RICHARD MADDEN
CALVIN KLEIN – DEFY - MEN’S FRAGRANCE
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Monday 01 August 2022
Interview: Richard Madden on the new Calvin Klein Defy Eau
de Parfum (lofficielmalaysia.com) 5
minutes with Richard Madden on the new Calvin Klein Defy Eau de Parfum Being rebellious is not enough, we need to smell
like it. 07.25.2022 by Noel Khoo Based on
the Defy EDT launched in 2021, the new Defy Eau de Parfum took on a warmer and darker spin to
encapsulate Calvin Klein’s core values of taking risk and breaking
free. In this
bottle, the alluring leather note is contrasted by the refreshing woody note
stays for the EDP and remains its defining characteristic. An addictive
leather accord is in the middle of sunny Mandarin top note and earthy Vetiver Oil base note to evoke an audacious manner that
mirrors the campaign. Set against the blue sky
at twilight, the campaign captures the self-discovering and defying moments
of Richard Madden, who sports the iconic Calvin Klein denim look as his eyes
meet the lens with a rebellious stare. L’Officiel Malaysia caught up
with Richard Madden as he unpacks his olfactory journey with Calvin Klein: Scent
evokes nostalgia. What’s a memory that Calvin Klein Defy has brought back to
you? It bring
backs to me the feeling of London when Summer is just starting and everything
is bright, the weather it’s getting warm, and there is an energy in the air
and Calvin Klein Defy to
me captures that feeling. Can you
recall your first scent that has stuck with you? The first
scent I ever used was CK One, I remember cherishing this tiny little bottle
of it and though it was a beautiful smell and that was my first experience
with fragrance. Do you
have any tips when it comes to choosing a scent for an occasion? I feel
like it depends on where you’re going and what you’re doing, I personally like
something that’s fresher and brighter for the days and for the evening I like
something that is woodier and suited more for the evening. Tell us
about the Calvin Klein campaign and how it resonates with you? The Calvin
Klein Defy campaign features a series of vulnerable, self-reflecting moments
that culminates into this courageous leap of faith, a symbolic metaphor of
personal defiance and daring to take risks. The fragrance is anchored around
the idea of challenging yourself and overcoming internal or external
obstacles which is inspiring to me to as an actor who is always pushing
myself to do better. To defy is to be a risk-taker and authentic which
are two things Calvin Klein represents, working with the brand on this new
fragrance has been a thrilling experience that I’m excited to be a part of. Calvin Klein Defy EDP
is launching in Malaysia on 8th August 2022. |
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Tuesday 26 July 2022 There’s another Defy-related Q & A, from
Vogue Poland: Richard Madden:
Authenticity, rebellion, self-confidence CATHERINE STRASZEWICZ Quality, cut, simplicity – Richard Madden from "Game of
Thrones" describes his style. The actor has just become the face of the
Calvin Klein Defy fragrance. He told us about his experiences from the film
set. What is
your first memory of Scotland? Climbing Glen Coe with my father. A beautiful
summer day, around a living soul, only us, nature and mountains. I felt
great. What is
definitely worth seeing in Scotland? Scotland has many hidden treasures. The whole
west and north-west coast, all the highlands and islands are beautiful. And especially
the small, idyllic village of Kames, which I visited several times, and the
island of Arran. (Photo. Press Releases) You are a
stage, film and television actor. In what field do you find yourself best? Each form of acting requires different skills, I
like to switch between them. I started by playing in a youth theater, and at the age of 11 I played my first role in a
film. In front of the camera, I like the focus that I can put into one scene,
recording it for a day. On stage, I only have the same moment. I like to
polish the role all day, look at facial expressions under a microscope, catch subtleties. All the disciplines of acting that I
practice complement and mutually reinforce each other. Thanks to this
diversity, I hope to become a better and better actor. Do you
attach great importance to awards? I don't think about it while working. But when I
get noticed by a body, it means that more people will learn about what I've
been working. This makes it worth putting effort into the work. If you do
your best and no one sees it, it makes no sense. How do you
feel as an ambassador for Defy fragrance? Calvin Klein Defy's
campaign showcases a series of reflective moments that culminate in a
courageous act of faith, rebellion and risk-taking courage. The fragrance is
based on the idea of challenging oneself and overcoming internal or external
obstacles. It's inspiring for me as an actor who is trying to get better and
better. Resisting is taking risks and staying authentic, two things Calvin
Klein represents. Working with the brand on a new fragrance was an exciting
experience for me. Acting
skills proved useful? The film experience helped me. When the camera is
working, I look at myself in it like in a mirror. I can experiment with the
emotions I'm going to show. When shooting the advertisement, we were not
attached to a specific story, we created it on an ongoing basis. The film was
made surrounded by nature – the lake became my mirror. Then we found
ourselves in the very center of the city, where I
had to run on the roofs of skyscrapers. It was a really exciting production –
a miniature film. Which
event from the set stuck in your memory? From the London roof I was looking at the river,
the sun was setting, everything was full of emotions. I felt the essence of
the message of independence and self-confidence. How would
you describe your style? Very, very simple. I like good tailoring, quality
and cut. When you find something you feel great at, that gives you confidence,
you should wear it. I buy my favorite T-shirts and
pants immediately in several shades. For this more modern bomber and that's
it. And how do
you relax? Surrounded by nature, e.g. walking in the
mountains. I spend a lot of time in the studio, without windows, in
artificial light, so I use every opportunity to get closer to nature.
