How Lesley Manville became a fashion muse at 68
Calling all Lesley Manville fans; the celebrated actress has a new role. But it’s not another gritty drama for which she’ll win a slew of awards. This time, she’s starring as herself in the latest advertising campaign for luxury fashion house Loewe.
The star of Mrs Harris Goes to Paris and The Crown, 68, looks as fabulous as you’d expect in the images by fashion photographer Juergen Teller, posing in Bekonscot Model Village and its surroundings. The standout is a shot of her in red sunglasses, matched with a bold red lip. Expect those frames to fly out of stores as we all attempt the same look.
While Manville’s appointment has been received with some surprise, it makes sense. She has been wearing a lot of Loewe lately and was spotted front row at the label’s Paris Fashion Week show in March.
Her most notable appearance wearing the brand came at the Bafta Television Awards in April when she wore a red gown featuring an oversized needle embellishment across the front. The yellow colourway, worn by Aubrey Plaza on the red carpet and FKA Twigs on the cover of British Vogue, has been dubbed the ‘post-It’ dress.
“It was slightly out of her comfort zone,” says Steph Wilson, Manville’s stylist. “She wouldn’t normally have said yes, but we had a chat about it, and I said, “‘this is the time’”, she was like, you’re right. It was like she was challenging herself, and that can be exhilarating. It frees you from dressing a certain way.”
It was a risk that paid off because it cemented Manville’s reputation as someone to take notice of on the red carpet. Someone who has fun with her style without drifting into stunt fashion territory.
And yet not all labels have been falling over themselves to dress her. “I would have thought that it would be easier [to convince brands to lend looks],” Wilson says. “Some assumed she would [only] dress a certain way. There are some wonderful designers who have supported us - slow and steady wins the race.”
Their loss is Loewe’s gain. The brand’s creative director Jonathan Anderson also has form in casting midlife-plus celebrities in advertising campaigns: Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2022 (then 84) and Dame Maggie Smith in 2023 (then 88) have modelled for Loewe in recent years, and the response from both the industry and customers has been enthusiastic.
Other brands have been at it too. The late Joan Didion modelled for Celine in 2015 at the age of 80; Isabelle Huppert, 71, is a face of Balenciaga, and Pamela Anderson, 56 - now more famous for her flawless skin and aversion to makeup than her red Baywatch swimsuit - has been the face of Jacquemus and Proenza Schouler. Mid- and later life has never looked more chic.
You don’t need a designer budget to channel Manville’s approach to style. By adhering to a few key tenets, it’s easy to inject a little youthful cool into your wardrobe too…
Keep it relaxed
Nothing about Manville’s appearance looks overly “done”, says Annabel Hodin, a personal stylist who has particular expertise in working with women who are midlife and beyond. “Nothing is too stiff. She could have just run her fingers through her well-cut hair, added a splash of strong lipstick and voila, she exudes confidence and style and ease. As if no effort was taken, but everything is curated to achieve this.”
Don’t be too covered-up…
…But at the same time, don’t show too much. “Being too covered up is ageing, but revealing too much is not cool,” says Hodin. “Manville reveals just enough. She has beautiful skin, good shoulders and arms, and her outfits highlight her best features.”
“It’s about playing to your strengths,” Wilson adds, “Leg or arm, not both at once.” What feels right will vary from person to person, but a fraction outside of your usual comfort zone is a good rule to go by.
Avoid trends
Instead, work out what suits you. Manville’s success is in sticking to a palette that suits her: black, navy, warm reds, bronze. It’s largely block colours rather than prints, and favours tailored silhouettes over billowy ones.
“The proportions are flattering,” Hodin says. “She knows what works for her body, and she looks tall when she is not. Simple, elegant lines suit her face shape, and with her hair swept back, dangling earrings elongate her neck.”
Take risks
Manville and Wilson first met on a magazine photo shoot, and it was the actress’s fearlessness that bonded them. “We had some out-there interesting pieces and she was really up for trying them, crazy stuff like a Richard Quinn cape.”
Context is also important. “In private she might cover her arms and has more androgynous taste,” Wilson says. On the red carpet, she’ll embrace something more daring.
