grown

She was a wild child in the ’90s. Now ’s notorious past is helping to cement her future as a triple threat in Hollywood. Here, the star talks with gırlJENNI KONNER about her new show and Marc Jacobs cardigan, dress, why the next decade will be her best yet and necklace. Alexander Wang bra. Jennifer photographed by ANTHONY MAULE Fisher earrings. Rings: Mateo New styled by NINA STERGHIOU York and Jennifer Fisher (on right hand, from left) and Gucci and Jennifer Zeuner Jewelry (on left hand, from left). H&M tights. 110 InSTYLE FEBRUARY 2019 Dr. Martens boots. JK: What was your first “big girl” role? NL: I was in Dennis the Menace when I was 12. I played Dennis’s babysitter. That show was exciting because it was with Walter Matthau, Joan Plowright, and Christopher Lloyd. And then, I don’t think he’s too popular anymore, but the big event was being in ’s when I was 16. JK: Right. That was it. That was the really big one. NL: I remember becoming very close with [actress] Gaby Hoffmann. We’ve maintained a friendship 25 years later. We had a lot of kind of wild nights; we played sisters with Natalie Portman and Drew Barrymore in that movie. There were so many great people in that film—Goldie Hawn, Tim Roth, Ed Norton. That was definitely the movie where I was like, “This is what I’m going to do for a living.” JK: Aside from Pee-wee, do you have a favorite experience? N NL: It’s funny. I didn’t really have a hi gh school or college NATASHA LYONNE: Jenni Konner, as I live and breathe. experience, so a lot of my time on set became the formative JENNI KONNER: Hello! I have to tell you that I’m on the events of my real life. Slums of Beverly Hills was very familial, sixth episode of your new show,Russian Doll. I love and I’m still in touch with all those people. That was very it so much. We’ll get back to that. But first, do you remem- personal for me, playing [the role of Vivian, based on the life ber how we met? of] , who is the writer-director of that NL: I was 16, and I was with my BFF, Jake, who was also 16. movie. I’m still very close with her. Jake was a huge music fan, and I was always tagging along. JK: Yeah, I know how that goes. I had similar experiences Your husband at the time was ’s tour manager. I dis- while working on Girls. tinctly remember us being at the Tibetan Freedom concert, NL: Orange Is the New Black has been huge. The way you which was put together by the , probably in, like, have such close working relationships with people for six 1996. It was the most magical event of my 16 years. Suddenly years of your life and the fact that you see each other we were hanging out on Beck’s tour bus. I didn’t really know through all your human frailties and joys and breakups … what to do with myself, in that way that teenagers are just I can’t imagine my life without these girls anymore. like, “What is a body, why do I have one, and how do I recon- JK: That’s such a great way to describe what it’s like to cile it with my mind?” And I just remember talking to you work on a series, actually. You directed the finale of and being like, “Yeah, this is my [new] friend Jenni!” Russian Doll, right? JK: I remember you being one of the most self-possessed peo- NL: Yeah, and now I’m also directing the next episode of ple I’d ever met. You’re so well-read, and I remember listen- Orange. , who has directed a couple of episodes ing to you years ago on a Marc Maron podcast and being like, too, came over to my and spent two hours just walking “She’s making some references that I don’t even know how to through the whole process of directing that show, telling me look up. How does she know so many things?” You were men- all these special things, tricks to (CONTINUED ON PAGE 134) tioning shorts by Fellini, which connects to your show, right? NL: Yes, the movie you’re referencing is Toby Dammit, starring Terence Stamp. It’s in Italian and part of a [1968] trilogy called Spirits of the Dead, which is based on short stories by Edgar Allan Poe. Russian Doll is influenced by it. There’s something about it that, for me, really encapsulates the way the subconscious experiences a life and how it’s a series of trigger points just coming at you constantly. I love references. I went to NYU briefly for film and philosophy. Being honest about I dropped out. Instead, I just spent all my time at Film Forum, watching all the movies, and then I would read all where you’re at and Oscar de la Renta dress. Mateo New York the books. It’s the only language I really understood. earrings. Gucci ring. JK: OK, so when did you start acting? not feeling like you BEAUTY BEAT Refresh your bangs with NL: I have a SAG card from 1985, and by 1986 I was a series a volumizing spritz of regular on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which I think of as the Kérastase V.I.P. Volume in need to hide your true Powder Texturizing Spray greatest job of my career. I don’t think I’ll ever do better ($28; kerastase-usa.com). work. It’s good to have that handled by the time you’re 6. Hair: Tetsuya Yamakata self is pretty badass.