Besides, I love to cook. I treat it as a kind of meditation. When I follow a
recipe, I try not to think about anything else. Pictures and article in Vogue, Poland: Richard Madden: Autentyzm, bunt, pewność siebie
(vogue.pl) |
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Monday 11 July 2022 Q Australia published an article today: Richard Madden is ready for his next moment - GQ Richard
Madden is ready for
his next moment CHARLIE CALVER 11 JULY 2022 We speak with the Game of Thrones star
about his next big series, his style hacks and his new fragrance with Calvin
Klein.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
GETTY IMAGES Richard Madden has
come a long way since he stole everyone’s hearts as the beloved King in the
North, Robb Stark, in Game of Thrones. He’s played our favourite security agent
in Bodyguard, had roles
in hits like Rocketman and 1917, and broken bad in Chloé Zhao’s Eternals. But for many, Madden is still first and
foremost a Stark. That is likely to
change though with the release of Citadel,
which has just wrapped filming, in the near future. From the Russo Brothers,
the minds behind MCU
blockbusters like Avengers: End Game and Captain America: Winter Soldier, Citadel looks like it could be
the next big thing in TV—despite the fact that we know very little about it. What we do know though,
is that Madden has a key role in the series, along with stars like Priyanka Chopra and Stanley Tucci.
There’s also a good chance Madden finally breaks away from the role that made
him a star. The power to defy
expectations is also something that Madden believes in closely, which he has
expressed with his new fragrance campaign with Calvin Klein. To find out more
about what Madden is doing now, his next chapter with Citadel and what ‘Defy’ means
to him, we gave him a call. Read on.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
GETTY IMAGES GQ: You're in Scotland
at the moment? Richard Madden: I am
in Scotland at the moment, yeah. I’ve just come back to see my family. Lovely. Nice and warm,
hopefully? It's raining and
miserable. Sounds like Sydney,
which is not what you normally hear. Richard, how would you describe your
personal style? It's very, very
simple. I think that my key is I try to keep things very simple and I buy
multiple of the same T-shirt in slightly different shades of blue or black or
grey. I think it all comes down to finding your fit, and good tailoring. I try
to keep things simple, and then throw on a nice bomber jacket or something to
make it a little more interesting. I’ve got a uniform and I wear it. Take after Steve Jobs. Exactly. What is the one piece
that you absolutely rely on? Your favourite piece of clothing? My favourite piece of
clothing is actually a tracksuit that I got from a shoot I did with GQ many
years ago in Los Angeles. It's a Stella McCartney tracksuit, which is blue
with mustard stripes. It's just beautiful, and I’ve lived in it for a number
of years. We love a loungewear
piece for a go-to. You don't normally hear that, but Stella McCartney
definitely works. What drew you to work with Calvin Klein for Defy and
beyond? I met these guys in
New York a number of years ago because we knew we wanted to work together but
we didn't know on what exactly. This fragrance came up and I loved developing
it with them and developing this concept of Defy—standing up for yourself,
defying your own boundaries and your own limitations, which is something I
have a lot as an actor. You have a lot of “I
don't know if I'm good enough to do this,” “I don't know if I'm talented
enough,” or “[I don’t know] if I have the stamina to get through it,” and
this scent embodies all of those things that I think should be encouraged in
everyone.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
CALVIN KLEIN When you're not
working on a shoot—we know you just came back from wrapping Citadel—what’s
your favourite way to spend your time when you've got some time off? Very boringly, it’s
hiking. I love to be out in nature and I think given the nature of my
job—which is being in a windowless black box at the studio most of my days—if
I'm not doing that I like to do the opposite, which is be at the top of a
mountain or up in a forest. That's what I like to do if I get the chance
because I'm so often surrounded by concrete, metal, glass and sets. In terms of Citadel,
it sounds super exciting but we don't know very much. What can we expect? I don’t know what I’m
allowed to tell you—probably very little. But it's a really exciting world
we’ve created. There are multiple characters and multiple storylines that all
intertwine, and I personally play a character who is an amnesiac—eight years
of his life, he’s basically become a new person. There's a journey of
discovering who he was before the accident happened, and he no longer
remembers anything. It's a clash between the life that he's been living for
eight years, and the life that he used to live. You get to delve into
exploring the psyche of dealing with the consequences of things that you're
not aware that you've done. Calvin Klein Defy is
available now. And just in case you are wondering about Richard’s
favourite loungewear: Link to the interview: GQ
Taron Egerton, Richard
Madden and Jamie Bell on Elton John's Iconic Style
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There’s a new campaign
for Defy … this time for the EDP version: TRANSLATION OF
QUEM ARTICLE (BRAZIL) – JULY 2022 Many of the memories
of our life have to do with the feeling that things bring us. Whether it's
the taste of food that takes you straight into the past or a smell that
connects you to someone -- or who you've been to. Richard Madden, the Robb
Stark of Game of Thrones and the Ikaris of
Eternals, chatted with Who and said that many of the good memories of his
life have to do with smell. On the phone, we asked what smell brings the best
memory and he said that it would be the burning wood, which transports him to
the family past. "The smell of fire burning in wood always takes me back
to my childhood at home. When I was younger, we always had fire lit
throughout the winter and whenever I smell burning wood, it takes me straight
to when I was a kid, at home," he says. Calvin Klein perfume
poster boy Defy, the 36-year-old actor says he always tries to associate his
characters with smells, even if they're not always good: "I find it
useful, too, to have different fragrances for each character."
