Ella photographed by Yulia Gorbachenko for Panthere de Cartier:
admin May 29th, 2022
admin April 30th, 2022
I added a new photoshoot to the gallery of Ella for Hunger Magazine. Click on the gallery link below to see all new photos.
Photoshoots & Magazine Scans > 2022 > 02 (2022-04-20 – Rankin for Hunger Magazine Issue 23)
admin April 27th, 2022
Ella Balinska on her love of gaming, ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and representation
“I’m not saying Chekhov didn’t do it for me, but I would have loved to have experienced a curriculum where you see your culture,” says HUNGER’s cover star.
Ella Balinska can’t fly without her PlayStation 4 console, a controller and an adapter suitable for the destination. “I just built a PC from scratch so I could play with better visuals,” she tells me over Zoom, scrolling through her phone for a photo of it. “I had been playing on TVs in hotel rooms.” It’s an elegant piece of hardware with a transparent case that will inspire some nostalgia in those who were privy to the cult of the iMac G3 in 1998 (when Balinska was just two). “It’s very dorky but I love it,” the 25-year-old actor, an ambassador for Cartier and Clé de Peau Beauté, says.
“My mum used to get her hair done by this amazing woman who had a son of a similar age. He had all the consoles,” she recalls of her introduction to gaming proper – playing Snake on her parents’ Nokias doesn’t count, she says. “I got more and more invested [in playing games] and then I was going over [to see him] without my mum. I was a huge gamer and a lot of the characters really inspired me, especially for Charlie’s Angels.” A personal game-changer, Elizabeth Banks’s 2019 vehicle – a feminist-leaning revision of the iconic franchise – placed Balinska firmly in the public eye. Playing Jane Kano, the pragmatic former MI6 agent to Kristen Stewart’s party girl Sabina Wilson and Naomi Scott’s engineer-turned-Angel Elena Houghlin, Balinska had landed the part with just a few TV roles to her name.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Balinska grew up in southwest London and was initially drawn to theatre, an arena she remains fond of. “I’ve always been a performer – I did performance sports at school – and I guess I really enjoyed that sort of pressure, with a deadline,” she says. Later attending Guildford School of Acting (she got a first), Balinska found her niche in stage combat. “You had people who wanted to do period dramas or who were dead set on doing Shakespeare at the RSC. The stage combat unit came along and I did quite well. It has that performance aspect and physical element, and I could draw from that athleticism.”
She trained in 12 types of combat, so it’s not a stretch to say the practice is shaping her career: Jane was the most physically demanding role of the Angels – she takes two guys out in her first few seconds on screen. “It’s one of those things I’ve always wanted to do, like when you close your eyes and visualise something… kicking ass in really dope movies,” Balinska says. “Now I’m just running with it. I’ve got other exciting things in the pipeline – more emotionally based, character-driven stories – but it’s exciting to know that’s how I’m perceived. There are some amazing action women and it’s an honour to be part of that legacy.”
Later this year she will join another famous franchise, when a Resident Evil live-action series drops on Netflix. Announced in 2020 and shot in South Africa last summer, it also stars Lance Reddick and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina actor Adeline Rudolph. “I’ve seen, like, two scenes,” she teases (when we speak the only promo available is a pair of press shots). “It was one of the wildest filming experiences ever,” she continues, alluding to the strange nature of shooting a story about a pandemic during a pandemic. Then there’s also the release of her first Blumhouse picture, Run Sweetheart Run, which had its premiere at Sundance in January 2020 (before Covid disrupted everything) and she’s soon to begin filming The Occupant, a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Hugo Keijzer.
Perhaps most pressing however – for both the eight-year-old gamer Balinska was and the 25-year-old actor now on my screen – is Forspoken, her project with Square Enix for PlayStation. “It’s stunning, it’s art in gameplay,” she enthuses. Voicing the protagonist Frey Holland, a young New Yorker who’s transported to the fantasy land of Athia, Balinska has been vocal about her elation since the news came out, taking to Instagram last summer to share a BTS picture of herself in full motion-capture garb. As the face of a prominent new video game, is she feeling any version of pressure? “I’m just excited, to be honest. The gaming community obviously has lots of expectations of Square Enix because of their incredible legacy, but no one really knows what to expect. Whereas Resident Evil has such a huge fan base, this is a very different beast.”
