Barefaced, a beaming Eleanor Tomlinson reflects on her “incredible” experience at the BAFTA TV awards last night, where she presented an award with her The Outlaws co-star and close friend, Stephen Merchant. “We’re sort of like a dysfunctional couple,” she tells me, laughing. “But it was so fabulous to celebrate such talent in this industry. Honestly, I pinch myself.”
The 31-year-old actress certainly owned the part, too, dressed in a striking black tulle gown by Marchesa – a reflection of her classic, signature style. In true Tomlinson style though, it comes with sincerity. “I mean, there was a lot of Spanx and stuff going on!” she’s quick to enlighten me, while, on a more serious note, adding how the gown itself bolstered her confidence. With such a piece, you end up “embodying it and thinking, ‘I feel strong and powerful; I can do this’,” she says.
Tomlinson very much credits her stylist, Rebecca Corbin Murray, for any sartorial success. “She's got such an eye for what's going to work,” the actress says, describing how they “work as a collaborative” with her hair and make-up team to curate a red-carpet look that has synergy from top-to-toe. For last night’s glam, “we came up with just a very simple, beautiful, ethereal kind of look that was all about skin,” she explains. Adding softness against the dramatic dress, her make-up by artist Victoria Bond used Lancôme products to subtly enhance Tomlinson’s natural beauty, with skincare prioritised over foundation and concealing, to keep the look modern and spring-fresh. Her hair, by Luke Pluckrose, was styled around the shape of her dress in impossibly glossy waves intended to be “romantic, effortless and beautiful” – as it read.
Here, Tomlinson explores her evolution with beauty, as well as how she prepares for her red-carpet close-ups – including the BAFTA TV awards last night.
On her make-up…
“As I'm getting older, I'm trying to wear less make-up and concentrate more on my skincare. I'm trying to invest in my skin and I’m growing up with my make-up, learning what works now.
“I don't have any judgement on people who have work done – whatever you need to make you feel great is absolutely up to you. But I think that we should also not feel the need to hide ourselves. We should celebrate that we're all different and that we're all beautiful, and to find your radiance within yourself. And not to use make-up necessarily as a barrier – which I certainly did when I was a young teenager.”
Eleanor Tomlinson's BAFTAS TV awards make-up
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow Serum Concealer
Lancôme L’absolu Rouge 250
Lancôme Juicy Tubes in Dreamsicle
On her hair…
“I dyed it for the role in Poldark initially, and that was 10 years ago, but now it just feels so me. Because I became most known for that it's very hard now to imagine myself going to any colour apart from this.
“It's a lot of upkeep! But my hairstylist in my ‘normal’ life – when I'm not doing red carpets – is Katie Hale, and she's just brilliant at maintaining the condition of my hair. When I'm filming, I try and wear wigs now to save my own hair from heat.”
On her red-carpet prep…
“I always have a facial. I was very lucky and had a Sophie Carbonari facial on Saturday and it was just wonderful. It's like she's known your face your entire life. I left feeling glorious.
“I've also been using the Lyma laser. You have to invest a lot of time in it, but I really think it's wonderful; my skin has never felt better. So, I did my own Lyma laser treatment yesterday morning and then my make-up artist Victoria came and we did a skin prep morning with Lancôme products, because red-carpet make-up is all about that base skincare and giving it time to sink in. The foundations are key!”
“With event make-up, you learn how to get to the end of the day and still have that kind of fresh-face glow with minimum touch-ups. As well as the skin prep, it’s about only powdering when you need to.
“I took the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow Serum Concealer and the lip products [Lancôme L’absolu Rouge 250 lipstick and Lancôme Juicy Tubes in Dreamsicle] that Victoria used with me to the event for the night.”
On feeling grounded after big events…
“My date last night was my brother's husband, Alex. He's in this industry and it’s easy when you've got someone with you who completely gets it; I know that I can leave him on the carpet when I go and do the press that I need to do, or what have you.
“Afterwards we had a beer here at the hotel and a good old chat about the evening. It’s so full-on but you need to celebrate that you did it. This is like my publicity, and it’s nice to feel good about it – as sometimes it's not always that that way.
“Then I called my husband and just got all excited and caught up on my phone messages with mates and family saying, ‘Oh, my goodness, I’ve just seen you presenting a BAFTA!’ – and then it sinks in how cool it is. I feel so lucky that I even move in those circles.”
Lancôme is the official beauty sponsor of the BAFTAs 2024