"More than a character reminding me of a smell, I like to play with
fragrances when I'm playing it. I usually try to find an aroma or a fragrance
that matches what I think would be the smell of that character and there are
countless colonies that I have used over the years that I associate with
characters. Like John Reid in Rocketman; I did the
bad guy for Elton John, so I made sure to give him a half-old odour, powerful
and not so cool, something that would repel people, like he did," he
reveals. Between smells and roles, Madden gained the spotlight by giving Life
to Robb Stark in Game of Thrones. The character, from the Northern Stark
clan, gained great notoriety in the series over the first few seasons and
especially in the episode The Red Wedding, one of the most emblematic of the
series. The Briton began his career at the age of 11, when he entered the theater to lose his shyness, and accumulates successful
roles such as Prince Charming in the live-action version of Cinderella, and
David Budd in the series Bodyguard, which earned him a Golden Globe Award for
Best Actor in a Drama Series. Away from the big screens since 2021, when he
played the superhero Ikaris in Eternals, the actor
is one of the most tipped to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond, who is
saying goodbye to the legendary character. Being a
public person and, to a large extent, an icon of beauty of television and
cinema, he assumes that he has a routine of beauty rule, but simple:
"always clean the face, hydrate and use SPF every day". The
sunscreen, of course, was especially useful when Richard came to Rio de Janeiro
in 2012, alongside Kit Harington, to promote the second season of Game of
Thrones. The star, who was born in Elderslie, a
village in the central-west of Scotland, UK, said he would love to return to
the country and compared the natural beauty of Rio to the beauty of his
homeland. "I have fun memories of the last time I was there. I arrived
at night and I go straight to the hotel and remember going to the room and
opening the curtains, just when the sun was rising on the beach and thinking
'this is beautiful like Scotland, but with sunshine, which made it kind of
like a paradise for me. I remember the warmth and beauty of Brazil." |
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January 2022: This article is from Peacock, an Indian magazine,
published back in January:
And again … solely in text format: AT THE AGE OF 11,
RICHARD MADDEN WAS ALREADY ON A PATHWAY OF BECOMING SUCCESSFUL AND BEING IN
THE LIMELIGHT FOR HIS IMPECCABLE ACTING SKILLS. THE ACTOR THEN WENT ON TO
PLAY A HOST OF REMARKABLE ROLES THAT ARE VIVIDLY ETCHED IN THE AUDIENCES’
MEMORY. MADDEN HAS BEEN RECENTLY APPOINTED AS THE FACE OF THE FRESHLY
LAUNCHED CALVIN KLEIN DEFY — A NEW MEN’S FRAGRANCE BY CALVIN KLEIN. THE
CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES A SERIES OF VULNERABLE, SELF-REFLECTING AND DEFYING
MOMENTS THAT CULMINATE INTO A COURAGEOUS LEAP OF FAITH, A SYMBOLIC METAPHOR
FOR PERSONAL DEFIANCE AND THE DARING TO TAKE RISKS. HE SPEAKS TO THE PEACOCK
MAGAZINE ABOUT THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH CALVIN KLEIN AND HIS LIFE AS AN
ACTOR. [Q] YOU’VE BEEN ACTING
SINCE THE AGE OF 11, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROS AND CONS OF STARTING YOUR
CAREER AT THAT AGE? [Q] HOW HAS YOUR ACTING
APPROACH CHANGED OVER ALL THESE YEARS? [Q] HOW DO YOU DECIDE ON
WHAT FILMS/ROLES YOU TAKE ON? DO YOU ONLY CONSIDER THE CHARACTER YOU ARE
PLAYING, OR DO YOU CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT? [Q] DO YOU THINK YOU’RE
IN THE BEST PHASE IN YOUR CAREER RIGHT NOW? [Q] WHAT ARE YOUR LIFE
GOALS? [Q] WHAT DO YOU LIKE
ABOUT THE CALVIN KLEIN DEFY FRAGRANCE? ARE THERE ANY NOTES THAT ARE YOUR
FAVOURITE? |
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Monday 29 November 2021
Another
lovely interview, this time for Tatler Malaysia: Marvel
Eternals' Richard Madden on Being the Face of Calvin Klein Defy - YouTube |
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Wednesday 01 September 2021 There has been another special treat today, with
Calvin Klein posting a behind-the-scenes video from its Defy campaign which
Richard shot in Autumn 2019: Calvin
Klein (@calvinklein) • Instagram photos and videos Hopefully this will also make an appearance on
Calvin Klein’s YouTube account in due course! And, we also have an interview (translated from
Portuguese) which appeared in the Brazilian version of Harpers
Bazaar! FOR RICHARD MADDEN,
"ETERNALS" BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS HANGING BY STEEL CABLES Actor talked to Bazaar about career, future projects and how it was to
star in the campaign of the new fragrance Calvin Klein Defy, which arrives
this month in Brazil ANDRE ALOI 30/08/2021
In London, it was a Sunday of recordings of
"Citadel" (Amazon's new series) when, in the
interval, Richard Madden exchanged words with Bazaar to
talk about future projects, career, memories of Brazil and, also, how it was
to star in the campaign of the Calvin Klein Defy fragrance. First
perfume in almost 10 years of the label, the
launch arrives in Brazilian stores on Monday (30.08). Around so many
projects, film or TV, the actor will be in the long-awaited film
"Eternals", marvel, with a casting beyond starry. The film premieres in November and takes place
after the events of "Avengers: Ultimatum". Again, the group
promises to protect humanity from the forces of evil. For the Scottish actor,
the biggest challenge when playing a superhero is one: "I get stuck by
too many cables, hanging from the ceiling of the studio, and it physically
depletes just because you have to pretend you're not hanging by these wires
or pretend you're flying (laughs)." From your repertoire, you can't
complain. He was in the cult "Game of Thrones", appeared in the TV
series "Medici: Masters of Florence" and in the movie
"Bodyguard", and had lived the businessman John Reid in
the biopic "Rocketman", about Elton John. The actor's calendar continues to be stuffed in
this 2021, with the adaptation to the small lines of the sci-fi podcast From Now, co-host alongside Brian Cox, in addition to the project of the Russo brothers (Anthony and Joe, directors of
Avengers: Ultimatum), to be released on Amazon soon, by which is with
the booked schedule until the end of the year.
Below, read the full story.
How
did CK Defy perfume resonate at you? We try to go beyond "just" launching a
fragrance. We were able to bring together this concept of challenging our own
limits, the limitations imposed by ourselves. At the same time, being brave
and bold. I've always tried to do that in my career and in my life. I worked
harder than I could have imagined to reach other levels. What
smell sit back to your childhood? That one, right after the heavy rain, always
makes me think about when I was younger. It was raining a lot in Scotland and
it's going to rain again. Calvin
Klein Defy has a wooded tone with notes of bergamot, lavender and vetiver. On which occasion is it best
to use the fragrance? We have wood, amber and a very nice citrus mix. If
you use it in the morning, you'll be fresh for the rest of the day. If you
are going to wear it at night, you will understand the beauty, the warmth,
feel attractive, and a freshness. Can
you tell me what was the most challenging thing about
recording "Eternals"? Is wearing that tight outfit or acting
in front of chromakey (green
screen)? One of the most challenging things is the fact
that my character can fly. I get stuck by too many wires hanging from the
ceiling of the studio and this can physically exhaust just because you have
to pretend you're not hanging by those wires or pretend you're flying
(laughs).
