You’ve probably glimpsed Malin Akerman a million times—and not realized who you were seeing. A natural blonde—she moved from Stockholm to Toronto when she was two—Malin became a raven-haired dominatrix for “Watchmen,” a redhead for “Couples Retreat” and lost her eyebrows for a role as a woman stricken with alopecia in the upcoming “HappyThankYouMorePlease,” as she revealed to EcoStiletto in this exclusive interview. And the actress literally became Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Jean Harlow, among others, in these iconic photos shot by Steve Shaw for 944 magazine.
But Malin is just as interested in transforming the world as she is in transforming herself for a role. An environmentalist from childhood—“In Canada, it’s so easy. There’s recycling, composting, you take public transportation most of the time, you have a bike”—Malin recently took a more active role in the preservation of the planet, volunteering for the Natural Resources Defense Council, driving a hybrid, and pining for solar panels and rainwater collection systems at her rental house.
“I can’t wait until my jeans and my boots are all worn in—when you shop second-hand, it’s already done for you,” the vintage shopper said, but she also professed a penchant for silky bamboo, sourced at Los Angeles eco-clothing mecca Visionary Boutique. And although she’s a fan of the raw beauty brand Envision, she draws the line at eating only raw food. “I can’t live without pasta now and then, living with an Italian husband!” she said.
What’s her eco-sin? Read on to find out, but we’ll give you a
hint: It’s not paper.
You’ve been on fire since “The Heartbreak Kid” in 2007—last year
you were in three blockbuster movies and “Couples Retreat” looks
amazing!
Thank you I hope so!
What are you working on now?
After “Couples Retreat” I finished two other independent films that were wonderful. “Bang Bang Club” was filmed in South Africa, based on a true story about photojournalists during the end of apartheid. Then I went to film “HappyThankYouMorePlease,” where I play a woman with alopecia. It’s a character-driven film about friends and their journey and search for love. Being a bald woman presents some complexities in finding a man. It’s a dark comedy.
Did you really shave off your eyebrows for that role?
I did. I took ‘em off! It’s kind of hard to hide eyebrows. And in an indie film there’s not much of a budget to take them off in post. I was pretty gung-ho about it, I have to say. It’s fun to transform yourself. It helps get you into character.
You were born in Europe and raised in Canada, where there’s been a focus on sustainability for far longer than in the U.S. When did you start getting involved in eco-consciousness?
It was probably two or three years ago when Al Gore’s film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” came out.
Living in Canada, it’s so easy. There’s recycling, composting, you take public transportation most of the time, you have a bike. And then I came over here and was focused so much on work, I didn’t really think about it. I wasn’t doing anything except recycling.
But when I saw that movie, it really opened my eyes. You sleep on it a bit.
So I went and bought a hybrid car. We changed all our light bulbs—it’s super easy! I [recently] went to two council meetings at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to see what I can do, like writing letters to senators. Getting involved like that.
It’s the little things that really make a difference. Leaving your phone chargers plugged into the wall—it’s such a waste of energy! Just unplug those when you’re not using them. Whenever you don’t have to take the car, don’t. Bring that awareness to your life.
I did a show with Adrian Grenier [“Alter Eco”]. People think that when you go green you lose out on luxuries but you don’t! There are nail salons that are eco-friendly—I love Recess on Beverly—you can go shopping for jewelry, shoes, clothes made from sustainable materials like bamboo. You just have to find out where to go and what to do.
And I love second-hand shopping. You find the best stuff! I can’t wait until my jeans and my boots are all worn in—when you shop second-hand, it’s already done for you. Plus, you can buy a t-shirt for $10 and cut it up into a new style and it doesn’t matter if you mess it up.
Aside from buying vintage, what are your favorite green fashion labels?
Oh, I’m so bad at the actual labels. Wait, let me look at this one. Gypsy. They make stuff out of bamboo, which is a wonderful material—it feels almost like silk. I bought mine at Visionary on Melrose. She only has environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. She has jewelry there that’s made from old chandeliers! It’s really cool.
What are the best eco-friendly beauty finds?
There’s one called Envision that I love. It’s all-natural. My friend makes it; she’s a raw foodie. The moisturizing cream is called The Solution—it’s amazing.
Are you into raw food?
I try to incorporate it into my diet. I tried doing a weeklong raw food thing but I couldn’t do it. I’m pretty good at healthy eating but I do love hot food. I try to make at least half of my veggies raw, but I can’t live without pasta now and then, living with an Italian husband!
What’s the biggest green change you’d like to make in your life—even if it’s impossible right now?
I’d like to put solar panels on our house. I think that one day when we buy the house that we’re renting right now I’d love to transform it into a completely green house. At the NRDC building they reuse rainwater—I would love to incorporate that. We have sun every day in California—it’s silly not to do have solar panels. There are so many ways to use nature that we don’t take advantage of.
What’s your favorite eco-friendly tip our readers should know about?
I think the simplest of them all is really just changing out your light bulbs. It’s so easy and inexpensive and it saves so much energy. Just do it.
Who’s your eco-idol and why?
I think what Al Gore is doing is amazing. His film was so widespread and taken so seriously and that’s pretty wonderful. But I have to also mention that the smartest organization I’ve ever come across is the NRDC. To have lawyers working for the environment is pretty amazing. I kind of idolize them.
What’s your worst eco-sin?
I do drink a lot of bottled water. You end up using it on set because that’s what they give you and you’re so thirsty you’re not going to say no. I have a stainless steel water bottle but I always forget. So that’s my faux pas.
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