When in 2018 Rooney Mara (New York, 1985) became the public face of one of Givenchy’s most iconic perfumes, L’Interdit, she had barely ventured into the olfactory universe. ‘I wasn’t aware of how much knowledge, science, art and creativity it takes to create a fragrance,’ the actress confesses to MUJERHOY in a video call that connects Madrid and Los Angeles on the occasion of the release of a new version of this perfume. L’Interdit Elixir has an even more intense facet of its predecessor’s essence, conceived in 1957 by Hubert de Givenchy for his close friend Audrey Hepburn.
The choice of a perfume is, probably, one of the most intimate gestures, both in the beauty world and in the way we express, on an olfactory level, our own essence. Therefore, when the designer proposed to the actress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s to share with the world the aroma he had created especially for her, she firmly refused. «Je vous l’interdis» (I forbid it), Hepburn declared, not knowing that her initial reaction to the Frenchman’s proposal would end up giving the name to the house’s first perfume.
Rooney Mara is now very familiar with the intimacy that an olfactory creation can hold, and she asserts: «A fragrance is one of the most important parts of the imprint we leave on others. Its greatest power is, without a doubt, its ability to transport you back to people who are no longer here».
The actress, winner at Cannes of the Best Actress Award for Carol (2015), maintains that «we remember people by their perfume, but also by the smells of everyday life, such as the scent of their home, the laundry detergent, or the essence each person emits».
Although Mara confesses that she does not wear perfume daily, she tells us that she is always surrounded by aromas in her routine: «I am fascinated by smells. I tend to use many essential oils, spray fragrances for the environment or light palo santo, sage and candles». And indeed, any aroma, however everyday, captures her attention: «Even the scent of freshly cooked food moves me».
Her olfactory tastes align with the duality that L’Interdit offers. «I am drawn to earthy chords, such as patchouli, but I also let myself be carried away by more floral notes, such as jasmine or orange blossom», the actress details. The new fragrance of this perfume, according to the American, dances between ‘depth’ and ‘duality’ and she dares to describe it from the emotional perspective she shares with this perfume.
«Although L’Interdit Elixir contains a more captivating and intense scent, it remains a variation of the original. I have many memories tied to that perfume», she says. «It has accompanied me since 2018 and has become an important part of me. I began using L’Interdit when I was at a crossroads in my life», she explains. And she adds: «In fact, when we shot the first campaign I was pregnant with my first child and I didn’t know yet. My life changed radically since then».
The intensity behind the new version, reinterpreted by perfumers Dominique Ropion, Anne Flipo and Meabh McCurtin, also connects with the life moment Mara is going through. «I feel that I am at a deeper, brighter and more intense stage» she reveals. Its notes, characterized by black cherry, bitter almond and a blend of jasmine, orange blossom and tuberose, remind her of the chapter she is now traversing in her life, which she herself defines as «perfect».
While the New Yorker answers from the other side of the screen, the cry of her young daughter, coming from another corner of the house, interrupts the video call, almost by chance serving as the vehicle for her explanation. «Now that my children are small, there is nothing more important or valuable to me».
«It’s true that I cannot express myself artistically the same way as before having them in my life because I can’t work as much. However, I know that everything will go back to how it was when they grow up. Besides, they have given me the opportunity to explore other ways to unleash my creativity», she highlights. A personal, intense chapter, akin to the blend of rum, davana essence and vanilla extract that accompany the fragrance in the background.
Now, the actress is involved in several projects, including Bucking Fastard, a feature film directed by Werner Herzog that she has shot with her sister, Kate Mara. «I hope it premieres soon so you can see it and enjoy it», she says excitedly. «There are a lot of projects I have been working on that are still in development. Some of them I will shoot next year, but I can’t say anything yet», she says while smiling: «We’ve gone a little crazy».
When we ask what excites her the most about this professional and life stage, she answers quickly: «I don’t know if I have an answer for this». And at the same time, the two-time Oscar-nominated actress remains enthusiastic: «I’m excited not to have a clear answer, to be honest. I have no expectations or fixed objectives, I feel like everything is up in the air and that feeling is also exciting».
A Fragrance Jewel
Inspired by the rubies’ tones, the bottle of L’Interdit Elixir dresses in a red that travels to the depth of black. This chromatic fusion evokes the intensity of the scent waiting inside, as well as reflecting the feminine power and the sensuality she seeks to project on those who wear it on their skin.
