ISSUE 07 / SUMMER 2017 $18 USD BY ELLEN VON UNWERTH ELLEN VON BY SOFIA BOUTELLA IRIS COVET BOOK FEATURE Positioned to take the main stage with two summer flicks set to be box office smashes, playing opposite Tom Cruise in The Mummy and alongside Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde, Sofia Boutella is ready for her close-up. Sofia Boutella Photography by Ellen Von Unwerth Styling by Deborah Afshani Art Direction by Louis Liu Editor Marc Sifuentes by Ellen Von Unwerth Dress by J GERARD Interview by Dustin Mansyur 44 45 IRIS COVET BOOK SOFIA BOUTELLA BY ELLEN VON UNWERTH Sofia Boutella is about to blow out the candle working with her! I think she’s fantastic! with [the director] Alex Kurtzman, and he on a chocolate lava cake served up graciously I loved her ability to get things out of me. offered it to me. At first, I said no because by the pastry team at Chateau Marmont. I’ve never shot with her before, but after the part scared me and having just done Glasses of champagne are lined up across a working with her I felt like I understood Star Trek, I was concerned about having low wooden table, ready to serve. Swarthy how she’s able to get this energy in the to go under an extensive makeup process. and saturnine, Boutella sweeps her dark locks photos. Her style really allows people’s I didn’t want to be a monster walking to one side and leans over the cake, pausing personality to shine through in the around scaring people, that wasn’t for me. momentarily as she closes her eyes to make a images. She let me be myself while still But I gave it more thought, and was very wish, before extinguishing the flame with a giving me interesting, creative direction. attracted to the character because she had flash of her infectious smile. “Bravo!” everyone It was really cool. a relevant and interesting background. cheers while Sofia flits a bashful round of What were some of those things that thanks. The celebration is actually impromptu What did you enjoy most about working intrigued you about her character? during a lunch break, and Sofia is on-set for with her? Was there a specific look or shot a photoshoot with Ellen Von Unwerth at the that you loved? I think that she had an intriguing famed West Hollywood hotel. Birthday or I just had a lot of fun because it was going backstory. This is the first time there has no birthday, embodying a femme fatale for a to be my birthday the day after. I was been a female mummy. My character is a crème-de-la-femme celebrity photographer is having lunch and ordered some french princess from ancient Egypt, the daughter all in a day’s work for Boutella, who’s poised to fries because I hadn’t had them in so long! of a Pharaoh and she’s promised to unleash her prowess with two movies in this I came on set still eating, so she started become Pharaoh herself because she was summer’s highly-anticipated release of Alex to shoot me while I was having fun with the only child. After her mother dies, her Kurtzman’s latest installment of The Mummy the fries. We had another moment where father meets a woman who bears another and David Leitch’s spy thriller, Atomic Blonde. I was dancing on the bar. While we were child which turns out to be a son. The promise of the kingdom and becoming Maintaining her coquettish sensuality while there, they were using the kitchen for Pharaoh is taken from my character and kicking ass is a razor wire that Boutella jetes their pastry department and one of the given to the son because he is a male heir, upon with ease, even if it involves other- chefs started talking to me. He asked which leaves my character heartbroken worldly makeup or taking a punch on set. me, ‘Do you want anything?’ I said, ‘Yeah why not. You have chocolate cake?’ So he and scorned. She later becomes ruthless brought me a chocolate lava cake and I when she comes back in modern day Hailing from Algiers, the ingénue actress is a started to eat it for another photo, it was seeking what was promised to her. multi-faceted artist who began her career as so delicious! There was another moment an internationally-acclaimed dancer, enrolling where we went upstairs on the balcony. So then what was the process like working in classical dance education at the age of I told them to not freak out because with the director, Alex Kurtzman to 5. Later, when her family moved to France, I’m very agile and I don’t have issues reimagine this character and breathe new Sofia continued dancing, adding rhythmic with heights, so I