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I LOVE LOVE
Interview: SIAN WATSON
Photographer: JANE MCLEISH-KELSEY
Fashion Director: URSULA LAKE
GET READY TO HEAR THE NAME AMBER ANDERSON EVERYWHERE. THE 25 YEAR OLD ACTRESS IS HITTING THE SMALL SCREENS WITH HER ROLE AS CIARA PORTER IN ‘STRIKE’, BASED ON THE BOOKS BY J.K. ROWLING (WRITTEN AS HER PSEUDONYM ROBERT GALBRAITH). THE MODEL/ACTRESS TALKS ABOUT ACTING, BEING A HOPELESS ROMANTIC AND REVEALS WHAT SHE FINDS ‘WORRYINGLY ATTRACTIVE’ IN A MAN.
Q. This issue of the magazine is centred on the theme of love – what does love mean to you?
A. Love, for me, means giving without expectation or agenda.
I love love. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. The nature of love is beginning to mean different things to me as I get older — I used to believe love was something almost based on some sort of salvation, but for me, that is beginning to feel not self-sufficient enough. I think there is nothing more beautiful than love that is selfless, and I think this applies to all types of relationships.
Q. What is your favourite love story?
A. The play ‘Closer’ by Patrick Marber is utterly heartbreaking but was really life-changing for me when I read it in my late teens. So, not the happiest ending but an important love story all the same.
Q. What is the most romantic thing you have done for someone or someone has done for you?
A. I’m not going to lie, I’m a sucker for the romantic stuff, but boringly I am won over by the really tiny gestures, so probably something like someone remembering to always offer to make me tea in the morning. Love letters are great too. I was sent a bracelet made of string once, which was hilarious and beautiful.
Q. You’ve recently worked on a series based on books by J.K. Rowling, how was that? Are you a fan of hers?
A. I grew up reading her writing. J.K Rowling ignited my love of books and fed my love of anything mystical so I was over the moon to land this job. Working on anything based on a novel is a treat because you are given such a rich world to use as reference and insight. Working on Strike was blissful — everyone I encountered on it was incredibly talented and hard-working and I left set every day not wanting to leave.
Q. You have worked on a lot of TV projects, is there something about the format that appeals to you?
A. Telly can definitely be a different environment to film, that’s for sure. It depends on the job but depending on the size of the role it can be possible to be given slightly more to play with, which is fun.
Q. Did you always want to act?
A. Yes, but I got waylaid as a teen by the piano!
Q. How does acting and modelling play into each other?
A. I think they can do, but ultimately I think they are very different disciplines. Acting requires a level of being able to have your full attention in somebody else, whereas as a model to be good at your job you have to develop an acute self-awareness of how you photograph. It’s about being able to switch those two parts of your mind on and off.
Q. How would you describe your style?
A. Casual boyish meets sequin magpie!
Q. Has modelling changed your relationship to fashion and clothes? Modelling has definitely opened my eyes up to the choice out
A. Modelling has definitely opened my eyes up to the choice out there and helped me feel confidence in my instinct and taste. Growing up in remote north Scotland didn’t offer me much fashion education, though I still go back to the faithful knitted jumper a lot, which is both practical and worryingly attractive to me if seen on a man.
Q. How do you see your future career panning out?
A. Honestly, I’d just like to continue being employed!
DSquared2 Black tuxedo jacket
&Other Stories black lace bra
Left-hand page:
White cotton t-shirt by Akris
White cotton trousers by Akris
Right-hand page:
Black knitted vest dress by Neil Barrett
White cotton shirt by Monographie
Cream cable knit sweater by Acne Studios
Makeup Kim Brown at Premier using MAC Cosmetics
Hair Nicholas James at Premier using Aveda