TOM FORD CAST HER IN
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS,
DISNEY HAD HER PIROUETTING
FOR ITS TAKE ON
THE NUTCRACKERAND
CHANEL HAS TAPPED HER
AS AN AMBASSADOR.
NOW,ELLIE BAMBERIS SET
TO RULE YOUR TV SCREEN IN
A NEW ADAPTATION OF
LES MISÉRABLESACTING
UP
STREAMINGJumper, $3,160,CHANEL,
1300 242 635; shorts,
approx $39, shoes, approx
$120, bothCAPEZIO,
capezioaustralia.com;
tights, approx $29,FALKE,
davidjones.com
Previous page: top,
$3,240, pants,
$3,320, ring, $POA,
allCHANEL,
1300 242 635IN THE CORNERof a central London cafe, Ellie Bamber is
making impressive headway on a comically large slice of carrot
cake. As she hacks away at it with her fork, she’s telling me
stories about how she bonded with her co-star Dominic West
while filming the upcoming BBC adaptation ofLes Misérables
(airing on Foxtel). It didn’t involve a discussion of their “craft” or
small talk about the weather – instead they connected over
a mutual appreciation of a hip-hop sub-genre. “Dominic is really
into trap music,” says Bamber, in between mouthfuls of icing.
“The makeup lady on set would always play me new songs,
and one time I said to Dominic, ‘I know it’s early in the morning,
but I’d like to play some trap – is that okay with you?’ and he
said, ‘I love trap, let’s go!’”68
The thought of Bamber dressed in her 19th-century peasant
costume – she plays Cosette, an abused orphan who is
adopted by West’s character – rapping along to expletive-
laden tracks like Migos’ “Bad And Boujee” with her on-screen
father is both funny and surreal, but also totally fitting for
a 22-year-old actress who approaches every new scenario
with unfathomable levels of excitement.
When Bamber talks, she frequently drifts into a state of wide-
eyed gushing at a thousand words a minute. And West, Chanel
couture and UK hip-hop are all topics that set off her unbridled
enthusiasm. She’s animated and excited, like a teenager
disseminating important gossip. It’s remarkable she has so
much energy left, considering what an incredibly full-on year