The game, which drops in May and featured in Time’s 40 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2022, puts Balinska in a unique space: ever since Frey’s image was released, the project has been subject to close examination by fans online. For context, a report put out by the gaming website DiamondLobby last year found that, after analysing more than 100 mainstream games released between 2017 and 2021, only 8.3% of them had a non-white female main character. Balinska is proud to be part of this transformative period: “It’s a really exciting space and I’ve learnt so much about the community. It’s incredibly creative and it’s growing. I’m seeing more and more inclusivity – me being cast, for example – and I’ve also just partnered with a couple of charities to incorporate women in coding in the gaming industry.”
Aligning herself with charitable causes feels obvious for Balinska, who speaks openly about carving her own path. Having been warmly embraced by the fashion industry (she has already attended the Met Gala), she is a founding patron of the BFC Foundation charity, while in 2020 she collaborated with her old drama school to establish the Ella Balinska Scholarship 2021, supporting a first-year student from the global majority. “It was one way [I thought] would be helpful to steer the industry in a direction so that you can see people who look like me cast in video games,” she says. Balinska was also adamant that, in addition to offering financial support, the scholarship should provide a broader idea of relevant resources. “I’m not saying Chekhov didn’t do it for me, but I would have loved to have experienced a curriculum where you see your culture. There’s a big shift in the industry now – the world, culturally – and I’m excited, personally, to be doing something new and different. I hope the choices I’m making are in the right direction.”
admin April 22nd, 2022
Ella is on the cover of the current issue, Issue 23 More Real Than Real, of Hunger Magazine.
admin March 23rd, 2022
Ella attended the Ralph Lauren Fall 2022 Fashion Show in NY yesterday. Click on the gallery link below to see all new photos.
Candids, Events & Premieres > 2022 > 2022-03-22 – Ralph Lauren Fall 2022 Fashion Show in NY
admin March 22nd, 2022
The horrors of Resident Evil will haunt Netflix this summer as the streamer unveils the premiere date for its upcoming live-action series based on the popular video game franchise. The series hails from showrunner Andrew Dabb, who executive produces and writes.
Set to debut on July 14, Resident Evil takes place in the year 2036. 14 years after a deadly virus caused a global apocalypse, Jade Wesker fights for survival in a world overrun by the blood-thirsty infected and insane creatures. In this absolute carnage, Jade is haunted by her past in New Raccoon City, by her father’s chilling connections to the Umbrella Corporation but mostly by what happened to her sister, Billie.
The series stars Lance Reddick as Albert Wesker alongside Ella Balinska, Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong, Adeline Rudolph and Paola Nuñez. Additional cast members are Ahad Raza Mir, Connor Gosatti and Turlough Convery.
Dabb executive produces and writes with Mary Leah Sutton. Robert Kulzer and Oliver Berben of Constantin Film also serve as executive producers. Constantin Film CEO Martin Moszkowicz produces and Constantin Film is the studio.
The live-action series will be the streamer’s second foray into the Resident Evil universe. The first was the animate series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, which starred video game voice actors Nick Apostolides and Stephanie Panisello. Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness debuted in July 2021.
Netflix also unveiled teaser art, showing the a vial of the T-Virus and Umbrella Corp.’s Joy antidepressant, which can be viewed below.
admin March 4th, 2022
Ella attended the Paris Fashion Week – Womenswear FW 2022-2023 – Balmain event two days ago, on 2 March. Click on the gallery link below to see all new photos.
Candids, Events & Premieres > 2022 > 2022-03-02 – Paris Fashion Week – Womenswear FW 2022-2023 – Balmain
admin February 1st, 2022
Two of the newest brand ambassadors for Clé de Peau talk about their skincare routines, favourite products and internal beauty.
In a world where beauty can be defined by how much makeup you do or don’t wear, it’s refreshing to hear about how the makeup world has started to be redefined amongst industry professionals and the actresses who have spent their careers in many makeup chairs. One of the brand’s trailblazing this discussion is Clé de Peau, the Japanese beauty brand that is now fronted by Dakota Fanning, Ella Balinska and Diana Silvers. Not only does the brand produce incredible products, but they have devoted some of their brand to focusing on female empowerment and opportunities for them. We sat down with Balinska and Silvers to chat about their daytime and nighttime beauty routines, their go-to products and the best tips they’ve received from makeup artists throughout their careers.
What does it mean to you to be an ambassador of Clé de Peau? Since the brand is one of the first ambassadorships for both of you, what drew you to this collaboration?
