Hello! Fashion Monthly – September 2019

46 HELLOFASHION.COM

hfm RADAR

later in life that it’s the industry

you want to go into.

I only really started acting in middle

school, because if you did drama you

didn’t have to do PE. Then I took

a film-making class in high school

and the teacher said I’d do really well

as a performer, and should pursue

an acting degree, so I auditioned and

got into New York University.

I moved there when I was 18, which I didn’t find

easy. The weather was a really big thing for me –

I had a lot of trouble acclimatising. And the public

transport, too, because in LA you didn’t really

take public transport. So it was a big adjustment.

When I first arrived in New York I took a long walk

up 59th Street where Breakfast at Tiffany’s was shot.

It’s my favourite movie of all time. I went there

really early in the morning and turned around and

The Plaza Hotel was right behind me and to the

left was Central Park – all these historical New York

landmarks were looking me in the face.

After college, my first TV role was Blue Bloods – it

was incredibly fun but I was only on-set for a day – I

had to say a couple of lines and then die. I did get to

meet Donnie Wahlberg, though, because he had

to stand over my dead body, which was such

an honour. Afterwards, I ran up to him, all

bloodied up, and asked for a picture –

I told him my mom is a huge fan.

After that I appeared in [Netflix

series] Haters Back Off. I played

Miranda’s straight sister, so I

watched a lot of British television

to prepare for the role – The

Inbetweeners and Fawlty Towers.

You guys have a very keen

understanding of how to play a

straight comedian, that dry comedy.

I’ve been so excited about being in

Stranger Things 3 – yay! When I found out

I’d got the role I calmly said ‘Wow, thank you’ –

then, once I’d made it out of the building, I had an

absolute breakdown – I couldn’t believe it was real.

My style icon has always been Audrey Hepburn –

she’s the classic. And at the recent Met Gala I

absolutely loved Lady Gaga’s outfit – I love how she

puts herself together, that she’s always so out-there.

When it comes to the red carpet, it’s Givenchy all

the way. I also love Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

I like the very old-fashioned high-end brands.

In my downtime I watch The Great British Bake-

Off with a passion. It’s my form of relaxation and

I’ve even started seeking out some of the recipes.

I love travelling – I

went to Paris and

had an incredible

time there. And St

Petersburg in Russia

stood out for me,

too. I was there in

the summertime – it

was so beautiful.

Stranger Things 3

is on Netflix now

Actress Francesca Reale is living the Hollywood

dream. Growing up in LA, she often spotted famous

actors as a child, and has gone on to appear on the

big screen herself, winning her first TV role on US

police drama Blue Bloods aged 21. “When I was

little I’d often go into restaurants and see a

big actor sitting across from me,” she says.

“When I was six, I saw Jack Black and I ran

up and begged for his autograph, spilling

his coffee everywhere – it was mortifying.”

Now the 24-year-old is set to become a

household name as Heather, a new character

in hit Netflix show Stranger Things 3, alongside

Winona Ryder and Millie Bobby Brown. “The

first time I met Winona she not only complimented

my entire 80s get-up but, after listening to me

complain about the humidity of Atlanta, she ran

into her trailer to get me these deodorant wipes

she swears by and gave me a pack. It saved my life

and probably the crew’s,” she laughs.

I grew up in Los Angeles – it was a great

childhood. You do grow up very aware of

Hollywood and movies, though, which can be

a bit intimidating, especially if you figure out

FRANCESCA

REALE

Spotlight on...

CLOCKWISE

FROM TOP RIGHT

Francesca loves

Chanel; Central

Park in NYC; she

admires Lady

Gaga’s bold style;

the actress playing

Miranda’s sister

in Netflix series

Haters Back Off WORDS: JO BOUNDS PHOTOS: RIKER BROTHERS. REX/SHUTTERSTOCK. GORUN

WAY.

GETTY IMAGES

y

dle

you

k

ol

y well

sue

and

46 HELLOFASHION.COM

hfm RADAR

later in life that it’s the industry

you want to go into.