His
character in the Marvel film, Ikaris, has the power
to project lightning and owns a overhuman
force. If you were a superhero, what power would you like to have?
Can
you tell me more about this project? Honestly, there's not much to tell. It's unlike
anything I've ever seen or been a part of, because we're building a huge
world and it has the best elements – both action and suspense films. But it
also involves terror, complexity and drama around the characters. TV movies
are usually one thing or the other. This is the first time I have
participated or seen a series – at the same time so great, fun and also
interesting from a dramatic point of view. When
a day off, what's the script? I love cooking and eating. I really do! You
hosted the sci-fi podcast From Now with Brian
Cox. Are you a regular consumer of this platform? What do you like to hear? I don't have as much time as I'd like to listen
to podcasts as much as I can, and my preparation still comes a lot from
television series. It's a world to be explored, so it's been nice to be a
part of (this universe). You used to listen to a lot of radio when I was
younger, like the BBC and the like. It's great to be able to go back to the
radio age, I'm passionate about this world, and I only have the voice as a
platform. So summarizing the performance of the screen with just my voice is
the big challenge. And I like it! What
is the best memory in Brazil? (He came in 2012 to disclose GoT) I loved the climate, the green (vegetation). It's
vibrant! People are beautiful and friendly. So life should be... I want to go
back!
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Sunday 01 August 2021 Richard Madden Defies the Odds for Calvin Klein's New Fragrance Scottish star Richard
Madden speaks to L'OFFICIEL about fronting Calvin Klein Defy
with a campaign that shows off the actor's daring attitude. 01/08/21
by Sophie Shaw There were
a lot of odds to beat this past year, and Calvin Klein’s new men’s fragrance
is dedicated to those resilient moments. The American brand’s first men’s
fragrance in nearly 10 years, Calvin Klein Defy channels the spirit
of risk-taking and confidence in oneself. Tapping award-winning actor Richard
Madden as the face of the fragrance, the campaign speaks to the
boundary-breaking ethos of the scent. “We came
up with this concept of defying your own boundaries and self-doubt and
limitations, which is something I've engaged with throughout my career and
I'm sure will continue to,” Madden tells L’OFFICIEL. “As an
actor, you can go for five job interviews a week and not get any of them, so
you can have a lot of self-doubt creep in. The whole concept behind this campaign
is this idea of overcoming that self-doubt, of pushing past that, exceeding
your own limitations.” In
Madden’s career, the Scottish star’s big break came when he was cast as Robb
Stark in Game of Thrones. Since then, he’s been one of film
and TV’s favorite leading men in international
series like Medici and Bodyguard, as well
as critically-acclaimed blockbusters such as the 2019 Elton John biopic Rocketman, in which he plays music manager John
Reid, and the war drama 1917. Perhaps the
role that will speak to defying the odds the best, however, is in Madden’s
upcoming superhero flick, Eternals. Directed
by Oscar-winning (and history-making) Chloé
Zhao, Madden will be indoctrinated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ikaris, the leader of the immortal, cosmic
energy-wielding Eternals, alongside an A-list cast featuring Angelina
Jolie, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani, and fellow GoT alumnus Kit
Harington. The film, releasing in early November 2021, takes place after the
events of Avengers: Endgame and will follow the superheroes
as they protect humanity from the evil Deviants. While we can expect to see plenty of
gravity-defying movie magic in Eternals, Madden also got to
exercise his stunt skills in the new Calvin Klein campaign. “I got to be on a
rooftop in central London, I got to hang off a crane upside-down over a
lake,” Madden shares. “These are all unique perspectives that you wouldn’t
normally be able to get.”
Behind-the-scenes of
Madden's Calvin Klein Defy campaign. As the
actor explains, these daring shots connect back to the fragrance’s main
message—there’s no obstacle too great to overcome. “There’s
the visual metaphors of climbing to the top of something, taking the leap, or
looking at yourself in the mirror and having a smile, not taking yourself too
seriously,” he says. “I like that moment at the start of the commercial where
the character does that. He has that dialogue in the mirror, he wakes up with
this feeling and then can push it away and shrug it off and push forward.” In his
real life, Madden also finds that like other areas of one’s wardrobe, scent
can affect your mood. “It’s about feeling good, the kind of feeling you can
get if you use a bit of aftershave and you feel good about yourself,” he
explains. “It can be a little confidence booster. I always enjoy that, like a
treat to yourself.” As for
Calvin Klein Defy, its star ingredient of vetiver
oil conveys a delicious earthiness that speaks to a modern sense of
masculinity. Complemented by bright opening notes of bergamot and lavender
absolute and settling into a base of amber notes, the fragrance is strong and
unexpected, living up to its namesake. “I love
the undertones of the vetiver oil and the amber, so
it's got this beautiful woodiness without being too heavy and this kind of
lightness with the citrus on top,” Madden says. For the actor, it’s the
perfect daily option. “I can wear in the morning and feel fresh or wear in the
evening and feel kind of warm.” And while
the fragrance is marketed for men, Madden suggests that it is just as
alluring for women. “I don’t feel like there’s this binary [for
fragrance] anymore,” he says. “I’ve already got friends of mine who are
girls that love wearing the scent. It’s about one’s sense of enjoyment and
how it makes you feel.” Just like the scent’s name, “There are no rules when
it comes to it.” |
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Friday 30 July 2021 There’s another CK Defy-related interview, this
time with Allure: Richard Madden Reveals His Skin-Care, Grooming, and
Fragrance Routines — Interview | Allure No Wonder Richard Madden
Is So Handsome: He's Got a Killer
Skin-Care Routine As Madden tells us,
he'll do anything to prevent more time in a makeup chair or inconsistencies
on camera. BY NICOLA
DALL'ASEN It's hard enough just
looking at pictures of Richard Madden — those ocean-blue eyes,
the square jaw coated in reddish stubble, the perfectly coiffed hair with a
dignified streak of silver — but having a conversation with him is so, so much
worse. On speakerphone, his thick, unmistakeably Scottish accent warms the
entire room, and I'm transported to an old library with a glass of top-shelf
whisky and a hand-knitted wool blanket. Thank heavens I'm
sitting because my knees damn near give out when we start talking about what the
actor prefers to smell like, which varies by season and location. "I
love deeper, woodier smells in the winter. When I'm in Scotland —
when I can be — there's often that after-rain smell, that kind of grassy
smell," he says. Meanwhile, summertime is reserved
for "fresher and lighter" scents; the same goes for any time
he's in Los Angeles, which is pretty frequently these days. "When I'm in
Los Angeles, it's much more of that warm, ocean smell that I love." It's fitting, then,
that Madden has just become the face of Calvin Klein Defy, a new fragrance
equal parts warm, fresh, and floral with notes of bergamot, lavender, vetiver, and amber. "It's got this freshness to it
that's not too sharp… kind of a gentle, uplifting element," he explains.
