We are built to admire. We crave it. There are plenty of stars and icons, yet we keep looking for the next one to fall from the sky (or our Instagram feeds). Like Lily-Rose Depp: 16 years-old, divine ancestry (she’s Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis’ daughter), heavenly cheekbones (well, yeah, she’s Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis’ daughter), celestial aura (she has the world’s coolest social media presence and a burgeoning film career). She’s a beautiful, modern little earth angel. Yet completely straightforward. As she tells us:
“I grew up with the media circus. My whole life. My parents were very calm about the photographers, the fans, and all that. But I understood right away that I hadn’t done anything to deserve that attention. No matter what happens, it will be there. I didn’t choose it. You just can’t take that too seriously. You need to live your life. And stay calm.”
Lily-Rose has calmness in spades when we meet her backstage after the Chanel runway show, surrounded by a circle of whimpering admirers. Not just any admirers, but it-girls in their own right like Kendall and Cara. All there to admire this divine child. Six months ago (an eternity in Internet Time), at the Chanel Métiers d’Art event, she made her first big appearance, in pastel. Since then, she’s booked a Chanel campaign, as well as two major roles in French films (Rebecca Zlotowski’s Planetarium with Natalie Portman and The Dancer with Soko).
So she’s a pro backstage at her third runway show. Lily-Rose smiles politely, her posture superstraight in a strapless top, her bun high on her head. Kaiser Karl keeps an eye on her from a distance, Vanessa keeps an eye on her from a bit closer. “For now, what I like most is making films,” says Lily-Rose. When we ask if she plans on a long career in the cinema, she shrugs and smiles: “I’m a Gemini, very spontaneous. For now, I’m having fun doing it, we’ll see what happens later.” Nonchalantly, ever-lightly, she’s making her own way in the world.
Credits
Text Tess Lochanski
Photography Angelo Pennetta