Ella Balinska: I for one was absolutely thrilled when I was asked to be an ambassador. It is obviously a huge honour to be part of an amazing brand that not only creates incredible skincare, but also their core values, their philanthropic endeavors, especially girls education and opportunities in STEM— that speaks so loudly to me. To be able to do that with the homies, Diana and Dakota, is really special. Not only that, but the [Clé de Peau] team are all really great, too. It feels like a lovely family.
Diana Silvers: When I got the call, I was so honoured and excited that I got to be a part of [the brand] and the more I learned about [Clé de Peau], and the more I was talking and working with the team [I noticed it] is mostly women, which is so cool. Like Ella was saying it’s not even about external beauty but it’s inner beauty and beauty through empowering others, specifically women. It’s love and it’s power and the bigger picture of it all—it’s not just about skincare, it’s deeper than that. That’s why I feel so at home with the brand too.
How does Clé de Peau fit your vision of beauty?
EB: One of their core values is all about radiance. It’s all about embracing who you are and how you know, Clé de Peau can really help [with that] and how you walk around the world and affect other people. I think that anything rooted in that positivity not only is an amazing reflection on being part of an amazing brand but it makes you want to live your life that way too. It’s amazing. There’s nothing more fulfilling knowing that a brand that is rooted in such rich radiance and empowerment.
DS: The Clé de Peau team are leading by example. They are practising what they preach in real time and that is so inspiring and it makes me want to do the exact same thing in my personal life, and how I interact with the people around me. Like we were just talking earlier about what our biggest fear is, and I was like, I’d never want to leave a situation, making someone feel bad about themselves. I always want to leave a situation where everyone feels good after and like every time I talk to the Clé de Peau family, when I talk to Ella, when I talk to Dakota, I always feel good after and I feel like it really is like women supporting women in its purest, truest form. We’re empowering others and hopefully will inspire other people to do the same in their personal lives—on the smaller scale with their friends and family to a larger scale with their communities.
What’s your daytime and nighttime beauty routine like?
EB: I love doing a routine—I’m a huge routine person! In the morning, I start off with washing my face with the Softening Cleansing Foam, and then I love toning before I do anything. Afterwards I’ll use The Serum, because it’s a miracle formula. Then, of course, La Crème—I love having a bit more of a dewy finish. Whenever I do my makeup, I love using the Radiant Fluid Foundation. The thing I find with the cream and the natural foundation is that they blend really well together—the synergy between the products is incredible. I also find that it lasts throughout the whole day, especially because I’m super active and I do a lot of physical activity. I’ll be able to do a workout and somehow find myself at dinner and I haven’t touched my face yet.
At the end of the day, I always wash my face using the cleansing foam. Then I love using the Intensive Fortifying Cream—I really like waking up feeling quite hydrated because when I sleep my skin gets quite dry. It’s really great to wake up and still have that moisture going on without it feeling oily.
DS: My daytime and nighttime routine is pretty similar. In the morning, I don’t wash my face with anything, just with water. My skin is really sensitive so I have to be very gentle and Clé de Peau makes something for my soft little baby skin. I’ll put The Serum on, which is like a miracle product and then I’ll use the Hydro-Softening Lotion to lock in all of the moisture, so I look dewy and fresh all day long. I always wear SPF every morning of my life—oh my neck, the décolletage.
At night, I wash my face to get all of the debris and the pollution from our wonderful Los Angeles off my face. I’ll use the Clarifying Cleansing Foam and it’s really gentle—it smells fresh and nice. Then I will again use the serum because it keeps everything moist. My favourite thing at night is the famous La Crème— it is like heaven in a jar. I wake up every morning feeling so good and like I’m alive.
Both of your careers have picked up in the last decade, and you’ve certainly had the chance to work with some of the top beauty professionals in the world. Diana, you’ve worked in the modelling and film industry, and Ella, you’ve been on many film sets. What are the best tips you’ve learned from them?
EB: There’s some really interesting things that we learn on set. Especially with camera tips and tricks, because being on set with all those lights. You know you learn some amazing things about how to keep your skin hydrated. [I use] the Hydro-Softening Lotion, mix it with a nice alkaline water, and spray it on my face. That keeps long lasting hydration throughout the day without having to use blotting powder. It doesn’t make you shiny, it just keeps you fresh [which] is incredible.
DS: Unfortunately for me, everything I’ve done I had to look not cute. [If I have] makeup on me I get told, maybe you shouldn’t be so hydrated. And I’m like, come on, guys. Let me glow on camera, please. Hopefully I’ll have more tips and tricks if I do a project where I have to wear funky fun makeup, or there’s more action going on with my face.