"It's got these beautiful woody notes that I feel suit me. They're a
little heavier, and it means that I can wear it in the evening and it's not
too overpowering." In other words:
Richard Madden smells just as good he looks. No surprises there — but the
rest of his skin-care and grooming routines do house a couple of staples any
beauty editor would be impressed to hear. "Just use a good face wash and
moisturize, get your sunscreen on, and put on fragrance in the morning,"
he explains. "In the evening before you go out, you get another couple
of scooches of your aftershave, and before bed just
wash your face." Madden just does
whatever makes him feel good, really (at least that's how he puts it). He
name drops Tom Ford and U.K.-based brand Medik8 as his favorite
places to go for grooming and skin-care products (a couple of standouts from
their ranges are Medik8's Surface Radiance Cleanse and Tom
Ford's Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer). Here's where the really impressive
part comes in: When asked which of his products or tools is the most
important, he doesn't even need to think about it. "I'm a big advocate
for making sure everyone wears sunscreen every day," he says. (To a
beauty editor, this is just about the dreamiest thing a person could ever
say.) I'm assuming Madden
uses Medik8's Physical Sunscreen SPF 50+, but if I had to personally
select one for him, I'd place a tube of EltaMD
UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47 right in his undoubtedly large and
pristinely manicured hands. For him, the purpose of daily sunscreen is mostly
to keep his skin camera-ready. "Often if I'm filming outside, I'm going
to get sunburned," he laments. While that might be
the most important benefit for him, he's getting the added bonuses of
preventing fine lines and protecting himself against skin cancer — so
everyone should follow his lead on this with the dermatologist-recommended
SPF 30 or higher. Sunburns aside, any
kind of skin irritation or blemish will keep Madden in that makeup chair much
longer than he wants to be, and that's the primary reason he's such a
stickler for his routine in the first place. His job as an actor dictates all
of his grooming sensibilities — that even goes for his hair and that beloved
silver streak of his. "I'm 35 years
old; I've been going gray since I was
21," he recalls. Just about every role he plays requires removing those grays in some way or another, whether that be with dye or
a wig, which is all right by him because "[the streak] can be
distracting if it's not right for a character." Thankfully, you'll
never find Madden pondering whether or not to rid his hair of grays when he's off-duty. "My vanity doesn't really
extend to the grayness of my hair," he says.
"Every time I've been in a role for six or eight months, I get to see
where my own hair is at, at the end of it. Usually, I get a little surprise
of a few extra grays. That's only going to
continue, but I don't mind." If you asked any of
his adoring fans, they'd say they certainly don't mind, either — it's another
part of his charm and near-universal appeal. And now, fans can add an
editor-approved skin-care and fragrance regiment to the ever-expanding list
of reasons to love Richard Madden (because clearly there weren't enough
already). |
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Fashion | 20 July 2021 DEFYING BOUNDARIES Talking
Calvin Klein, self-confidence and reality TV binges with Marvel star Richard
Madden
Calvin
Klein have started the latest chapter in their fragrance portfolio with the
brand’s newest scent, Clavin Klein Defy, unveiled
earlier this month via a new campaign starring Richard Madden. The
Scottish-born actor has captivated audiences over recent years with his roles
in Game of Thrones and Bodyguard, and now joins
the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal and Kate Moss as
recent CK campaign stars. As
the brand’s first major men’s scent in almost a decade, Madden’s casting
feels symbolic, a face we’ll doubtlessly be seeing a lot more of over the
next ten years. Performing has always been a means through which the actor
was able to overcome his own boundaries, and his journey from early
self-confidence struggles to one of the most coveted actors working today
embodies the fragrance’s own call for defiance. With
a number of hugely exciting projects in tow, none more so than his role as Ikaris in Marvel’s forthcoming new epic Eternals,
Madden is preparing to ascend new realms of international recognition. Such
landmark moments bring new challenges and opportunities for self-doubt,
things Madden has learned to embrace as evidence of his success. Below the
actor recalls some of his earliest memories of Calvin Klein’s Fragrances
along with a secret lockdown binge and his criteria for feeling confident in
front of the camera. Finn
Blythe: During lockdown when all TV, theatre and film production was at a
standstill, what did you miss most about your job? “The scent and the feeling behind it is to
do with bravery and kindness and compassion and empathy…” FB:
What are your earliest memories of Calvin Klein fragrances? FB:
If you had to sum up Defy in three words what would they be? FB:
How did the Defy campaign resonate with you personally?
“You feel like you’ve achieved something
when you look at the page and it comes to life…” FB:
What obstacles does acting help you overcome? FB:
What makes you feel most confident in a job? Is it a connection to the script
or conversations with the director? FB:
Can you tell me about any books, films or plays you’ve read or seen in the
last eighteen months you’d recommend? FB:
Any recommendations? Calvin
Klein Defy is available now nationwide at Boots. |
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Friday 16 July 2021 Richard Madden: ‘Eternals
is more than just another superhero movie’ Richard Madden has powered through lockdown with
a raft of new film, TV and podcasting projects, with a lead role in Chloé Zhao’s Marvel movie, Eternals, front and centre.
