Actor Stacy Martin might be the breakout star on everyone’s radar right now and a regular attendee of awards season, but there’s still always a certain pressure that comes with walking the red carpet. ‘I’d love to say it doesn’t affect me, but the nerves always catch up!,’ she tells ELLE UK ahead of the BAFTAs, for which she was nominated for her role in The Brutalist.
‘So much work goes into each red carpet look, from the designer to the glam team, the stylist, and so you want to also make sure their hard work is represented in the best light. More importantly, I've learnt that making sure I wear something that represents me and being comfortable will lessen the worry about any possible red carpet scrutiny,' the French actor shares.
For the 78th British Academy Film Awards, which took place at the Royal Festival Hall on London's Southbank, Martin looked characteristically chic in a custom Louis Vuitton pastel gown, which was embellished with crystal flowers and featured a long, flowing train, and paired with Louis Vuitton High Jewellery designed by Francesca Amfitheatrof. ‘My current trick is wearing heels that are insanely comfortable so I feel grounded and ready,’ she muses.
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It was her character, Maggie, in The Brutalist that inspired her look for the evening. 'She’s very glamorous and I wanted to bring in a bit of her character in my outfit. There’s something very elegant and classic that I loved; she loves a celebration and statement pieces, so tying that with Nicolas Ghesquière's modern cuts at Louis Vuitton felt like the perfect pairing between Maggie and myself.'
Her make-up took an equally ethereal turn and expressed ‘a part of [her] personality'. 'For Stacy’s look we wanted the face to pop, with a flash of pink on the eyes and lips to complement the dress,’ make-up artist for Lancôme, Kelly Cornwell, confirmed. To create the look, Cornwell relied upon Lancôme skincare, using the liquid glow soothing moisturiser to create a glowing base for make-up.
'For the eyes, I used Hypnôse Palette in Ardent Drama all over the lids and along the lash line, with Strawberry Latte on the lid for a pop, then to add definition, I added Ombré Hypnose Stylo in brun captivat and Black Idôle liquid liner very close to the lash. For the skin, I used Teint Idôle Ultra Wear and I created a flush effect on the cheeks and a faded lip liner look, using the Strawberry Latte, which I blended in at the edges.'
Make-up, as Martin tells us, has always been a powerful tool on or off screen. 'For me make-up is so linked to who we are and how we want to communicate to the outside world. I usually wear very little in my personal life, so I love using make-up and being bolder with it to explore characters and their emotional journeys. Make-up can help you feel incredibly powerful and transform the way you enter a space – I enjoy that transformation so much.' Off the red carpet, there are three beauty products Martin is never without: 'Barbara Sturm Sun Drops, my Lancôme Absolu Intimatte Lipstick that I double up as a blush, and my Glo oil free moisturiser.'
As you might expect, Martin's prep for the BAFTAs starts long before sitting in the make-up chair. ‘When I've had days to prepare, I usually rest and have a lymphatic drainage massage to make the process of getting ready and walking the red carpet as stress free as possible,’ she tells ELLE UK. ‘But I’ve also done red carpets where my dress was fitted the same day and only have 30 minutes to get ready. In that case, a strong Yorkshire tea is the best way to get me going.’
As for what’s on the horizon for the leading lady, there's no signs of slowing down for 2025. ’I filmed with Mona Fastvold on a musical drama called Ann Lee about the birth of the Shaker movement in America. I was able to work with an incredible crew, I danced and I sang and I’m very excited to share this, hopefully this year,' she tells us. 'And I’m currently filming a film noir called Pocket Dream with co directors Julia Baylis and Sam Guest in New York about a mysterious socialite who enlists a young cater waiter to chauffeur her to a wealthy enclave of Eastern Long Island.’
Moments before she steps out onto red carpet for the star-studded awards, Martin takes a moment to appreciate the energy at the BAFTAs. ‘They’re a real celebration and reminder of the strong community that exists in our industry. Acting can be quite a lonely job and being surrounded by my peers and celebrating all the incredible talent and work that’s been achieved by so many departments in the past is very special.’
Lancôme, the official beauty sponsor of the BAFTAs, is proudly celebrating 25 years of partnership.
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Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
