Issue: The Daily Mini May, 2006
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Who's the girl behind that mesmerizing gaze? The blonde beauty who has followed in the tres celetres footsteps of La Moss at Burberry an Calvin Klein Obsession? Without question, Ms. Ward is the hottest thing to come out of Australia since Elle Macpherson. And here in her adopted city of New York, she gets her fix for home whenever she can. At her favourite Down Under den of chic, Elizabeth Charles, she got all dolled up for our premiere issue. Gemma, we heart you!
You're an Aussie girl. What, then, is typical Aussie style?
It's difficult to say, but you go on the streets of Sydney and you'll actually find -- along with all the surf-culture kind of dressing -- that there's a huge'80s influence. Everyone puts on their headbands, their accessories, and buys a lot of clothes from vintage and thrift stores.
With your busy schedule, how do you inject a bit of Australia into your New York life?
Mulberry Street is Little Australia. If you want an Australian guy, go to Mulberry Street and you just bump into five dozen standing on a corner right outside Tsubi or Ruby's Cafe. Or there's a restaurant called Eight Mile Creek -- they are very Australian. You can get kangaroo steak and ostrich patties, all these crazy different things.
Do people still find that your Aussie accent is strong, or has it become less noticeable?
When I was growing up, my mother didn't want us to have strong Aussie accents. Maybe it's her British influence. But now I notice that it's gotten rougher. I talk in more Aussie slang. I once asked a taxi driver to take me to 18th Street, but because of my accent he took me to 87th Street.
What do you miss most about Australia?
Gosh, so much! I miss the openness, seeing stars at night, the smell of the sea. As soon as you land, you can smell it -- it's everywhere. I miss the crickets and all the little bugs flying around and all the animals that are scurrying. I miss my family, my mom's cooking, and my own beach.
Compare the waves in the U.S. to those in Australia.
The waves in Australia are so much better! There's no comparison. In Perth, there are mammoth waves. I've been lying on the beach before, suntanning, and been completely washed away because of the force of the waves that come up onto the shore. Surfing in America is funn -- it's good because I'm not so experienced. The waves in Australia are the kind of waves that you look back and are in awe of. You watch them like it's the Discovery Channel.
What are some of your favorite Aussie foods?
Vegemite on toast with avocado and soft-boiled eggs -- that's the best thing in the world.
We hear you're going to be in the movies! It's an independent Australian film, right?
I started working as an actor doing television when I was very young. Elissa Down, my friend since we were 13 years old, wrote and directed this new film, which got accepted into an editing program in Australia. We're going to film it in Australia in September. Hopefully some big-name actors will sign on to be in it.
Tell me about the character you'll be playing in the movie.
It's a story about a young boy whose brother has autism. I'll be playing his love interest. It's kind of how he manages to deal with his brother, as well as how he leads his own life. I'm hoping to get to go to a few autistic centers in New York to do some research. I've always been interested in autism, because my dad's a doctor and he has had a few patients who were autistic. I'm not one to do a film just to become famous. I'm not into that.
What are your favorite memories from this last fashion week?
During Milan Fashion Weel, it was [Vogue stylist] Edward Enninful's birthday. So Lily Cole and I brought a big chocolate cake to the Alessandro Dell'Acqua show, since we heard he was going to be there. Turns out he didn't go to the show, so we went to his hotel and they said he had checked out and left early for Paris. So we took the cake to the Versace show and ate it with everyone and took pictures and videoed it.
What was Nicholas Ghesqueiere's informal presentation like in Paris?
He staged it for Anna Wintour on the Sunday that Paris Fashion Week started because she wasn't staying for the entire week. There were about 10 looks shown to her in this open room, and I remember all the girls freaking out backstage because they didn't want to trip in front of Anna. It was a very couture moment. Anna would feel the fabric up close and say hello to each of us as we came out while Nicholas explained the clothes to her. In modeling school, they teach us how to do full turns, half turns, the twist, etc., and you don't ever get the chance to use them. It reminded me of what shows must have been like in the past.
GEMMA ON¡K
Tom Ford: I was very nervous to work with him when I first did the Gucci show. He is such an icon. I was so worried, but he was so nice. He asked me where I was from and we started talking about Australians and he was telling me how much he likes Nicole Kidman. He's such an amazing force that it fills the room.
John Galliano: John is so fun! I think he's just a great big boy at heart. He's got such creativity. He's the kind of person who takes risks doing anything and gets away with it.
Stefano Pilati: I think his clothes are so beautiful. I buy them, I wear them, I feel so good when I walk down the runway wearing them. It's the same as his personality -- he's so kind and so warm, and it shows in his clothes.
Mario Testino: When I shot with him for British Vogue in Portugal, he really inspired me to feel that, as a model, we can change the way that people view fashion. He kind of expressed that there is a power in us to make people more interested and more excited. It was a big shock for me to hear that because I often don't see that power in myself.
Carine Roitfeld: She is always wild and fantastic. When I went to China [to shoot the premiere Vogue China cover], I was expecting her to be jet-lagged but she was still wild and fantastic. She's very inspiring to be around when you're on the set because you see her joy and satisfaction in what she does.
Anna Wintour: Meeting Anna was incredible. She's always talked about with such.. flavor. She was very, sort of, warm and talkative. We spoke a lot about Australia and she told me that she's been there. She made me feel comfortable. I thought I would be much more nervous, but she's as human as anyone else.
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