“Beauty was more about enhancing your own natural beauty”- When Ana de Armas made her feelings clear about beauty standards in Cuba
In a 2021 Harper’s Bazaar interview, Ana de Armas shared her views on beauty standards in Cuba. The Cuban-Spanish actress, known for Knives Out and No Time to Die, was discussing her new role as an Estée Lauder ambassador with the publication.
When asked during the interview about beauty differences between Cuba and LA, where she works, she said,
“Beauty was more about enhancing your own natural beauty.”
This shared her perspective on Cuba’s simple, natural approach to beauty. The interviewer asked about the biggest difference in attitude to beauty in Cuba compared to in LA. Ana de Armas described how access to fewer products in Cuba led to people's reliance on homemade solutions such as cucumber masks. She learned these from her mother, contrasting with LA’s product-heavy culture.
The interview also covered her acting career. She spoke about her character in the James Bond film, No Time to Die, and her portrayal as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde.
Ana de Armas shared thoughts on red-carpet nerves and Hollywood’s beauty expectations, while expressing her admiration for Estée Lauder’s legacy. The conversation explored her preparation for glamorous roles while staying true to her Cuban roots.
Ana de Armas on her Hollywood journey and Cuban upbringing
Ana de Armas discussed her rapid rise in Hollywood. After Knives Out, she landed several major roles, including being cast in No Time to Die. She said,
“I was shooting Blonde, and I had only a few days to train, so I went straight from Blonde to shoot for Bond. I didn't have the time to actually commit to any kind of diet or workout or training because my schedule just didn’t allow for it.”
While discussing the intense transition required between projects, the actress credited her Cuban upbringing for making her flexible. Growing up with few resources, she prioritized simplicity and authenticity, which she channels in her roles.
Ana shared that for her role as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde required deep preparation so she could accurately portray the iconic actress known for her movies such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
When asked about working with Estée Lauder, Ana De Armas said,
“Oh my gosh, it’s truly an honour.”
The Knives Out actress discussed her Estée Lauder partnership, emphasizing the brand’s focus on empowering women. She said,
“When you learn about Lauder’s story and how everything started, it’s so inspiring.”
She connected this to her natural beauty philosophy.
Beauty routines and redefining the Bond Woman
Ana De Armas discussed her role in No Time to Die. She played Paloma, a CIA agent, balancing glamour and action. The role required quick preparation after Blonde. She said,
“Paloma is actually a really complete character. Cary [Joji Fukunaga, director] created her from zero and he asked me if I wanted to do it.”
During the interview, Ana highlighted the character’s distinct, active nature and discussed the role’s appeal and its difference from past Bond girls. She discussed her excitement about the character, Paloma, saying, "She's a lot of fun... very bad a*s."
As the interview proceeded further, she shared her Cuban beauty routine and how limited products led to creative solutions. De Armas said,
“We did not have products in beautiful jars: it was more a case of putting things in a blender and making your own cucumber mask or honey and sugar scrub.”
She shared her past experiences, such as learning from her mother to prioritize skin care and using homemade products rather than modern skin care products. The actress highlighted that staying out of the sun was key.
Stay tuned for more news and updates.
