She’s been compared to Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida—and seems to belong to a different, more romantic era than to the current chaos. Monica Bellucci has been entrancing audiences for nearly half a century, first as a model for Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Richard Avedon, and Steven Meisel, then as an actor in Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the James Bond movie Spectre, among others. Now nearing 60, Bellucci shares her thoughts about physical appearance. “Beauty is about the soul, and the soul doesn’t age,” she tells me as she sits on a terrace at New York’s Baccarat Hotel. She’s in town for a screening of Tom Volf and Yannis Dimolitsas’s documentary, Maria Callas: Letters and Memoirs, in which Bellucci portrays the opera diva onstage. “Beauty is more than any product,” she says. “If you have a good energy, and you try to find essential things in life and are happy, this is the most beautiful way to be beautiful.” Here, Bellucci shares the more tangible parts of her bedtime routine.
WHEN DO YOU START GETTING READY FOR BED?
It depends on the day. In general, I don’t go to bed very late.
TAKE US THROUGH YOUR NIGHTTIME SKIN-CARE ROUTINE.
I clean my skin, and I put on some cream. Because my skin is so delicate, I can’t put on anything that is too strong. I like the products of Dr. Hauschka—very natural, very light. Or sometimes I even just put oil on my face. I like almond oil, olive oil, or rice oil.
DO YOU ADD ANY STEPS WHEN YOU’RE SHOOTING A PROJECT?
I go to sleep early and drink a lot of water. There is nothing better than sleep. If you sleep, your skin is relaxed; your eyes are not puffy. It is really one of the most important beauty routines to maintain—also to be happy.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU HAVE TO DO BEFORE BED?
I like to have the chance to speak with my daughters. The night is the perfect time to speak because the situation is calm. You can get into deep subjects.
HOW DO YOU DECOMPRESS AFTER A LONG DAY ON SET?
Sitting and thinking, breathing. I love to do some Pilates, sometimes a massage.
WHAT PAJAMAS DO YOU WEAR?
I love pajamas. Pajamas are so nice and feminine. I like cotton and silk. I even like pink pajamas—to go to bed with such a sweet color, because it helps you to be in a good mood.
ARE YOU PARTICULAR ABOUT YOUR SLEEP CONDITIONS?
I don’t like much air-conditioning. I’m Mediterranean. So I prefer when it’s not very cold.
HOW ABOUT YOUR BED?
Just one pillow, very soft. For sheets, I like just linen and cotton.
DO YOU READ ANYTHING BEFORE BED?
Right now I’m reading La Dama di Creta. It’s a beautiful book.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO FALL ASLEEP?
When I’m calm and relaxed, it’s very quick. Yesterday, I arrived in New York, and it was like 30 seconds.
WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SLEEP?
In my house. Sometimes I have to travel, but it’s not a problem. I like to travel because I’m used to it—I sleep everywhere. But I like to be home when it’s possible.
WHAT’S THE BEST NIGHT’S SLEEP YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I was in Greece, and I was walking on the beach with my family and then we talked until late, and then we slept. It was a beautiful night. When you’re with good people around you, and you create a beautiful atmosphere around you, then you can sleep very well.