Ó for Artlist. Makeup: Tina Turnbow for Crosby Carter Management. Manicure: Dawn Sterling 112 InSTYLE FEBRUARY 2019 for Statement Artists. The Queen cried and laughed when I read it, like, “You son of a of the #MeToo movement. “They want to move strange to have that going on at the same time. NL: hide your true self is pretty badass. What is your takeaway from the surge of women CONTINUED FROM PAGE 102 bitch. Did you quietly write a book?” If I were writ- from a place of survivorship to empowerment. Yeah. I mean, that’s sort of the prickly thing for all JK: I agree, and I am so happy about your life. NL: running for office in 2018? Somebody told us last solid, good. I think Nicole Kidman is a smart, non- ing a book, I would have gotten so much mileage They’re saying, ‘I have my own personal power; of us to reconcile. Yeah, this hasn’t been an easily won journey, so all night that the average age of members of Congress bullshit puppy. She isn’t going to mince words, isn’t out of, “Man, sorry, I can’t come to the phone right now let’s make that a collective power.’ ” n JK: OK, so I have this great memory of seeing you at that stuff we’ve talked about is very personal to me. is dropping by 10 years with this new class going in going to try to play a game. She’s got a hell of a now, I’m writing a book … I can’t possibly get my- Chateau Marmont when you were young and hys- Having women who believe in you is not just a plati- and that 40 percent of the Democrats are women. picker. She picks things that are really interesting, self out of bed, because I’m writing a book.” And he terical and amazing. You came downstairs wear- tude. These relationships are the most important In the battleground states of Texas and Nevada, and she’s not concerned about how they may be never mentioned it. He’s a much better human Shows of Strength ing high-waist jeans and a Norma Kamali bathing thing in my life. five times as many millennials voted [in these mid- seen. Amy Adams is the same. I love that she is than I am. When people say, “Real relationships CONTINUED FROM PAGE 109 suit. I remember thinking, “This is the chicest girl JK: Wait, I just realized that, Jesus, you’re not 40 terms] as in 2014. That just shows that at times starting to produce. I would like Amy Adams to are so hard,” I’m like, “No.” be felt on the runways. I have ever met. She’s wearing a f—ing bathing suit yet? F— you. What are you looking forward to the when our moorings seem to be undone, people can run for president. I think the world would be better LB: Your face lights up when you’re talking about “The modern working woman is multifaceted to dinner.” Now the Kardashians do that all the most in the next decade? NL: I guess turning 50, still believe in politics. It’s really important in a in general. I’d like Viola Davis to wake me up every him. Isn’t that great after 20 years? MM: We’ve done and lives on her own terms,” says Rosetta Getty, time, but that was in the ’90s. No one was doing which nobody really leads with. I heard it’s the new democracy. morning and be like, “Here’s your thought for the four movies now, and the first questions are always, who, as a mother of three girls, says she looks to that. NL: I’m going to go out on a limb and say the 17 [laughs]. Honestly, I’m just confused that I’m At 29, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just became day,” and I’d literally write it down. I’ve known Oc- “How awful was it to work with your spouse?” women who have a strong sense of self as inspira- Kardashians never quite do it with a punk edge. not 40 yet. didn’t even direct her first the youngest person elected to the U.S. Con- tavia Spencer for 20 years, and she is the same per- “How much do you fight?” “Who’s really in charge?” tions, like Georgia O’Keeffe, Christy Turlington They do many things, but being a little bit punk is movie until she was 50. I don’t throw the patriar- gress. Does leadership demand different things of son she has always been. Same with Allison When we did The Boss, it was, “Who’s really the Burns, and Rowan Blanchard. not one of them. Chloë Sevigny turned me onto chy around as much as I should, but I think it’s kind youth? Young people have to learn in office. In poli- Janney. They didn’t change. They’re not adapting boss?” We responded, “It’s fun. We met doing this. “I start by thinking about my lifestyle and how I Norma Kamali, as she turns me onto all things. of a false idea that the teen years and the 20s are the tics or any career, you don’t go in full-blown. You for their jobs or their careers. They are exactly, un- We know we’ve been hit by a lucky stick.” They want to feel in clothes,” Getty says. “I always think Certainly having Chloë as the one I was looking up best for women. In the 30s, 40s, 50s—that’s when may have