Marie Claire caught up with Poldark star Eleanor Tomlinson to talk Gone With The Wind, folk music and hunting for antiques
Eleanor Tomlinson is a woman of many talents. Not content with stealing our hearts as heroine Demelza in BBC drama Poldark, she has now recorded an album of folk classics. Marie Claire's Victoria Fell spoke with Eleanor to get the lowdown on her life, from her favourite filming locations to the importance of always wearing sunscreen.
'I live in south-west London, and it’s great to be slightly further out of the city. I’m really into decorating and my flat is filled with antique pieces, like my gramophone. There’s an incredible antiques fair at Kempton Park twice a month, where you can find a real steal – I recently picked up a beautiful 40s bust there.'
'I’ve got to film in some amazing places, like Rome a couple of years ago, which was a fabulous city to explore. On the same job, I went to Lithuania and one of the other cast members and I borrowed scooters, so we took off into the mountains. We were lucky with Poldark, too. There aren’t many other places like Bodmin Moor with wild horses roaming around.'
'The film Gone With The Wind has been a firm favourite of mine since I first saw it as a child. I like that it’s a love story that has a strong and powerful woman at the forefront. I think Scarlett O’Hara is one of the best literary characters ever created, and I’m such a fan of Vivien Leigh.'
'Music has always been a big part of my life. My mum and brother are both professional singers. When we were kids, they’d get up and entertain at family parties. I don’t consider myself a singer, but I got the opportunity to record an album of folk covers with [Poldark soundtrack composer and Oscar winner] Anne Dudley, which was great fun.'
'Making sure I use hair and make-up products that are cruelty-free is important to me. Pai does some great skincare, The Body Shop is lovely and I like the lip glosses and colours by Hourglass Cosmetics. My go-to product is Actinica, which is a really powerful sun cream. It’s lovely to wear underneath make-up and gives your skin a glow. I apply it every day – anything to stop the premature ageing.'
'I enjoy mixing up my style. Karen Millen recently gave me an amazing fringed leather jacket. If I’m going to a red-carpet event, I work with Nisha Grewal, a fabulous stylist who helps me create the whole look, like the one I wore to the BAFTA TV Awards. It was a silver metallic dress with beading by Naeem Khan.'
'My signature scent is Chanel No5 L’Eau. I grew up with my mum wearing the original and she bought me this newer version for my birthday last year. It’s a beautiful perfume.'
'I try not to be on my phone too much unless it’s for work, but I’m into an app at the moment called 1SE (1 Second Everyday). It uses your calendar to access photos and videos, so for each day of the week you can add a clip, which eventually plays back in a long video.'
Eleanor Tomlinson’s album Tales From Home is out on 8 June.