When do you feel the most beautiful?
EB: Safe is the key word. When you feel like you can just be totally around yourself with people that you trust and that you love, and they love you. On top of that as well, I think on a professional level, for any of my characters that I play, it’s those moments on set where the only thing I can call it is like the twilight zone, where it’s sort of like you’re not trying to please anybody else. You’re just open and present and listening in the moment. Completely living a truth for a character.
DS: When I’m with my people, like my friends and my family. It’s such a cliche, but I really do feel the most safe and the most comfortable— we’re all laughing and smiling and you’re with people that make you feel really good. It’s so easy to feel beautiful in those moments.
admin January 25th, 2022
The rising British actor (and daughter of former Chanel model and British Vogue contributing editor, Lorraine Pascale) and Clé de Peau Beauté ambassador lets Tish Weinstock in on her self-care secrets.
On her evolving relationship with beauty
When I was super young, it was always just, “Mama knows best”. You learn about the moisturising situation – you know, those fundamental things. But then you start going to school and you get influenced the other way. I think we all at some point had a terrible eyebrow phase. And then the too much eyeliner phase. I had a wonderful My Chemical Romance period. Then I started learning more about what it was that I liked doing as a person: being active and keeping fit, so I had to learn a lot about how to look after my skin post work-out. It’s about finding what works for you. Then I got a part-time job, which meant I could afford products that weren’t just from Sainsbury’s. I’ve been lucky to be able to try lots of different products, some things made me break out and some had a really positive effect on my skin. You learn by trial and error.
On embracing her natural beauty
In the last few years, I’ve really started to embrace my natural beauty a lot more and begun using products that complement my skin. Being comfortable in your own skin is such a personal journey. I think it’s something you continue to work on your whole life.
On what makes her feel beautiful
I feel beautiful when I’ve had the benefits of the sun. Everyone loves a little bit of a tan. But on a less sort of surface level, I think it’s so interesting how your emotional state plays into how you glow. How you feel about yourself radiates outwards. I feel like I’m now in a place where I’ve learnt to really be okay with myself, whether in a pair of sweats or in a face mask.
On her morning routine
My approach is very routine-based. I love doing my morning routine because it really gives me that sense of accomplishment. The first accomplishment of the day is a shower, and the next is my morning routine. I recently incorporated the Serum and La Crème from Clé de Peau Beauté into my routine. I’ve also got my vitamin C and my hyaluronic acid. It makes me feel very fresh.
On taking her make-up off before she goes to bed
I always say to my friends: “No matter how late we get back, ladies, we are washing our faces.” I’ll use the Softening Cleansing Foam from Clé de Peau Beauté, and then I will use the Intensive Fortifying Cream. I don’t use a lot, as I like my skin to breathe when I sleep, but I will use a bit before bed and I’ll wake up feeling fresh.
On her approach to make-up
Everyone has an alter ego. I love being able to play around with my alter ego when it comes to make-up. I love bold eyeshadows in particular. But the key is my foundation. One thing I learned recently is that everyone thinks that they only have one colour, but actually, the skin on your face shifts and changes. To structure your face in a way that looks great you don’t want to do one wash; you need darker colours around the outside, and [to] highlight with a lighter foundation everywhere else. It’s about putting different colours in different areas and blending it together. There’s something very poetic about make-up, the way that you can just make art on your face.
On how being an actor affects her understanding of beauty
I started in theatre, where you have to be quite loud with your make-up so that people in the back rows can see it. When I was doing my drama A-Level, I studied a lot of Kabuki make-up and commedia dell’arte, and how different masks and facial features give a sense of character and personality before you even open your mouth. I think it’s interesting to apply some of those concepts to when you’re doing make-up. People pay such close attention to eyebrows. You can look very fierce when you do your eyebrows slightly straighter, whereas they’re softer when they’re round.
On learning from the pros
Being at the hands of all these amazing glam teams and make-up departments, they always show you tips and tricks that you had no idea about. They’ve worked with so many people and put together a kind of toolkit that I try and share as much as possible.
On what beauty means to her
Beauty is literally whatever you think it is. On those days where you might not be feeling your best self, I always try and remember that everything is so subjective. It’s so wonderful that everyone can have a different point of view. I love the idea that some person might find something amazing that another person might not. The fact that you have your own opinion, the fact that you have your own voice, your own essence, your own life – I think that is the thing that’s so beautiful; the things that make you you.
