Harper\'s Bazaar UK - 11.2019

November 2019 | HARPER’S BAZAAR | 159

Perched on a sofa at Quo Vadis in Soho,
wearing an elegant cream ensemble, despite
having arrived straight from the airport,
Cait riona Balfe is expounding the benefits of
growing up without a television. It seems ironic,
considering the Irish actress has been nomi-
nated for a remarkable four Golden Globe
awards in a row as Claire Fraser, the time-
travelling heroine of the wildly popular
drama series Outlander. ‘After my six-year-old
brother smashed part of our TV, my dad was
so cross he decided that was it,’ she says. ‘As a
result, I had to use my imagination to play out-
side and I became a voracious reader. I think
it’s probably the best thing he ever did for us.’
Growing up in County Monaghan, Balfe
was involved with theatre from a young age,

DR I V ING

FORCE

Caitriona Balfe accelerates her route to success

in a high-speed Hollywood blockbuster

By LUCY HALFHEAD

Nature is at the root of the collaboration between Vik Muniz and Ruinart,

the world’s oldest champagne house. The Brazilian artist made his name by

reinterpreting Old Master paintings with jigsaw pieces, and formed other

well-known images from diamonds or dust. He has now created photographic

works and an interactive installation influenced by his visit to Champagne.

Muniz was invited to explore the Sillery vineyard in September 2018,

before spending five days at Maison Ruinart in Reims a month later. ‘I was very

excited by the energy of the harvest,’ he says. ‘Vines have been shaped by

humans for many centuries; for me, their unique forms inspire feelings of

struggle and resilience, and their gestures embody the passing of time.’ The

resulting artworks include a photograph of a giant Chardonnay leaf composed

using real leaves, shoots and bunches of grapes from the vineyard; images of

branches fashioned out of blackened wood and charcoal; and an installation

based on the stacks of wine bottles Muniz saw in the cellars in Reims. MH

Vik Muniz’s ‘Shared Roots’ series will be on display at the Ruinart Art Bar at Frieze,

which runs from 3 to 6 October. To coincide with the fair, Adam Handling will serve

a themed menu inspired by the collaboration at his restaurant in the Belmond Cadogan

Hotel at 75 Sloane Street, London SW1, available until 13 October.

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and studied drama at the Dublin Institute of Technology. But after
being spotted by a model scout, she dropped out of the course and
ended up forging a lucrative career that saw her work with luxury
brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Chanel. Then, just
before her 30th birthday, she decided to follow her dream of
becoming an actress and moved to Los Angeles. ‘It’s a difficult
transition for most people because the modelling world is such a
bubble,’ she says, ‘so I was very lucky that I had this passion and was
ready to pursue it.’ After enrolling in acting classes, she gradually
started to secure roles in films including Super 8, Now You See Me
and Money Monster, directed by Jodie Foster. ‘It had such an incred-
ible cast,’ Balfe says. ‘It was one of those, “What
am I doing here?” moments.’
This month, Balfe continues her ascent as
a Hollywood leading lady, starring opposite
Matt Damon and Christian Bale in 20th
Century Fox’s Le Mans ’66. The film is based
on the true story of the battle between
the manufacturers Ford and Ferrari to win the
prestigious sports-car race. Balfe plays Mollie,
the wife of the racing driver and engineer Ken
Miles. ‘I was really drawn to her – she was
willing to support Ken even though she had to
accept that every time he went onto the track,
he might never come back,’ she says. ‘When
you compare her to Claire, they both have this
incredible inner strength – it just manifests
itself in very different ways.’
‘ Le Mans ’66’ is in cinemas from 15 November.
TALK ING POINTS
Caitriona Balfe
Vik Muniz’s
interpretation of a
Chardonnay leaf