some inborn traits that help you, but apologetically as they were. were like, “Come on, just how difficult is it?” And about how to be comfortable and also elegant.” to my whole life was really formative. She is the the magic starts happening. you’ve got to learn how to develop leadership skills. LB: How ambitious are you? MM: Very. I love my I’m like, “No, it’s, like, the best thing I’ve ever had Of course, many enlightened men, like Jona- coolest, smartest person in the world. She was into Do you have any career advice for young work, and I want to do better every time. I’m super in my life.” And people would get aggressive and than Anderson at Loewe or Pierpaolo Piccioli at these Norma Kamali bathing suits, so I went to Russian Doll premieres February 1 on Netflix. women? When I graduated from college, I’d got- self-conflicted. We rewrite and rewrite until we’re finally say things like, “You know what, if you don’t Valentino, are out there designing clothes for Midtown and bought myself some. ten a full ride to go to France. But I had a boy- done making the movie and I’m still like, “Can I get want to answer the question, fine.” [laughs] strong women, and it’s interesting to hear their JK: I think our delightful friend and stylist Cristina friend, and he was transferring back from three other lines in?” Not because I want to win but LB: That’s so wacko. “My life is well-adjusted, and I perspective too. Narciso Rodriguez, for one, says Ehrlich would be a big fan of that look. NL: Actu- Making History Berkeley to Harvard to be with me. So I felt too because I love what we get to do. We always joke love my family and just want to do good work. Is that that rules for how to dress to be taken seriously no ally, she would. You and I also share the amazing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 114 guilty and never took the full ride to Paris. I guess that I’m a shark. Ben likes to sit down, but I’m bet- dull to you?” How are your daughters? MM: They’re longer apply. costume designer Jenn Rogien, who works on Or- that’s Jackie Robinson.” Then they called the I’d say to my 20-year-old self, “Go to Paris.” ter in motion. I want to make. I want to do. so sweet and good and weird. We put so much care “Women still want to have fun with fashion,” ange and did Girls too. I told her I wanted my char- whole family over—oh my god. So when you hear Was your husband ever jealous of Abe? He LB: How important is money to you? MM: I love it. I [into our family]. We’re not, like, clubbing or going Rodriguez says. “So it’s important to design cloth- acter [on Russian Doll], Nadia, to be the perfect things like that … loved him too. My husband was such a great writer, don’t worry about it. I spent a lot of years calling to fancy restaurants. I go to bed at 8:30 every night. ing that is accessible and easy to wear and also to blend of Joe Pesci and in My Cousin What’s next? My publicist, Beth Laski, and I have and when he was working on speeches for Bobby my sister, Margie, and my mom and dad [asking to I’m up at 4. I’m like an old man. [My girls] aren’t a make singular pieces that women will covet— Vinny. She knew what that meant, and that’s what formed a [production] company called Pastimes. Kennedy and Johnson, Lincoln was a big part of borrow money]. I had multiple jobs, but shit hap- part of an L.A. scene, and I say that with no hatred beautifully crafted, well-cut items that make a we did. As a result, I would say that’s also become One of our first projects is about Ida Tarbell, a the rhythm and the poetry. If [I] had been [inter- pens. It was hard to keep it together when you’re for L.A. I love L.A., but they’re in bed at 8. They go woman feel special. If a woman feels good and my go-to street-style look, with a little Michael muckraking journalist during Teddy Roosevelt’s ested in] Millard Fillmore or Franklin Pierce, I not making a living wage, to state the incredibly ob- to a tiny school. We drop them off. We pick them looks good, it gives her a power that’s subliminal.” Jackson thrown in, white socks, Gucci loafers. time and probably the most well-known historian don’t think my husband would’ve been as under- vious. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that stuff up. We’ve made the [San Fernando] Valley into a Other times, though, women want to project a JK: I love your look in Russian Doll. I don’t know if of her day. She did a whole long series on the cor- standing. n now. I’m not in a dream state, but I like not having to very small town. We go to the same four places. power that’s overt, as when Chiuri makes femi- this is a spoiler, but you really do wear the same ruption of Standard Oil, which brought about the worry about my phone bill or insurance. I’m glad we LB: OK, what does badass mean to you? MM: Bad- nism a proud component of her brand messaging outfit a lot.NL: Obviously, when you see the show, lawsuit in the Supreme Court that