‘Orange is the New Black’ Star Taylor Schilling: ‘I’m Enough As I Am’
‘Orange Is the New Black’ star Taylor Schilling. (Photo: Getty)
Red carpets and prison cells could not be more opposite venues, but Taylor Schilling, star of Orange Is The New Black has become familiar with both. The Golden Globe Award winner spends many hours incarcerated as her character, contrasted with time enjoying the more glamorous aspects of her job at awards shows like the Sunday’s Emmys.
We caught up with Schilling at a recent event celebrating the September opening of the W Amsterdam. On the subject of traveling and hotel spas, she’s not a fan of anything outrageous. “I like pretty classic things in spas,” says the Fordham University graduate. “I like a massage. I usually do deep tissue. Thai massages are really nice. I also have this guy that does myofascial stuff — really deep.” While kneading muscles can be relieving and relaxing, feeling good on the inside is more important to Schilling. The actress says body confidence is a practice, and it doesn’t have one cure-all remedy. She looks up to the women in her life for inspiration, and turns to friends when she needs a boost — including her costar Laverne Cox.
Taylor Schilling as “Piper.” (Photo: ‘Orange Is The New Black’)
Yahoo Beauty: It seems like the Orange Is The New Black cast doesn’t do much for hair and makeup – like it can be done in five to 10 minutes. How long does it take to put together Piper’s look?
Taylor Schilling: At this point, it doesn’t take much more than that. It’s not a lot. We have such skilled makeup artists on the show. They have a specific and clear vision for every character. Some of the women who look the most wrecked or the most like they’ve rolled out of bed —people will say to me, “That person doesn’t have anything done.” — are the ones who spend the most time in hair and makeup.
Which characters take the most time in the makeup and hair chair?
People who are beautiful – you wouldn’t even know. A lot of people. I’m not going to throw down [names].
How does Piper’s beauty look compare to your everyday look, when you’re not being photographed or going to events?
I don’t do much more than Piper does, to be honest. My clothing situation is different, and I can probably use better products on my skin, but I don’t put on a lot of makeup. I’m not a big makeup person.
What beauty product or cosmetic would you not survive prison without?
I think we underestimate quality. The stuff in prison is pretty terrible. It’s nice to bring in a face wash or something — my own. Cetaphil.
Your co-star Laverne Cox told us she once had terrible jet black and white synthetic hair, back in the day.
Oh, that’s impressive.
Do you have a beauty misstep from your past?
There was a portion of time in high school when I got these home dying — like, streaking — kits. It was just so gross. I had a chunk of blonde in my hair. I was 13 or 14.
Did you do this with friends?
Yeah, yeah. I would change it up. I liked to play in the hair color section of the drugstore; not like neon colors, but a weird auburn. Then I’d go to a very bizarre Bambi yellow color on my head, or black hair. It was just weird looking. I look at myself, and you wonder if your depth perception is off because the hair color is just so bizarre.
What have you learned about beauty from Laverne Cox?
Laverne is a master with hair and makeup and beauty. She’s just so wonderful. What I’ve learned from Laverne is to embrace your shape. She always tells me I have a beautiful body, and I need to show it.
How do you find body confidence?
I work very hard at it. What that means for me is an internal acceptance. Confidence for me means acceptance. For me, it’s a practice. There’s no magic bullet for it. It’s diametrically opposed from the messages I see from the culture. It’s talking about it with friends and being myself. It’s a long process, but I can really, legitimately say I’ve become much more comfortable in my own skin as I’ve gotten older. It takes a lot of focus to say, “I’m enough as I am.” I have a lot of women in my life who I really look up to that are big supports for me.
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