Hey everyone. I was able to translate Emma’s interview for Harper Bazaar España (Spain), that you can check out below, as well, photos from the photoshoot. Enjoy.
Emma Roberts: “It’s very inspiring to see more and more women behind the camera because when I was a child it wasn’t so common.”
Having such a famous last name can be more of a burden than an advantage, but Emma Roberts—winner of the Bazaar Women of the Year award for Entertainment Film—has managed to shine on her own merits. An actress, producer, Kiko Milano ambassador, and mother of one, she confesses that her goal is to direct and that her best role is yet to come.
In Emma Roberts life (Rhinebeck, New York, 1991), everything has been extraordinary. At just nine years old, she filmed her first movie. At 15, she was traveling the world starring in international productions. And barely 20, she became a global phenomenon for her role in the cult series that redefined the horror genre. Today we find her fighting jet lag with specialty coffee and eye patches in the lobby of Madrid’s Hotel Orfila. “I grew up on film sets, among cameras and wardrobe trailers. To be able to continue doing what I love and also be honored for it is a dream,” she says about the Bazaar Women of the Year – Entertainment-film award she just received. Yesterday, fresh off the plane from across the pond, she starred in the photo shoot featured in these pages. “One of my all-time favorite shoots,” she notes. There’s something extremely familiar about her demeanor. A naturalness so rare in the film industry that it’s disarming. Her look is also pure spontaneity. Dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt, sneakers, and Celine sunglasses, the actress embodies the good vibes of Los Angeles, where she spends her days when she’s not in New York.
HBE: She belongs to a family of actors. How being the niece of the iconic Julia Roberts has influenced her?
Emma: My aunt is a huge inspiration. I adore her; she’s the best. Her movies never get old. I’ll never get tired of watching My Best Friend’s Wedding and Runaway Bride. I feel lucky to have spent my childhood in the film industry. That way, I was able to understand how everything works, not just acting, but all the departments. As a child, I was fascinated by going to the wardrobe and makeup trucks, standing behind the screen, and listening to the director. It’s incredible to see what goes into making a film; it looks easy, but it involves hundreds of people and thousands of hours of work.
HBE: She started very young, so she’s played a wide variety of characters. Which roles are her favorites?
Emma: I really enjoy working with producer Ryan Murphy. American Horror Story and Scream Queens have been the highlights of my career. Also, one of my favorite experiences was filming Palo Alto with Gia Coppola, a great friend and, in my opinion, an absolute genius. I’ve seen her latest film, The Last Showgirl, about five times; I think it’s spectacular, and Pamela Anderson is fantastic. I would love to work with Gia again and do something with Pamela. I think she’s incredible, and I also really admire how she’s changing beauty standards on the red carpet.
HBE: Are you satisfied with how you’ve approached your career?
Emma: Acting, for me, is a place to play and explore feelings. When I was a teenager, I was lucky enough to do some amazing projects, like filming Aquamarine in Australia and Wild Child in London. In my 20s, I started to see it more strategically and wanted to work a lot. Now, with a five-year-old, I’m more selective about what I accept because filming involves spending a lot of time away from my family. This year I only did one film, the thriller The Technique: a very intense, dark, and funny film, written and directed by my friend Brian McGreevy. I’d never done a film like that before! The rest of the year I spent with the people I love, traveling, and pursuing hobbies. I try to make sure I have a life outside of work because it’s easy for work to consume your life.
I ask her if motherhood has changed her much. But before I can answer, quite naturally, she takes out her phone and proudly shows me some photos of her son Rhodes (from her relationship with actor and musician Garrett Hedlund). “Absolutely. Motherhood has given me so much depth in my emotions and understanding, both personally and professionally. Seeing everything through his eyes is beautiful and transforms your perspective on the world. I also find it inspiring for my work. I’ve had some dark nights postpartum. Using those emotions creatively is interesting. My son is about to turn five, and I feel like I’m still discovering who I am, as a person and as a mother. I try to do my best, although I don’t always succeed, but I try.“
HBE: Next year promises to be exciting. She’s marrying her partner, Cody John. Does the fact that they share a profession make it easier for the relationship to work?
Emma:Not necessarily. Two actors together can be complicated because you never know when or where you’re going to work. We run into each other in different places, and that breaks the routine, but sometimes it’s hard to maintain consistency. I’m very much in love, my fiancé is a great person, and we have a wonderful connection outside of work, which I think is the most important thing.
HBE: Her role as an ambassador for Kiko Milano reinforces her position as a role model for new generations. What would she like to project?
Emma: What I like most about the brand is its approach. It’s not just about products, but about empowering people. About how you take care of yourself from the inside out and how you present yourself to the world. I remember when we were shooting the campaign, I had doubts about how to present myself, and they asked me to simply be myself. Sometimes advertising shows us women who don’t seem real, but Kiko Milano is in tune with my vision of beauty.
HBE: Which women inspire you?
Emma:For me, it’s very inspiring to see more and more women behind the camera because when I was a child, it wasn’t so common. I hope to work with more female directors. I love what Greta Gerwig, Chloé Zhao, Gia Coppola, and Kathryn Bigelow do. My friend Kristen Stewart directed her first film, *The Chronology of Water*, and I couldn’t be prouder. I’m also very excited about the upcoming release of *The Bride* by Maggie Gyllenhaal, which will be released in 2026.
HBE: In your case, you lead your own production company and have a book club, both called Belletrist, along with your partner and close friend Karah Preiss. Is directing also in your plans?
Emma:When I read a book, I can tell if it has potential. *Tell Me Lies* is a great example, which is why we made the series. But I want to tell many more stories. Also, for the last couple of years, I’ve been toying with the idea of making the leap to directing. Karah and I have written a short film that we would like to direct; that is my goal for next year.
HBE: What advice would you have liked to follow in the past and would you give to your teenage self?
Emma:I would tell that girl not to be afraid of being alone and to cultivate a real relationship with herself. Today, with a child and 34 years old, I wish I had spent more time alone, traveled more, and learned a language.
HBE: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Emma:I’ll never forget that my sister [Grace Nickels], as a teenager, said she didn’t like to read. I convinced her by buying her book after book until she found one that changed her perspective: Daisy Jones & The Six. Now she reads more than I do. Regarding my profession… I feel I haven’t done my best work yet, and that’s exciting.
Just days before this edition went to press, producer and screenwriter Ryan Murphy officially announced that the 13th season of American Horror Story is in the works. Emma Roberts is, of course, part of the cast, and the premiere is scheduled for Halloween 2026. This could be the big project she’s yet to tackle, or perhaps it will mark her directorial debut. Anything can happen, because one thing is clear: her life is anything but ordinary.
Home > Studio Photoshoots & Portraits > 2025 > Harper Bazaar’s Spain
Translated by I Heart Emma Roberts
GIF OF THE MOMENT
SUPPORT THE FAN CARPET
Family Affiliates
Proud member of
