Having started out as a child actress with notable films like I Am Sam, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Daddy Day Care, among others, Elle Fanning, at just 25, is a name to reckon with, not just in films but also in fashion. Her career is on an upswing with her central role in the TV series The Great and she is also a global face for L’Oreal Paris. A day before she walked at Le Defile in Paris as part of the ‘Walk Your Worth’ initiative by the brand, Fanning (whose older sister Dakota Fanning is also an actor of repute), engaged in a video chat from Paris with t2.

Why is lending your support to Le Defile as part of the initiative by L’Oreal Paris important to you?

I am so excited! I got to walk in one of their shows about three or four years ago and now I get to come back and do it all again this time... at night under the Eiffel Tower with all the other (L’Oreal Paris) spokeswomen. I think that is special, to see all of us spokeswomen together and getting to reunite and see each other again.

I saw Eva Longoria yesterday at my fitting and we were catching up. This year, I get to walk alongside Helen Mirren. It’s also a nerve-wracking experience. I am a little scared walking out there, but I do like my dress!

Elle channels old Hollywood effortlessly on the Cannes red carpet

What do you love the most about your outfit at Le Defile this year?

It’s gold, it’s very glittery and very glamorous. Kind of old Hollywood and shape-hugging. Like something that Marilyn Monroe would wear. I could see that. I am going to wear my hair down like Veronica Lake (the ’40s femme fatale who featured in noir films and was known for her peek-a-boo hairstyle) with waves and some glamorous eye make-up. Helen’s (Mirren) wearing something like a pantsuit, so she will be my date! (Laughs)

Are you a fan of old Hollywood aesthetics?

I am. I always veer towards the classics, especially on the red carpet... kind of the Grace Kelly vibe is what I always try to emulate and I think that just never goes out of style. I am not super trendy as a person. I like to stay with the classics.

How would you define your personal style at this point in time?

Gosh, it always changes! But I’m very daring, I am eccentric with my choices. I try to surprise people and try new things with my clothes. I don’t want to just keep wearing the same stuff, I want to experiment. Right now, I am trying to invest in really high-quality things that I can wear for years and years to come. So there’s this quiet luxury thing that is going on. I do like pieces that you can have forever and invest in them and switch them in and out. I don’t know what era I am in. I need to go back on the red carpet soon to figure it out.

Each of you are achievers in your own right. But what do you think unites the L’Oreal Paris spokeswomen?

I think what binds us is that we are so unique in our ways. In our field, we have to express ourselves in different ways. We also resonate with the brand’s tagline (‘You Are Worth It’) because we do feel that we are worth it. I think it’s such a beautiful tagline and we want to share that.

It is a form of self-love and you have to love yourself first before you can love anyone else. There are so many women that are a part of the family. We are kind to one another and we are very uplifting and supportive and it’s just important to spread that message.

Walk Your Worth’ has been an important and impactful campaign for the brand. In what ways do you resonate with the message?

I think of young girls who need to hear that message and possibly it will help them get out of a difficult situation that they are dealing with, maybe those dealing with self-confidence issues. I think that we, as spokeswomen, are very genuine and real and also express the struggles that we have had.

That’s important. I am not always the most confident. So to hear someone say that makes you feel so much better. The message also says that we can be stronger together. The fashion show is free and exhilarating and fun and it isn’t a serious fashion show.

Doing a fashion walk on the premises of the Eiffel Tower must be magical. What does that iconic location mean to you?

Wow! It is one of the most iconic structures in the world. It’s so beautiful! Paris is a special place to me. I came here for the first time when I was 13, and I normally always come here during Fashion Week. So it always revolves around fashion, but I would love to get to explore Paris a little bit more without having to work while I am here (smiles). That’s my goal.

But I always try to visit the Eiffel Tower when I come to Paris. I always take a photo with it whenever I am in Paris.

What does empowerment mean to you as a woman as well as an actor and how has that idea evolved over the years for you?

I have been in the industry for a very long time. I have been working from such a young age. I am 25 now and I am stepping into a position where I get to call the shots a little bit more. I am creating things for myself. I have ideas and stories that I want to tell and I am able to do that now, given that I am older. I am more confident in myself, for sure.

What do you love the most about Paris Fashion Week?

I am going to the Alexander McQueen show, which I am very excited about. It is Sarah Burton’s (former creative director at Alexander McQueen) last show. I think it is going to be really fun, something special. I am very honored to be a part of this kind of once-in-a lifetime moment. Paris comes alive (during Fashion Week). You get to see all the street styles. It is hustling and bustling.

But I don’t love the jet lag! (Laughs) I live in LA and the jet lag is always so hard. It’s hard to keep your eyes open, but the adrenaline keeps you going.