LONDON — There’s much to celebrate over at Hearst U.K. after the publisher bucked circulation slowdown figures.
Elle U.K., one of the publisher’s titles toasted to the launch of its “40 for 40 Women in Film” power list in partnership with Bulgari at the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge.
Lena Dunham, Dina Asher-Smith, Lucy Boynton, Bella Maclean, Sheila Atim and Jess Gunning attended the cocktail reception ahead of London Fashion Week kicking off on Thursday evening.
Atim, who has starred in “Mufasa: The Lion King” and has joined the cast of the TV series “Blade Runner 2099,” was already in the fashion spirit dressed in a black Roksanda number.
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During London Fashion Week, she plans to attend the Roksanda, S.S. Daley and Emilia Wickstead shows.
“I am very much getting myself into the award season and fashion week. I’m just going to throw myself into it,” said Atim, who is one of the women named in the “40 for 40 Women in Film” list.
“I was impressed by the breadth and the scale of the list in terms of women in front of the camera, women behind the camera, women working in roles that you wouldn’t necessarily think of if you don’t work in the film or TV industry,” she added.
Atim has been busy running from one award show to another and will now be adding fashion week to her busy schedule.
Her strategy to surviving the circuit of events is to clear her whole diary.
“It’s about having space to decompress in between. There’s always a glam situation that involves hair and makeup, which takes a couple of hours of preparation. Make sure you’re eating and to stay hydrated — and to basically not do anything but focus on the award season or fashion week,” Atim said in her cheery voice.
Asha Banks and Enva Lewis, the stars of “My Fault: London,” were toasting to the release of their film.
“There’s racing and fights [in the film]. I’m a racing driver, so that was pretty cool and it was just a lot of fun, but what I love most about London is the people, the humor and the energy all around,” said Banks, who plays the lead role of Noah.
Lewis plays Bank’s British best friend in the series and when it came to filming, they instantly bonded.
“This was my second venture into this world of film and it’s going to sound cheesy to say, but I loved our first filming in Tenerife [Spain], where we were meant to act like best friends on a holiday. To fake that relationship sounds ridiculous and I was dreading it, but when I met the cast, we were running out to the pool together and we all did become best friends,” she said.
Kenya Hunt, who has been editing Elle U.K. since March 2020, said the premise for the “40 for 40 Women in Film” list came as a means to to celebrate the magazine’s history, which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary.
“We’re going to do the list throughout the year, from fashion, social change to arts and culture,” she added.