It’s a superhero film like nothing you’ve seen before, says Madden … By Thomas
Barrie Richard
Madden isn’t in the habit of sitting around doing nothing. Earlier this year,
Madden found himself quarantining in an LA hotel room ahead of reshoots for
his upcoming Marvel vehicle Eternals. Naturally, it was boring.
Some actors would have sat around living off room service for ten days and
bingeing TV; others might have ignored the quarantine rules entirely only to
find themselves shamed on the front pages of gossip sites and industry
magazines. But not Madden. “I kind of have a guilt if I’ve got time to be
doing something and I’m not,” explains Madden. Rather
than sitting around doing nothing, he had recording equipment sent to his
room and began putting in eight-hour shifts recording a sci-fi podcast series
called From Now, playing the only survivor of a lost space
mission that returns, unexpectedly, to earth 35 years after it left. His
fellow Scot Brian Cox, recently of Succession fame but also an eminent actor in his own
right, voiced Madden’s brother in the series; Cox laid down his parts from
New York and the two occasionally worked together over FaceTime.
“Sometimes we had to stop because the cleaners were vacuuming in the hall,”
Madden recalls, “and there’s no vacuuming in space.” It’s
typical dedication from an actor who, since his breakout as the doomed rebel
king Robb Stark in HBO’s Game Of Thrones back in 2011, has
racked up TV and film credits with gusto. There was, of course, Bodyguard,
Jed Mercurio’s 2018 thriller about a personal
protection officer trying to preserve the life of a controversial government
minister – later, his lover – played by Keeley Hawes (“I’m just riding the
wave,” Madden told GQ at the
time, coolly shrugging off his Golden Globe win for the show and the 17
million Brits who tuned into its finale). Then, in 2019, there was Sam
Mendes’ triple-Oscar-winning 1917, in which Madden played the
older brother and fellow First World War soldier of lead Dean-Charles
Chapman. And the same year Madden took on the role of John Reid, the
ambitious, cruel and utterly chic manager to Taron Egerton’s Elton John in the acclaimed Rocketman. Madden’s
efforts in the hotel room have paid off: From Now is
currently being developed into a TV series for Amazon, which he is
co-producing, but it’s just one of a number of projects he has coming up.
He’s finished those Eternals reshoots and is anticipating
the film’s release this November (but more on that later) and has even
launched a perfume, Defy, with Calvin Klein this month. (“Luckily, I like the
smell of it, so that’s good! That makes my life easier.”) It’s an apt
partnership given Madden likes to wear different aftershaves while playing
different characters, the idea being that particularly reactive scene
partners – like Cox, perhaps, were he not 2,500 miles away for the recording
of From Now – can pick up on more subtle facets of the
characters Madden plays. “I
imagine John Reid to be kind of over-perfumed, [with] really heavy notes,”
says Madden, “and Robb Stark would be more like an earthy, grounded smell. I
think he’d probably just smell like sweat and mud…” And ale, maybe? “Ale!
That might be surprisingly popular. They’re probably developing that as we
speak. That’ll be the next thing.” The
would-be smell of his character in Eternals is among the
many aspects of Madden’s upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe debut that he
can’t reveal, and perhaps that’s for the best, but certain details have
emerged about the film that he can acknowledge. Madden plays Ikaris, a millennia-old “Eternal”, an alien superhero
with the powers of flight, super strength, heat vision and teleportation,
among other talents, who was created in the distant past by an ancient race
known as the Celestials. Opposite Ikaris at the
heart of the film is Gemma Chan’s Sersi, a fellow
Eternal with whom he has what Madden describes as “a through-the-ages love
story”. Along with a handful of other Eternals, Sersi
and Ikaris team up to defend the world from
Deviants, essentially their own evil counterparts who were also created by
the Celestials. Since
it was announced in April 2018, Eternals has been one of
Marvel’s most voraciously anticipated films among fans, not least because of
the fact that it’s both written and directed by Chloé
Zhao, last year’s double Oscar winner for Nomadland.
Zhao’s film, the logic goes, could be another bold entry into the MCU, like Taika Waititi’s neon-infused
acid trip Thor: Ragnarok, and together
the two might represent a new era for superhero films where studio
executives, usually too nervous about the bottom line to allow directors
total creative control over their films, are a little more relaxed about
taking creative risks on their billion-dollar-plus projects. ETERNALS HAS BEEN ONE OF MARVEL’S MOST VORACIOUSLY ANTICIPATED FILMS
AMONG FANS Shooting
on the film wrapped in January 2021 but, as Madden mentions, reshoots and
additional dialogue sessions have been ongoing, leading to all sorts of
dilemmas (“Do I still fit into that skintight
superhero outfit after lockdown?”). On the one hand, Madden has put in the
hours doing the usual MCU stuff: fighting what he calls “a duvet on a huge
rubber ball” and confronting cardboard cut-outs of monsters held aloft by
crew members on set as though they were deadly enemies, and presumably
Deviants. “Or lots of laser eyes, like that” – he squints dramatically – “cos I’ve got laser eyes.” But, he insists, the fact that
the core central cast of Eternals is made up of ancient
beings who have seen, done and experienced everything under the sun in their
aeon-spanning lifetimes has elevated Zhao’s film “above just another
superhero movie. It’s about, ‘OK, so how do they interact with the world now,
when they’ve done everything?’” he continues. “What are these people like?
And what do they value and care about? What doesn’t affect them?” The
world has seen superhero films done straight, Madden says, and is now ready
for something fresh. He points to the popularity of Amazon Prime’s The
Boys, the ultra-dark series in which genetically enhanced, sometimes
immortal “superheroes” are shown to be deeply flawed, narcissistic people
behind their carefully managed public personas. “We’ve done that classic
thing,” says Madden, so it’s now about how do we make it more interesting?
