Hello,
Cate

Q1. What’s your image of UNIQLO’s clothing?

I see it as timeless, essential clothing that is made to last; effortless clothing for everyday life. Rather than chase fashion trends, UNIQLO offers people essentials. These items have a simple beauty to be sure, especially with Clare Waight Keller as creative director, but this desirability isn’t driven by constant newness.

Q2. What’s your favourite item?

My whole family wears the socks and undies. HEATTECH has been a godsend. Comfortable, durable, breathable and most of all, warm! I often run from swimming pool to work meetings via the garden and into the evening, so I tend to opt for layers, making HEATTECH essential.

Q3. What made you become an ambassador for UNIQLO?

I’ve been impressed with UNIQLO’s efforts to make life better and their commitment to creating collections that last. Working with UNIQLO, I felt there was a genuine opportunity to meet people where they live, an opportunity to actively delve into the notion that wearing clothes and engaging with the world around you (in your life and the lives of others) are not mutually exclusive. I identify with the company's social mission and its philosophy of giving back. Being a devotee of Clare, who’s now the creative director, I’d been following the brand closely since her appointment. I’ve been blown away not only by her extremely covetable UNIQLO : C collection. She is infusing the brand’s accessible price point with her panache, influencing the company’s aesthetic as a whole.

Q4. What kind of contribution to society can a brand make?

I am freelance. That’s an actor’s lot so living with uncertainty has been baked into my adult life. We are living in monumentally uncertain times, so the role we play as individuals in this environment is vital. How we consume. What we consume. And, most importantly, what we give. I think the role that big influential companies like UNIQLO play in this landscape is more important than ever. I think consumers are still interested in style and in novelty, but they are interrogating each purchase more closely. They are not passive. They want to know how a brand delivers value in a world where less must not only be better; less must be more. UNIQLO has the potential to function as a social hub. My teenage kids and mother who’s eighty-six all wear UNIQLO. There are few brands that can relate across generations and connect people in this way.

Q11. Have you had any recent memorable theater experiences?

I have such vivid memories of seeing Simon McBurney’s play The Encounter. Although I was watching the stage, I was so immersed in the auditory that I ceased to see in the conventional sense. It was sight and insight on another level entirely. Most recently, it was Benedict Andrews’s production of The Cherry Orchard. The production was so intimate and free-flowing. The cast, led by Nina Hoss, was extraordinary.

Q12. How was working with director Jim Jarmusch on your latest film Father, Mother, Sister, Brother?

Working with Jim again was a homecoming. [Cate’s last role with Jim was the 2005 film Coffee & Cigarettes.] I adore him creatively and personally. He is so big hearted. All my scenes took place in one location, so Vicki [ Krieps], Charlotte [Rampling], and I hung out, eating in bed and chatting. It was a kind of heaven.

Q13. What’s the best part of being an actor?

Actively living through so many different perspectives. But really, it’s the people. Acting is a human-fueled endeavour, so I’m constantly energised and inspired by the conversation that flows between the people who make it and the people who watch it. I’ve had the chance to navigate different timeframes, different cultures, and wildly different aesthetics.

Q14. What’s the most important aspect of raising children?

That’s very difficult to answer. Unconditional love is key. Don’t make them in your own image. I felt it was important to put them in the way of experience and to instill in them a sense of self-respect and respect toward others. But as importantly, for me, to be alive to what they are telling me; alive to their evolving points of view.

Q15. What’s made you happiest recently?

My daughter drew a picture last night of a bird about to take flight. It made my heart sing.