Photographer: Jemima Marriott
Styling and Art Direction: JO Shippen
Stylists Assistant: Ava Wild
Hair Stylist: Jon Chapman
MUA: Charlotte Yeomans using GLOSSIER
Hi Poppy, where abouts in the world are you?
I’m currently in London as I’m about to start work on To Kill a Mockingbird, which is going to be on at the Gielgud theatre this year.
You will be starring in the upcoming My Name is Leon can you tell us a bit about your role?
The film is based on the novel by Kit de Waal and is set in 80’s Birmingham in the UK. I play a young woman called Carol who is a single mum to two small children; Leon, who is mixed race white and black, and new baby Jake who is white. Although she loves her boys enormously and is trying her best, she’s really struggling with not only being a mum, but also post natal depression, which has been going on for some time. In the 80’s, post natal depression was not understood as much as it is now and she doesn’t receive the correct kind of help she needs. This tragically results in Leon and Jake being taken into foster care. The story follows Leon’s journey and the people who shape his new reality from that point. It’s set against the backdrop of the racism in the country and is a real must see. I am so proud to be a part of it. It’s important, as relevant as ever and hopeful.
In My Skin was a big hit, can you tell us about your rebellious character Lydia and how you got into her mind?
Lydia is totally unfiltered and very much an attention seeker. She’s a bit of a bully but really it’s from a place of her own insecurities and emotional neglect at home. Lydia just says whatever she wants, to whoever she wants, whenever she wants. I just let go of any kind of etiquette I may have.
Petra lace top from By Varga, Gold & Silver ball floating earrings Vintage, Crystal drop chain necklace from Mawi
What tips would you give to actors starting out in the industry today?
Ah. Tough question as there is so much that I could say, but the ultimate advice is to just work hard on your craft, continually. There is so much that is out of your control but the only thing you can control is how good you are and the ability to say no. Also don’t compare yourself to others, everyone is doing something different, so support everyone as best you can.
When did you decide you wanted to act and why?
I don’t remember ever deciding but I do remember always being interested in accents and voices. I think artists are born artists. It’s unexplainable. It’s just an instinct to create or perform. I love doing many different things and find so much of the world fascinating, but I feel that the one thing that really sticks for me is acting. I’m creatively inspired by a brilliant performance more so than any other thing. I’ve also been very, very fortunate to have worked a lot over the years thanks to many other people and I never take being enabled to actually get to act and earn a living from it for granted. I love transforming, sounding different, looking different, slipping into different worlds, different shoes. It transcends living just one human life.
White faux leather jacket & trousers both from Julia Allert at Wolf & Badger, Black bralette from Azzedine Alaia , Crocodile chain necklace from Giovanni Raspini, Moon rock medium hoop earrings from Giovanni Raspini, Shoes from Chanel
What’s next for Poppy Lee Friar? Any new projects on the horizon?
I just finished another one off film project called ‘#careergoals’ for BBC3, from the award winning team behind ‘The Left Behind’, which will be out this year and I’m soon to start rehearsals for To Kill a Mockingbird in the West End. I cannot wait to get back into the theatre and am so lucky to be part of this incredible production.
What do you do every day to make the world a better place?
This is a tough question. It certainly feels like nothing, although I know that the arts make a huge difference to peoples lives. I think the most important thing any of us can do is help nature and other people and I am going to do more. It certainly feels like the battle for preservation has begun and I want to be a part of that, wether it’s helping the indigenous people across the world or conservation in some form. It’s so complicated and It begins with politics. Being conscious of the issues we face on a global scale is a good start and the internet has allowed that.
What is your wildest dream right now?
To be honest, I am very zen right now. I’m living my wildest dream. To have filmed this year several times on some real passion projects, especially considering what has been happening with the pandemic and to be heading into the theatre next year, I feel extraordinarily lucky.