I’m hoping we have done that with Eternals. The Marvel Universe
keeps changing and elevating and growing and I really think we’re doing
something that they’ve not done yet.” Eternals is
out on 5 November. Richard
Madden is the global ambassador of new Calvin Klein fragrance Calvin Klein
Defy. Calvin Klein Defy is available at boots.com now. You will
probably have noticed that there is also an accompanying video … I’ve missed
Richard’s unique laugh so much: |
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Thursday 15 July 2021 Richard
posted on IG to let everyone know that he will be appearing in the next issue
of Wonderland magazine, published in October: |
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Friday 02 July 2021 The Calvin Klein advert is also available to view
on Youtube: Richard
Madden for Calvin Klein Defy | Introducing The New Fragrance for Men -
YouTube The Daily Record appears to have picked up my
comment on Richard’s post … highlighted in pink further down!!! Richard Madden's Calvin Klein aftershave
ad leaves fans hot under the collar The Bodyguard star
shared the new campaign on his Instagram page. Richard Madden's Calvin Klein aftershave ad leaves fans hot
under the collar - Daily Record
Richard Madden has left fans
hot under the collar as he revealed he is the face of new Calvin Klein
aftershave Defy. The Bodyguard
actor took to his Instagram page today to share the
ad campaign he has been working on. In the 30 second clip,
the Scots star can be seen lying in bed wearing a vest, and it cuts to the
star wearing a double denim. Speaking over the
video, Madden says: "Courage starts with a risk. Break free from
expectations and Defy boundaries and anything in your way, dare to Defy.
Calvin Klein The new men's fragrance." And fans were going
wild for the clip.
He shared the campaign on Instagram (Image: Instagram) One wrote:
"Oh wow ... I've got palpitations now! It's been a very long wait for
the Calvin Klein campaign, but it's certainly been worth it. 2021 just gets
better and better!" Another added:
"Daring to defy in double denim - exciting. Hope it proves to be a great
campaign for you!" While one commented:
"I have a crush on this man." One said: "ur voice is the hottest thing ever."
Fans swooned over his latest post. (Image: Instagram) And one wrote:
"You sir, are on fire!!!" Last month, it was
revealed that the Scots actor had teamed up with Angelina Jolie for a new
Marvel superhero film. Marvel’s Eternals is
about a group of immortal super-beings who have watched over Earth for
millennia. Madden, from
Renfrewshire, is set to play hero Ikaris, who has
super human strength and shoots cosmic energy bursts from his eyes. The 34-year-old’s
co-stars include Kumail Nanjiani,
Salma Hayek, Kit Harington as well as Jolie, who will play Thena.
Richard Madden and Angelina Jolie
amongst cast of Marvel's Eternals (Image: Marvel) ·
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Richard Madden to star alongside Angelina Jolie in Marvel's
Eternals movie The movie follows on
from the events of Avengers: Endgame and sees the Eternals rise up to reunite
against mankind’s ancient enemy, The Deviants. |
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Thursday 01 July 2021 There’s
further news regarding the Calvin Klein campaign,
a video, and lovely photos too:
Here is a link to the Calvin Klein advert, posted
by Richard on his IG account: Richard
Madden (@maddenrichard) • Instagram photos and
videos Or to view via a fan account on twitter: https://twitter.com/i/status/1410569922569244678 Richard Madden's next role is a goody – here's
the inside track Former GQ
cover star Richard Madden has been announced as the new face of Calvin Klein
fragrances, a position that will render him even more airtime on our TV
screens. By Zak
Maoui A few months ago it was revealed that Game Of Thrones alum Richard
Madden would be joining Marvel's ever-expanding universe. Starring
alongside Angelina Jolie, he is set play the role of Ikaris
in the hotly anticipated Eternals. Not content with only taking
the MCU by storm, the soon-to-be superhero has just added another string to
his bow by way of his first ever fragrance campaign. Calvin Klein has tapped
Madden for the launch of its new scent, Defy. The first images from the
campaign see the Bodyguard actor dressed in the all-American
brand's signature denim shirt and blue jeans, doused (we assume) in the new
fragrance. Meanwhile, the film, which sees Madden move around as if on set of
his upcoming Marvel flick, will be blasted into homes around the world. Defy is Calvin Klein's first major masculine scent in almost ten
years, 2012's Encounter being the last. Sure to be an instant hit, as most CK
fragrances tend to be (we're looking at you, The One, Obsession, In2U), the
CK-branded flacon contains an invigorating citrus juice that is bolstered by
fresh and spicy bergamot and empowering lavender absolute. Vetiver oil, which has been responsibly sourced from
Haiti, provides a rugged earthiness you'd expect Madden to smell like. On the partnership, Madden,
who joins Jake Gyllenhaal and Kate Moss as
CK-approved campaign stars, told GQ exclusively: “I’ve
always been a fan of Calvin Klein and having the opportunity to partner with
the brand on the launch of their new fragrance, Calvin Klein Defy, has been
an exciting adventure.” Calvin Klein Defy is available from 15 July at Boots. Richard Madden's next role is a goody – here's the inside
track | British GQ (gq-magazine.co.uk) |
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Thursday 01 July 2021 Today, Calvin Klein launched their campaign for a
men’s new fragrance, which has been named Defy, and features Richard!! What can I say … except he’s so beautiful … and
maybe that is why Richard has been very quiet on social media during June, ahead
of this product launch, in order to maximise its impact? For it seemed totally out of character for
Richard not to publically thank everyone for the birthday wishes he
received. And I’m very much looking forward to seeing the
TV ad which he filmed back in October 2019, at Virginia Water and at London’s
Southbank Centre too! I was in the Trafalgar Square area of London on
the day they filmed the latter … and I always regret not crossing the Thames,
to visit the loo at Waterloo station, on that day ... having used those
facilities on a number of occasions … otherwise I might have seen them
filming!
