At just 27, Bella has starred in an incredibly diverse range of films – working with everyone from Jonny Depp to Hugh Grant – and is currently in London shooting a zombie film based on Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice where she’ll play Jane Bennet, the character in the original story considered the most beautiful. The movie is based on the hit novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, and Bella’s thankful that she’s playing a killer of zombies and thereby safe from the requisite hours of latex make up application.
Speaking to Bella at her home in L.A., she’s lost none of her accent or genuine attitude – she can’t remember exactly how her turn as the face of Miu Miu came about earlier in the year, but it did, and she loved every minute of it. Already an icon who navigates red-carpet looks like a pro, we shot a natural series of portraits of Bella at home and sat down to catch up on what life’s like when you’re at the top of your game.
Congratulations on your amazing success so far – what have been some of your favourite moments to date?
Every job I get is a highlight because, you know, most actors think: ‘this job could be my last’. Winning the Heath Ledger scholarship was pretty incredible and then moving to L.A and getting to meet people who were so entrenched in the industry within the first week was pretty special. I mean, even getting Neighbours was pretty eventful.
Totally, not everyone can get Neighbours!
Dark Shadows with Tim Burton was incredible because of the sheer scale of the production – just working on a job with that caliber of talent and budget was pretty extraordinary. Not Fade Away was really special to me because I was really in love with the material and David Chase was incredible to work with. I really liked doing the Hugh Grant movie because I’m a massive fan… and then I got to act with him everyday.
That’s amazing. What are some of your memories from Neighbours? How old were you when you were on there?
It was like 2009 so I would have been about 21. I only did eight episodes but I clearly remember Margot Robbie and Ash Brewer both being really nice to me, which is rare on a soap opera where there are a lot of day-players and some people on the show treat you accordingly. Those girls were excellent and welcoming and neither of them have changed either. Margot is still exactly who she was which I love.
Margot Robbie lives in LA too presumably?
Yeah, she came over but she got a job in New York. Our paths cross occasionally.
What’s the most fun thing you did recently?
I’ve gone to some pretty good gigs. Actually, I’ve been doing some Kung Fu and horse riding, which is just mental.
Is that for fitness or just as a hobby?
No, no, it’s for the film! I play a Kung Fu master, horse-riding expert apparently.
That’s awesome.
It’s my dream, I want to be trained to be an action star – if my job is to be paid to learn a new skill, I mean that’s pretty cool.
I wanted to ask you about your campaign with Miu Miu. How was that experience?
It was wild because it was shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. It was crazy! There was a choreographer who’s worked with the Rolling Stones and it was just like doing a film with a really large budget where money’s no object and they can throw the best talent at it and really interesting hair and make up ideas… I don’t know, it was really fun.
That’s awesome and the images are so beautiful. Do you have a designer that you tend to favour regularly?
I have worn some Chanel, a bit of Gucci, Mary Katrantzou and of course Miu Miu and Prada. In terms of who I favour, I feel like it’s a fairly even spread.
Are you wearing an Alpha 60 dress and shoes in the shoot with Nusha Gurusinghe for i-D?
Yeah they were Alpha!
Out of a wardrobe of Miu Miu and Prada you chose Alpha 60. Very good.
Yeah! Miu Miu, Prada and Alpha!
What music have you got on high rotation at the moment and what gigs have you been to?
I went to three Nick Cave gigs in a row recently and they were amazing but it was interesting because one of the shows was in a small venue and the audience all seemed a bit shy at the beginning and I was thinking, ‘that would never happen in Melbourne’. Actually, also, I went and saw Jungle play which was incredible.
We interviewed them recently! What’s their show like?
They’re so good! I didn’t know what they looked like and I was right up the front, because my friends and I got there early, and it was one of those gigs where you’re just drenched in sweat from dancing and it was so much fun. I didn’t even have a drink, I just loved the way they all moved, they were great.
Do you collect anything?
Lots of movies and books I guess. I don’t actively collect things though really. In Australia I just collected crap. I think moving to LA has taught me not to.
What do you do to relax? I feel like yoga and meditating are obligatory in L.A.
I actually feel like the yoga culture is better in Melbourne – it can be a bit of a joke here – they have music and people are on their phones, or otherwise they’re wearing lots of make up and have t-shirts that say ‘Namaste, Bitch’, things like that. Ha.
Oh no! I’ve also heard there’s nude yoga there.
I did go to a retreat where people were naked but they weren’t naked while they were doing yoga, which was a relief.
Nude while meandering around, fine. Nude while doing downward dog, I don’t know.
Downward dog? Yuck. .
What do you have coming up? Do you have anything planned after Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?
No, nothing. Hopefully I get to just chill out and have Thanksgiving – the American Christmas, which will be super nice.
Credits
Text Briony Wright
Photography Nusha Gurusinghe