White faux leather jacket & trousers both from Julia Allert at Wolf & Badger, Black bralette from Azzedine Alaia , Crocodile chain necklace from Giovanni Raspini, Moon rock medium hoop earrings from Giovanni Raspini, Shoes from Chanel
Who are your biggest inspirations?
At the moment, a couple of my biggest professional inspirations are Isabelle Huppert and Tilda Swinton. They epitomise what it is I work towards as an actress.
Out of all the characters you’ve played -which role have you found the most challenging?
I think the work I have done this year has been the most challenging. I would say the character I play in ‘#careergoals’ has a particularly difficult arc that I can’t talk about yet obviously, but was certainly pretty harrowing and required a lot of emotional expression, which is taxing.
And the easiest and most natural role you’ve slipped into?
That’s tricky to answer as I feel all of the characters express a little bit of me in different ways, and they are certainly easier to slip into every day as production goes on and you figure out more and more who the character is. They become real to you so take on a life of their own and strangely become easy to slip into. But the characters I’ve played are mostly nothing like me, which is what I love doing and what people are usually most surprised by when they meet me.
What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced on a set?
To be honest, sets are not usually that funny; you’re either waiting around, or freezing cold, or being herded somewhere like sheep and then it’s ‘go time’. But I have a memory of working on ‘Eve’ one day when we were on location in a shipping container yard (the glamour!) We were all there (the cast – Oliver, Eubha, Billy, Jane and I) and struggling not to corpse, on nearly every take of every scene. Nothing particularly funny had happened but I think we all got a glint in the eye and the energy was probably akin to a school trip as we’d been filming almost entirely on a built set in a cold, dark warehouse in Bathgate, Scotland. It was like school kids set free. Suddenly ‘acting’ became ridiculous and acting like a malfunctioning robot, even more so. I’ve since been reminded that it started with me corpsing, so It’s probably all my fault. Director Lynsey Miller was very gracious.
Strap corset top from Givenchy , White faux leather jacket & trousers both from Julia Allert at Wolf & Badger, Solvo hoops all by Love’s Labour’s Won at Wolf & Badger, Patent leather laced gloves from By Varga
Aside from acting, what makes Poppy tick?
Anything art or passion related, live orchestral film scores, the beauty and wonder of nature, animals and archaeology.
What do you get up to in your spare time?
I like to play the piano, paint or draw, watch all kinds of movies from Bollywood to French, go to the theatre, see friends and hug my dog. Any dog. Any animal really.
Dana off shoulder Jacket from Letoit , Jane wool trousers from By Varga, Rock necklace from Giovanni Raspini , Silver Solvo hoops all by Love’s Labour’s Won at Wolf & Badger, Shoes from Chanel
What’s your most favourite film ever?
Not too hard to answer although I love many. Withnail and I. I watch it at least a few times a year. It’s brilliantly written with some of the greatest performances ever. Muriel’s Wedding is also up there. I have the screenplays for both.
What’s your favourite outfit?
However I feel. I think something quirky, vintage-y, with a chic flare is a daily go to. I don’t buy clothes very often.
What do you find cool about America?
I love America and want to explore it more. The landscape has got to do it for me. Having seen a little of the West, like Joshua Tree, the Sequoia National park, the clear view of the stars in Arizona. It’s majestic. I also love that people have the likes of avocado, pomegranate, orange and lemon trees in their front yards in LA. What a treat.
And finally tell us what’s cool about you?
Having stepped into many different shoes as an actor and having been lucky enough to travel and meet lots of different people, I think you learn never to judge anybody. Life is hard for everyone. It’s an ongoing process as we are continually fed false narratives, but it’s so important to treat everyone with respect and kindness and I try to do that. I will also try to save any creature in trouble; most recently, a worm in peril on the pavement.
‘Poppy is appearing as ’Mayella’ in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD playing at the Gielgud Theatre London, MY NAME IS LEON will be on BBC1 soon and LIFE AND DEATH IN THE WAREHOUSE will be coming to BBC3 and iPlayer soon.’