying from.
EYE TINT LIQUID EYESHADOW
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You were the face of Armani’s “My Way Intense” perfume campaign with scents that are meant to evoke memories of travel and connection. What are three vivid memories this perfume reminds you of?
So many memories! We shot the campaign in three different countries and in every country, I got to meet someone specific whether it was a photographer, tea master, flamenco dancer, calligraphist- I met so many wonderful people. I smelled the perfume for the first time on that trip because I was so scared to because I’m representing them, so I wanted to love it. I remember when I first smelled it, I had such a sense of relief and I just fell in love with the perfume. It reminds me of home- there’s touches of orange blossom that transports me to my home in Puerto Rico. It also reminds me of when I was stopped at a restaurant, and someone asked me what I was wearing. They said it was the sexiest perfume they’d ever smelled. Compared to My Way and My Way Floral it’s definitely more sensual and stronger. I’ve been stopped multiple times because of it!
Intense floral fragrance for women
As an actor, you sit in the makeup chair for hours on end. Is there any makeup tip or product that has changed the way you do your own makeup?
Well first of all, I put my tweezers in a drawer, and I don’t touch those anymore! I used to do my own eyebrows but now I don’t do them as often. A tip is icing my face. There’s so many tools people use but I find that to be a waste when you have ice! I just put it in a napkin and ice my face. That’s really changed my life because if you go to a restaurant and have sodium and you’re puffy or you go on a plane then you use ice and you’re depuffed. It also helps me wake up so I’m a big fan. Stop buying all the beauty rollers and just ice your face!!
Photography
Graham Dunn
Creative Director & Fashion Editor
Deborah Ferguson
Interview
Tessa Swantek
Makeup
Melanie Inglessis using
Hair
Bryce Scarlett @ The Wall Group
Fashion Assistant
Juan Marco Torres
Cover art and Layout design
Deborah Ferguson
Web Layout
Lorena Farias Soriano
Thank you
Lede Company
& Armani Beauty
Watch the trailer for Father of the Bride below: