CULTURE

HARI NEF ON FILMS, FASHION, AND IDENTITY

The Assassination Nation star talks to AS IF about her new film and what it means to be authentic

PHOTOGRAPY AND INTERVIEW

by TATIJANA SHOAN

WEB EDIT

by JEENA SHARMA

When I first saw Hari Nef in a published photograph I was drawn to an essence she possessed, which I could not quite put my finger on. Her gaze was penetrating and taunting like an invitation to enter her world if you dare. I was transformed from an admirer to a voyeur in just the subtlety of her expression. From that point on, I wanted more. I later saw Hari at a Moncler party in New York and her presence was palpable. In a boutique bursting with people, all eyes and camera lenses were on her. It’s hard to stand-out in a crowd of heavy-hitting magazine editors, attention-seeking bloggers, style conscious glamazons, and wide-eyed starlets. But Hari seems to be in her element in situations that would intimidate most. Those who have followed her career know she came to prominence as a transgender model who openly, proudly, and honestly revealed her true self to the world. However, this influential 20-something is far more than a trans model, and to see her as only that undermines who this person is, what she has to say about the world around her, and the talent she brings to the fashion and entertainment worlds. As a model she signed a contract for L’Oréal, graced the covers of national and international fashion magazines, as well as being the face of Gucci’s fragrance, Bloom. And, as an actress she appeared in the groundbreaking, award-winning, Amazon Original series Transparent, for which she was nominated for a SAG Award. This autumn marks a pivotal point in her career as she tackles roles in the film, Mapplethorpe, the television series You from Greg Berlanti, and Lena Dunham’s new series for HBO, Camping. However, it’s her starring role in the much-lauded fall release, Assassination Nation, that’s got people talking. The film follows a group of teenage girls navigating through the madness of their small town after an anonymous hacker creates pandemonium by posting private details of the lives of its citizens. And, there is Hari Nef, the social media maestro whose sassy, often hilarious, and always intelligent posts command a hats-off for their clever references to film classics.

I spent the day with Hari on-set for our cover story watching her transform from the long- haired, bohemian model we are accustomed to seeing in the pages of magazines, to an old-school, Hollywood sultress from yesteryear. Encircling her on canvases, and adorning her body, are the brush strokes of artist, Bradley Theodore. Theodore’s colorful, exuberant, and untethered splashes of pigment reference Hari’s spirit. After photographing this remarkably self-assured, poised, beautiful, and jocose creature, Hari and I sat down to talk about her new film, how she feels about being called transgender, what it means to be authentic, and what makes her happy!

AS IF: The film Assassination Nation, in which you star, was the hottest film at Sundance this year selling for more than any other film at the festival. It’s a female-driven film centering on high school girls that was written and directed by men who found authentic voices. Were you surprised at how authentically the writer and director managed to have a teenage female voice?

Hari Nef:  Absolutely! My expectations were very low after reading the synopsis and learning who wrote it and who was going to direct it. I did not think it was going to be good, I did not think it was going to be authentic, but I read the script anyway and I was blown away. When perspectives of any kind of other are adopted and appropriated by people who may not belong to that community, the resulting outcome is often wrong, and the resulting work is more than often done very poorly, but this was a rare case.

Tell me about your character Bex in Assassintation Nation and the challenges you had playing her.

Bex is a teenager, which I am not, so I had to understand her age. At the beginning I was stressed and insecure about playing a teenager, but I was one once, and the main thing I remember about being a teenager was that I was experiencing adult situations and adult feelings for the first time, which can be very overwhelming. The highs were high, the lows were low, the stakes are high in high school, and that is how I approached Bex. I had to forget all the lessons I taught myself over the last seven and eight years when I was playing her. You know, teenage girls have kind of a beautiful recklessness. I made it through high school but it definitely was not easy. I grew up in a really high-pressure environment.

Hari Nef in Gucci Dress and Sanjay Kasliwal of the Gem Palace

Gucci dress | Sanjay Kasliwal Of The Gem Palace jewelry

How so?

I was in a well-to-do suburb with parents who moved there for the opportunities for their children, which included high caliber, extremely competitive, public schools that had a lot of students, so every kid in the town of Newton where I grew-up had to be a star or they thought they were underachieving. Getting through Newton South High School was harder than getting through Columbia University.

I want to talk about the rage in the film, how it’s used, and what it’s trying to say about where we are today, especially in recent years as we witness teenagers being in the front line of gun violence.

The world is getting smaller and the wool is being pulled from a lot of people’s eyes, and when people are able to see the ways in which they are pressed, or the ways in which they are missing out, or the things other people have that they don’t, including the horrible things that happen everywhere, this new knowledge can cause a lot of stress and anguish, and most of the time there’s not that much you can do about it, especially in high school. I am not in any way discounting the achievements or powers of high school students, especially in light of the way teens nationwide have rallied around recent school shootings. Teens aren’t powerless, but you can feel like you are. So, I was looking at it from a point of view of a girl who was just trying to get to basics, and just wanted to graduate, fall in love, and have a normal high school experience which wasn’t necessarily happening for her. The things that Bex wants are so universal and so human, at the end of the day it’s a question of wanting love.

Hari Nef in Marc Jacobs, H. Stern, and Audemars Piguet

Marc Jacobs sweater | Audemars Piguet Millenary watch in 18k pink gold | H Stern Giuliana yellow gold and diamond necklace

If anyone understands the power of transformation and the ability to transform it’s you. How do you go about transformation when it comes to your work?

I feel like I’m still a novice actor and I continue to bring a lot of myself into my work. I would love to play somebody who’s totally different from me, and I have a project in negotiation right now, and I hope to get the chance to do that. As an actor, I found myself too focused on transforming into somebody else, and too focused on affecting a persona to change into another person; I just wasn’t comfortable bringing myself to the character. I think I’ve come closer to my power as an actor and as an artist in general by being able to bring myself to the work and not necessarily transform into someone else, but draft in my own experience. I’m eager to explore other methods and tackle other challenges in acting.

What roles are you looking to play, and how important is the message of film for you to consider working on a project?

I’m very selective about the projects I take on, particularly at this stage of my career where I’m just laying the foundation. I turn down most of the audition invitations I receive because I don’t want to do anything that I’m not passionate about. I would much rather build a resume that I am proud of over a longer period of time and make less money than jump at the chance for commercial success and visibility in a project that I’m not completely passionate about. The messaging in a film is important to me, but I don’t have a political agenda when it comes to choosing my acting work. I would never want to be part of a project that I felt was doing more harm than good. I’m about to give you a very cliché answer, but I’m drawn towards complicated characters with really big desires and wants. I am also enthusiastic about making my own work: writing for myself, eventually producing for myself, and directing for myself someday. I have a lot of projects I’m working on in secret, and I think that if an actor has the ability to be in the driver’s seat it’s absolutely something she should do. It’s the greatest gift you can give yourself.

“The messaging in a film is important to me, but I don’t have a political agenda when it comes to choosing my acting work. I would never want to be part of a project that I felt was doing more harm than good.”

Articles and interviews about you always describe you as a “transgender model” or “transgender actress”. Is that an important distinction?

It’s a silly and violent distinction.

Explain.

It’s reductive.

If there’s one message you would like to share with the world and put it on a T-shirt, what would it be?

Chill out. — As you can see I’m being very selective about what I talk about, and what I don’t talk about because I know what I want out of my work, and career, and I know what I want to be known for, which isn’t necessarily what I’m known for or known as, now.

Hari Nef in Valentino and Cartier

Valentino dress | Cartier jewelry

How important is fashion to you, and do you have a favorite designer?

Fashion is important to me. I think Rihanna put it rather well when speaking about her own love of fashion. When she referrs to feeling insecure in relationship to others, she’ll think - she can beat me, but she can’t beat my outfit! And I can really relate to that! Fashion itself I can leave or take, but style is key to self-actualization. When it comes to fashion there are plenty of designers that inspired me today, namely the creative director of Gucci, Alessandro Michele, who I work very closely with. I’m also a fan of Demna Gvasalia at Balenciaga who is a friend of mine. I’m also into this young new designer out of London, Supriya Lele, who is fresh out of fashion school and has only shown a couple of times. I pay attention to fashion and follow it very closely because I feel like clothes are the way for me to control the narrative about myself at this critical juncture in my career.

What inspires you?

Specificity. I’m really inspired by art that has really strong emotional vector without being overbearing. A really close friend of mine who goes by the name Sophie released an album that I was playing during the shoot called Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, and what I love about this album is the way it seems to balance the sense of euphoria with a sense of rage and discomfort.

What makes you happy?

Working. I am really a slave to late capitalism, it’s so sad. Working makes me happy, because I love what I do for work and I realized how lucky I am. The other day someone asked me what my hobbies were and I couldn’t answer because I just love to work.

What makes you mad?

Presumptuousness, judgement, assumption, tokenization, politicization that is not necessary, and so on...

Hari Nef in Calvin Klein 205W39NYC

Calvin Klein hood, overcoat, blazer and skirt

“I try not to have icons cause you’re just going to end up comparing yourself to them; I feel the same way about role models. When it comes to figuring out ways to be, I look to my friends, the people who I know, who I watch go through shit, and navigate issues successfully.”

How important is social media for you?

I don’t want to say it’s important, but it is important to me. It’s a place where I’ve been able to exist on my own terms for a really long time. Sometimes it feels like the only place I’m able to exist on my own terms. It’s a place where I can connect directly with the people who are engaging with what I do, and I don’t take that lightly.

What makes you happy?

Working. I am really a slave to late capitalism, it’s so sad. Working makes me happy, because I love what I do for work and I realized how lucky I am. The other day someone asked me what my hobbies were and I couldn’t answer because I just love to work.

What makes you mad?

Presumptuousness, judgement, assumption, tokenization, politicization that is not necessary, and so on...

How important is social media for you?

I don’t want to say it’s important, but it is important to me. It’s a place where I’ve been able to exist on my own terms for a really long time. Sometimes it feels like the only place I’m able to exist on my own terms. It’s a place where I can connect directly with the people who are engaging with what I do, and I don’t take that lightly.

Hair Nef in Bottega Veneta and DeBeers

Bottega Veneta dress | DeBeers jewelry

SHOP HARI NEF’S LOOKS

Bottega Veneta

Dark Mist Mohair Cardigan

This lightweight mohair cardigan embodies the season’s luxe loungewear sensibility. Worn in the Autumn/Winter 18 runway show over a silk dress, the soft knit can work beautifully as an evening wrap but is equally well suited to less formal ensembles. The piece comes with a matching belt and is finished with ribbing at the hem and sleeves.

$1,690

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What’s on your playlist?

Sophie, Jackie Shane, Charli XCX, Panic at the Disco, Cat Power, Andy Stott, Father John Misty, Madonna, Frankie Knuckles, Green Velvet, and so on…

What’s on your must-watch list?

I recently got a Filmstruck account because my knowledge of film history is puny in comparison to my knowledge of television history. I’m making my way through The Criterion Collection right now, which is very corny but I think it gives a language.

Who are your icons and who are your role models?

I try not to have icons cause you’re just going to end up comparing yourself to them; I feel the same way about role models. When it comes to figuring out ways to be, I look to my friends, the people who I know, who I watch go through shit, and navigate issues successfully.

Hari Nef in Johanna Ortiz, Marc Jacobs, Tiffany & Co., and Stewart Weitzman
Hari Nef in Johanna Ortiz, Marc Jacobs, Tiffany & Co., and Stewart Weitzman

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