sat on the ledge of the life into it? gymnastics to her education, and joining the balcony. Hopefully we got some great It was lovely to work with Alex! I wanted French national team by the age of 18. In images from that. However the photos to care about my character and have her 2006, with her dance troupe, The Vagabond turn out, they’re going to be so truthful be heard and understood. We developed Crew, Boutella went on to win the World because I was having such a great time! the backstory so that the audience Championship Hip Hop Battle, making her understands her better and can have an undeniable force in the world of dance. I knew that was going to be a dream pairing. some sort of compassion for her. I think With several smaller film and commercial All glamour aside, as a child did you see a character becomes more interesting appearances already under her belt, she made yourself ever acting in movies? Or what did when you understand why they do what a breakout appearance in a series of iconic you want to do when you were younger? they do in the movie. Nike campaigns choreographed by legendary When I was a kid I wanted to be two choreographer and creative director, Jamie things. I always said I want to raise So that she’s not just a monster, but that she King. Quickly garnering the interest of several dolphins. I wanted to work with dolphins has a heart and you can sympathize with her high-profile musicians, Boutella found herself because I was obsessed with the show emotions. dancing for Madonna, Michael Jackson, Flipper when I was a kid. Then, somebody Exactly! That was very important to me. Rihanna, Usher, and many others. Her most in my family got me into this game that recent film appearances include Justin Lin’s was like “Doctors Without Borders.” So I Did you have to do anything special in order Star Trek Beyond co-starring Zoe Saldana, wanted to be a doctor without borders. to prepare for this role or get yourself into Chris Pine, and Zachary Quinto, and Matthew the character? Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, That is such a different path than what Well, you know, the makeup process alongside Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson. you’re on right now, but I’m sure your fans are thankful that you choose a was something that helped me get into character. It would take about 6 hours Here IRIS Covet Book shares a conversation career in entertainment. You have two to do. Of course, it was painful because with the blockbuster beauty about lesbian love summer movies that are projected to be they’re long hours, but I wouldn’t have scenes and mystic monsters with heart. blockbusters, The Mummy & Atomic Blonde. had it any other way. Once I’d have Feather Coat by Vanessa You have the title role in The Mummy Seward, Bra, Panty and You worked with Ellen at Chateau Marmont opposite of Tom Cruise. How did you get my makeup done, people looked at me Garter Belt by Maison different, and I felt physically different. I Close, Black Stockings by for this cover shoot. How did it go? What was chosen to play this character? also researched about ancient Egypt and FALKE, Shoes by Christian it like working with her? Louboutin, Choker, Earrings I was finishing my movie with Star Trek and Bracelet by Eddie Borgo Oh my God, it was amazing! I loved and I got this script sent over. I met up <continues on page 52> 46 47 IRIS COVET BOOK SOFIA BOUTELLA BY ELLEN VON UNWERTH This Spread: Latex Bodysuit by Dead Lotus Couture, Shoes by Marc Jacobs 48 49 IRIS COVET BOOK SOFIA BOUTELLA BY ELLEN VON UNWERTH This Spread: Dress by Lanvin, Black Goat Hair Jacket by Adrienne Landau, Shoes by Christian Louboutin, Bracelet by Eddie Borgo, Choker by YVY, and Sofia's Own Earrings 50 51 IRIS COVET BOOK SOFIA BOUTELLA BY ELLEN VON UNWERTH a lot about cameras, lenses, and camera This Spread: Dress and Rosary Necklace angles when I was with him. He examines by Dolce & Gabbana, those aspects and really understands how Black Patent Heels by to tell stories with camera movement, and Christian Louboutin, and Sofia's Own it’s something that I will definitely use Necklace. and pay close attention to. Amazing! You recently were awarded the “Female Star of Tomorrow” from CinemaCon for your role in Atomic Blonde opposite Charlize Theron. When were you first presented with the role of Delphine and can you tell us a little bit about your character in this movie? She is a French spy who is stationed in Berlin, just before the fall of the wall.