Hayley Atwell: I’m aware of what doesn’t work on me

Movie star Hayley Atwell has opened up about her approach to fashion.

Hayley Atwell is “aware” of her fashion strengths and weaknesses.

The 43-year-old actress has attended many film premieres and award shows during the course of her career, and Hayley has developed a strong sense of what does and doesn’t work for her.

The brunette beauty told WWD: “For me, I know that I suit structure, and I suit boldness of colour, and asymmetry. I’m always kind of aware what doesn’t work on me, and I can often feel it when I look back at images. I think you can always tell something that didn’t feel quite comfortable.

“As an actor, you’re very aware every day of the impact of what costumes do for your sense of identity, confidence in the world, but also the story that you’re telling, and what it is sharing with the rest of the world. If you decide to wear a paper bag on the red carpet, that is saying something.

“Everything has an impact. It’s just a really interesting part of the art form.”

Hayley recently confessed to taking fashion inspiration from other actresses.

The Hollywood star cited ‘Wicked’ actress Cynthia Erivo as one of her biggest fashion inspirations.

She told Grazia: “My journey in fashion has become more about my interest in the storytelling behind the look. I’m obsessed with Cynthia Erivo, her whole defined look, or Saoirse Ronan, demure, powerful. Tilda Swinton, amazing … That, to me, is the art side of fashion rather than, ‘Do I look hot?'”

Despite this, Hayley observed that women still face significant obstacles in Hollywood.

Reflecting on the current landscape in the movie business, Hayley explained: “You have to look at the reality of the system and be engaged in the conversation, rather than reject it or be really angry.

“You can go, ‘I’m off to do [something else],’ but no one’s going to watch it or fund it. You can’t be outside of the system and have any sort of real platform. Trying to get anything made is so hard. Having star power means you can get things made. I don’t feel like I have that yet.”