I only really started acting in mid

school, because if you did drama

didn’t have to do PE. Then Itook

a film-making class in high schoo

and the teacher said I’d do really

as a performer, and should purs

an acting degree, so I auditioned

got into New York University.

I moved there when I was 18, which I didn’t find

easy. The weather was a really big thing for me –

I had a lot of trouble acclimatising. And the public

transport, too, because in LA you didn’t really

take public transport. So it was a big adjustment.

When I first arrived in New York I took a long walk

up 59th Street where Breakfast at Tiffany’s was shot.

It’s my favourite movie of all time. I went there

really early in the morning and turned around and

The Plaza Hotel was right behind me and to the

left was Central Park – all these historical New York

landmarks were looking me in the face.

After college, my first TV role was Blue Bloods – it

was incredibly fun but I was only on-set for a day – I

had to say a couple of lines and then die. I did get to

meet Donnie Wahlberg, though, becausehehad

to stand over my dead body, which was such

an honour. Afterwards, I ran up to him,all

bloodied up, and asked for a picture –

I told him my mom is a huge fan.

After that I appeared in [Netflix

series] Haters Back Off. I played

Miranda’s straight sister, so I

watched a lot of British television

to prepare for the role – The

Inbetweeners and Fawlty Towers.

You guys have a very keen

understanding of how to play a

straight comedian, that dry comedy.

I’ve been so excited about being in

Stranger Things 3 – yay! When I foundout

I’d got the role I calmly said ‘Wow, thank you’ –

then, once I’d made it out of the building, I had an

absolute breakdown – I couldn’t believe it was real.

My style icon has always been Audrey Hepburn –

she’s the classic. And at the recent Met Gala I

absolutely loved Lady Gaga’s outfit – I love how she

puts herself together, that she’s always so out-there.

When it comes to the red carpet, it’s Givenchy all

the way. I also love Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

I like the very old-fashioned high-end brands.

In my downtime I watch The Great British Bake-

Off with a passion. It’s my form of relaxation and

I’ve even started seeking out some of the recipes.

I love travelling – I

went to Paris and

had an incredible

time there. And St

Petersburg in Russia

stood out for me,

too. I was there in

the summertime – it

was so beautiful.

Stranger Things 3

is on Netflix now

ActressFrancescaRealeis livingtheHollywood

dream.GrowingupinLA,sheoftenspottedfamous

actorsasa child,andhasgoneontoappearonthe

bigscreenherself,winningherfirstTVroleonUS

policedramaBlueBloodsaged21.“WhenI was

littleI’doftengointorestaurantsandseea

bigactorsittingacrossfromme,”shesays.

“WhenI wassix,I sawJackBlackandI ran

upandbeggedforhisautograph,spilling

hiscoffeeeverywhere– it wasmortifying.”

Nowthe24-year-oldis settobecomea

householdnameasHeather,a newcharacter

inhitNetflixshowStrangerThings3, alongside

WinonaRyderandMillieBobbyBrown.“The

firsttimeI metWinonashenotonlycomplimented

myentire80sget-upbut,afterlisteningtome

complainaboutthehumidityofAtlanta,sheran

intohertrailertogetmethesedeodorantwipes

sheswearsbyandgavemea pack.It savedmylife

andprobablythecrew’s,”shelaughs.

I grewupinLosAngeles– it wasa great

childhood.Youdogrowupveryawareof

Hollywoodandmovies,though,whichcanbe

a bitintimidating,especiallyif youfigureout

FRANCESCA

REALE

Spotlight on...

CLOCKWISE

FROM TOP RIGHT

Francesca loves

Chanel; Central

Park in NYC; she

admires Lady

Gaga’s bold style;

the actress playing

Miranda’s sister

in Netflix series

Haters Back Off WORDS: JO BOUNDS PHOTOS: RIKER BROTHERS. REX/SHUTTERSTOCK. GORUN

WAY.

GETTY IMAGES

y

dle

you

k

ol

ywell

sue

and