broke up the make a steady living. I used to keep all the money, ass, to me, means doing what should be done in a at Dior. Her fabulous spring collection was broadly there’s a very specific reason why I’m wearing the company. Mover & Shaker all the accounts, all the things to pay. Now I’m just situation because it’s what’s needed and maybe inspired by dance, but it was telling that she paid same thing so often. But when you think about men Who is the ultimate badass woman? Eleanor Roo- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 125 like, “La, la, la.” I just want to take care of my kids. you’re the person to do it, and if not, how do you get specific tribute in her program notes only to fe- in movies, did Jack Nicholson have a lot of changes sevelt. She spoke up and used her platform to do to mine,” says Silver. “But I had to keep going. I LB: You and Ben are one of the industry’s most to the person who needs to do it? And not needing male artists—Loïe Fuller, Isadora Duncan, Ruth in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest? There’s some- good, especially for other women. She was un- have no choice but to persevere.” solid couples. That must be a relief. MM: We’ve to be liked or think you need to be liked so much. I St. Denis, Martha Graham, and Pina Bausch. In a thing fun about getting into the character’s bones. afraid of people criticizing her. She would say, That maternal instinct has rubbed off on Sil- been together for 20 years and, I think, married was likable, and [now] I don’t really give a shit similar homage, Cornejo created a print for spring It’s funny how one outfit can tell so many stories. “They’re not really criticizing me; they just don’t ver, who doesn’t have any kids of her own but re- for 13. We met at the Groundlings, really. But we about that. that features the faces of more than two dozen JK: You have to manage so much creating a show like my ideas.” She was a welcome thorn in FDR’s turns to Rwanda several times a year to check on had first met at a party at Southern Illinois Uni- LB: That’s quite something to come to. It takes a women she admires, including Jane Goodall, Glo- like this … NL: It’s a real beast. You’re managing side, always willing to argue with him, always will- the children she’s essentially fostering from afar. versity 10 years prior. I was in college, and he was long time. MM: It’s a big thing. It happened when I ria Steinem, Golda Meir, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, every actor, you’re in the writers’ room, you’re in ing to question his assumptions. And she made a She rents a house and supports five kids in Kigali in high school. He’s three years younger. I was turned 48. Why do I care if you like me? If that’s Coretta Scott King, and Marie Curie. preproduction, you’re shooting the whole thing— rule that only female reporters could come to her who would otherwise be living on the street, an act very in those days. It was as if Robert the case, we probably shouldn’t like each other. Whoever thought Marie Curie would be a every aspect of every day has a million choices and press conferences. she calls the most badass thing she’s ever done. Smith and Siouxsie Sioux had a baby. People LB: You don’t need to be a pleaser all the time. MM: fashion statement? decisions. The idea that you’re really in your uni- That is badass! That’s how a whole generation of This came about after she met a small homeless called me Sugar Cube, and I had blue-black hair. I [smiles] Nope. n “We do fan T-shirts for bands,” Cornejo says. form might even be something I got from Orange. I female journalists got their start. She used her boy named Kevin who was suffering from a foot in- wore very avant-garde-theater clothes. “So why don’t we do them for women?” n think it’s part of how men get so much done. power for causes she cared about, especially re- fection. “I paid for him to go to the hospital, [and] LB: You had no element of surprise because your JK: No, that’s true. NL: I love dressing up as much as garding civil rights and women. Once the war he got his foot treated,” she recalls. “And after that clothes were so noisy. MM: It was always something Her Time the next guy when it’s appropriate. If I’m on my way started and the factories were finally hiring I was like, ‘Oh my god, what else can I do?’ ” Silver where I was like, “These are trash bags, but I’ve CONTINUED FROM PAGE 106 Grown Girl to a Chanel event or going to some party with women, she set up a system of nationwide day- now refers to herself as their mom and has hun- made them into pants.” Anyway, when we met at up dedicated task forces focused on helping those CONTINUED FROM PAGE 112 Chloë, I’ll put an outfit on and I’m over the moon care centers that not only took care of the kids but dreds of photos of them on her phone, which she’ll the Groundlings, we went around the room, and who work in journalism, advertising, and venture look out for and certain camera angles to get. She about it. But, for example, when I think back to how provided hot meals for the women to take home at happily show. She also runs a project that helps re- people said where they went to school. I said, “I capital, and it is planning to expand into new cate- was so amazing and generous and loving. It was the many pencil skirts they had to deal with on Ally the end of the day so they wouldn’t have to shop habilitate ex-prostitutes by teaching them to sew. sorta, kinda went to SIU. It’s Southern Illinois Uni- gories soon. In each field Time’s Up is taking down exact same with [co-creator] on Rus- McBeal, I love the idea of a modern woman on a TV and cook. So she was just way ahead of her time. “It’s very therapeutic for me as well, and it versity. No one’s heard of it. It’s in Carbondale, Ill. the same foe: “the patriarchy—the status quo,” Bor- sian Doll. I think if she didn’t believe I could do this show not having to spend all her energy changing Who was the most badass president? Teddy Roo- keeps me grounded, in case I ever dare say, ‘Oh, my Didn’t really finish. Went to New York.” Got around ders says. “There are entrenched mind-sets and be- thing I’d never done before—creating a show and back and forth all day. It gives you a lot more time sevelt, for sure. He did what he wanted in his life life is so hard. I can’t afford these Prada shoes,’ ” to him, and he said, “I’m from Carbondale.” haviors that have been acceptable for hundreds of writing for it and directing some of it—it would for all the other things you want to be doing. and loved being president with every fiber of his says Silver. “I have these women who … their LB: Well, you know what they say about Carbondale years. And that sounds small, but it is ginormous.” have been hard for me to take that leap on my own. JK: This is the perfect way to pivot into the bad ass being. He would be the best challenger to Trump struggle is always more than mine. couples. [laughs] MM: Ben truly sees things differ- There have also been some more surprising JK: It’s great to have a community. Amy is one of question. What makes a badass, Natasha? NL: In today, if we could bring a guy back. He knew how to “I’ve always been attracted to outcasts,” she ently and is like, “I’ll do what I’m thinking of, and challenges. Like, she says, “sisters who do not those people who are so good at pushing other peo- many ways I think of Amy Poehler as my personal fight. His time was similar to ours, as the indus- adds. “And I don’t know if it’s because I study so- I’m OK if it doesn’t work out.” He’s very disciplined. stand with us. I did not expect that there are some ple’s voices out. NL: One incredible thing about re- touchstone of a badass. I think that probably the trial revolution had shaken up the economy much ciology or whatever, but I’ve always been ob- I mean, he wrote a book [Being a Dad Is Weird: women who have arguably benefited from the pa- cent times is that it really feels like we’ve flipped biggest misperception of a badass is that they’re a like the tech revolution and globalization have to- sessed with just fixing things and making them Lessons in Fatherhood from My Family to Yours, triarchy [who should] share that power with oth- the script around from women as competitors to selfish person. There’s something about the word day. The rural working-class people felt cut off better.” She laughs. “I don’t do that with men, 2017], but I didn’t even know he was writing it. ers but have not.” our allies in this life. We’ve all decided as a com- “bad” that implies, like, “mean” or something. from the cities. Roosevelt said if people in differ- though. Let them make themselves better.” LB: It didn’t come up? MM: There is no showiness to Whatever comes next, Borders is ready. munity that this is something we want to get on More and more what I find to be true of adult life is ent regions started thinking of other people as the When she’s not in Rwanda, Silver divides her him. He didn’t want to start forgetting stories about “Women from all across the globe have raised board with. It’s a huge shift. that it’s so much cooler to be a nice, good person. It other, the country would fall apart. He was able to time between London and and is his family. And it’s so lovely. It’s about how much he their hands and used the #MeToo hashtag,” she JK: Totally. It’s weird because it’s so counterintui- really helps you sleep at night. Being honest about channel all that emotion into progressive reform, continually in transit (she’s recently learned the loves his dad and how much he loves being a dad. I says, adding that Time’s Up is a natural extension tive to what our country is going through. It’s so where you’re at and not feeling like you need to which was something positive. importance of collecting all those air miles). Some

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