Calvin
Klein Unveils Defy, Its First Stand-alone Men’s Scent in a Decade LONDON — Calvin Klein is launching its first
stand-alone men’s fragrance in nearly 10 years, and it’s suited to these
topsy-turvy times. Called Defy, it is aimed at Millennial males,
many of whom are feeling introspective, vulnerable and fearful of failure,
especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the project was in development well
before COVID-19 hit, the Coty Inc. team behind Calvin
Klein Fragrances was already getting signals from its research that
Millennial men were grappling with more complex emotional and psychological
issues than older — and younger — generations. Now, as these Millennial men return to work and
to their social lives, Coty is hoping to have a hit on its hands. The beauty giant said it is looking to
generate $78 million in first-year retail sales, with the fragrance expected
to reach the top 15 ranking worldwide. “It’s being geared up as a new icon within
the Calvin Klein portfolio,” and will be a new fragrance pillar,
said Joanne Bletz, global senior vice
president of Calvin Klein Fragrances, in an interview. Coty has tapped the 34-year-old Richard Madden,
the Scottish actor and Golden Globe winner, as the face of the campaign,
which has been shot by the director and photographer Jonas Lindstroem. Calvin Klein Fragrances worked with The Style
Council creative agency, while the still-life photographer was Thomas
Legrand. Madden, who has featured in “Game of Thrones,”
Disney’s “Cinderella” and the TV series “Bodyguard,” will be starring in the
upcoming superhero film “Eternals” opposite Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani and Gemma Chan,
and is currently filming the Citadel series from Amazon Studios alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas The global ad campaign, which shows Madden seated
on a rooftop dressed in Calvin Klein jeans and a white T-shirt, launches July
1. “It’s been an exciting opportunity to partner with Calvin Klein on this
new launch,” Madden said. Bletz said Coty is
confident that Calvin Klein Defy, will resonate with men across the world,
“driving further global demand” for the brand’s fragrances. Coty has partnered with Twitch on the launch,
asking consumers to take part in a “tournament” where they can battle against
top streamers for a chance to win prizes. The tournament will be followed by
a virtual after party. Bletz said the choice of
Twitch was key, as it’s a social app as well as a gaming one, and a place
where men are having meaningful conversations. Marketing will run across TV, digital and social
platforms while retailers such as Macy’s, Ulta,
Boots and El Corte Inglés will carry the scent.
Defy will begin rolling out in North America, Spain and the U.K., and in 2022
will expand to markets including Italy, Germany and other countries in
Europe. Coty is also optimistic about travel retail —
which has taken a beating due to the decline in international travel — and
foresees a pickup in that market in the first half of 2022, when
international air travel is set to return in earnest. Defy comes as an eau do toilette, with prices
ranging from $49 for the 30-ml, to $114 for the 200-ml. There is also a 50-ml
size, priced at $70, and a 100-ml costing $88. This is Calvin Klein’s first major men’s
fragrance since Encounter, which launched in 2012. It also follows a major
transformation at the company. When Encounter was launched, Italo Zucchelli was
men’s creative director of Calvin Klein Collection, working alongside his
women’s counterpart Francisco Costa. Both men would eventually make way for Raf Simons, who joined the brand in 2016 as chief
creative officer, and who worked closely with Coty during his short tenure.
Together with Coty, Simons launched Obsessed for Women and Obsessed for Men,
which hit counters in 2017. The scent was a modern interpretation of one of
the biggest fragrance blockbusters — and ad campaigns — of all time:
Obsession. The new iteration, Obsessed, was Simons’ baby, and he made the
project one of his first orders of business upon taking the top creative
spot. Simons left Calvin Klein after two-and-half years
(he is now co-creative director of Prada) and the company shuttered both its
205W39NYC high-end collection business and its Madison Avenue flagship. Calvin Klein has yet to cement a new creative
configuration, although earlier this year it hired Willy
Chavarria as SVP of design for Calvin Klein North America and Global
Essentials apparel, men’s. The company also hired Heron Preston in
a creative consultancy role to develop Heron Preston for Calvin Klein,
including sweatshirts, hoodies, underwear and denim. Defy is a fragrance for its time — and for its
Millennial demographic, the largest group of fragrance consumers right now
and a new audience for Calvin Klein. Calvin Klein already has other generations
covered, according to Bletz. Gen X, which is easing
into middle age, favors Eternity (and its ad
campaigns starring Christy Turlington Burns and
husband Ed Burns) while Gen Z can spritz itself with CK Everyone, a unisex
juice that launched last year and aims to channel inclusivity, community and
freedom of expression. These Millennial males are decidedly different
from their seniors, and their juniors, though. Bletz said when Coty
started its research into the fragrance, pre-COVID-19, it picked up on “the
struggle of the male consumer who was transitioning from the norm” and from
the traditional ideas of success. She said Coty was seeing a man “more willing to
embrace his emotions,” one who had a “profound need to succeed interior-wise,
rather than in the material sense. There was a deeper sense of introspection
— and that was freeing for them.” Coty double-checked that initial research at the
end of 2020, and found that “these self-doubts — and the need to overcome
them — were only amplified by COVID-19. So the message of the fragrance was
even more relevant than it was a year ago.” Madden, she added, “embraces the spirit of who
we’re trying to express. He’s a rebel with a cause. He has a vulnerable, yet
strong, side — and his characters do, too.” Coty has attempted to distill
those ideas into a fresh, woody fragrance, a blend of citrus, bergamot and
fresh lavender absolute. The heart is vetiver oil
which, according to Coty, is responsibly sourced from Haiti, and provides a
“vibrant earthiness and rugged texture,” while the base notes are amber. The juice was created by Anne Flipo,
master perfumer, and senior perfumers Pascal Gaurin
and Loc Dong of IFF. The minimalist glass bottle is a blend of curved,
rounded edges and sharp linear lines, while the cap and carton nod to Calvin
Klein jeans, with matte, textured blue denim details and silver branding. |
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Here are links to photographs taken
at the time when the advert was filming, 30 September to 02 October 2019: Photographs taken at Virginia Water in Surrey And more photos then surfaced,
this time based in a city environment And yet more photographs ... now
identified as the area around the Hayward Gallery on London’s Southbank ... Link to additional photographs |
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