“You have to fight for what you want. You have to eat, sleep, breathe, dream fashion and entertainment if this is the life that you want to lead. It’s a constant uphill battle and you have to make sure that you’re willing to make the sacrifices and truly dedicate your entire existence to this industry if it’s what you want to do.” -Lydia Hearst
Discovered by Steven Meisel in 2003, model and actress Lydia Hearst has since then graced pretty much every major fashion magazine cover. She’s also the daughter of actress Patricia Hearst (who is known for her numerous John Waters films) and a descendant of the Hearst family lineage – responsible for the successful magazine publishing company. Though she has gotten to where she is on her own terms, she understands that preconceived notions of her exist based on her famous last name. “It’s very easy for people to say, ‘Oh you only do this because of your name.’ But, at the same time, it’s actually harder because of it.”
Then, there’s the infamous kidnapping story that involved her mother, who was held captive for nineteen months by the left-wing Symbionese Liberation Army back in 1974 and was brainwashed into supporting their cause. The kidnapping was covered extensively by the media and grew to be larger than life, captivating the nation and turning her into a household name as a result of the controversy. However, Lydia weighs in and reflects on a different time when she was younger, when the Internet didn’t exist yet. “I grew up in a really small town and I think there’s a big difference about learning everything that happened to my family because it was a different media age. You know we didn’t have the instant gratification of the Internet and typing something into Google,” explains Lydia. “So you know it’s interesting, when my parents thought me and my sister were old enough they sort of gave us the basics of everything that happened and I guess in a sense we had to piece it all together but if I ever had any questions my mom was really open about it.” Her parents tried to create a normal atmosphere for their children. “I went to a local public school, my parents were very into making sure me and my sister had a normal upbringing. But I do get the flip side that normal for me was also spending time on the set of John Waters movies because my mom at the time acted in those films. But you know my parents did keep me pretty sheltered from the spotlight.”
Legendary fashion photographer, Steven Meisel, discovered Lydia in 2003 at a casting call when by chance she was asked to replace a model that stepped out. Lydia’s career has since skyrocketed. She was announced as “Supermodel of the Year” at the 2008 Michael Awards. She’s walked the runways for Chanel and appeared in campaigns for Alexander McQueen, Prada, and Louis Vuitton to name a few – not to mention her numerous Vogue covers. Lydia understands the fashion industry’s expectations and recognizes the hardships female models have to endure in such an image-oriented career. “I think that people shouldn’t be so afraid of the human body. I don’t think society should shame people for being petite or large. It should be important for people to be able to look at a body and say that person is beautiful inside and out. I can appreciate anyone who embraces themselves for who they are and loves their body and doesn’t want to adjust and change and fit into some type of mold but are just comfortable with themselves.”
Continuing to push her career forward, Lydia has a host of new film projects on the horizon. “I love acting, but at the same time my background is fashion and it’s not something that I would truly ever want to say goodbye to. So, I’m hoping to find that happy balance between the two.” Indeed, the young model/actress is in high demand. She is set to appear in eight upcoming films, all which are in post-production. Of her acting role models, she cites trailblazers such as Charlize Theron, Kate Beckinsale, Natalie Portman, and Mena Suvari. “Their careers have completely blossomed and at the same time they haven’t really left the fashion world behind…There’s so many strong roles and strong individual women out there. If you don’t wake up with perfect hair and sometimes you want a burger, or you don’t want to wear makeup and wear sweatpants, it’s fine. I don’t think women necessarily have to change themselves so that they can have a man tell them that they are beautiful.”
In her upcoming film titled Condemned, Lydia depicts a withering junkie left in a tenement building. She has recognized acting as a therapeutic outlet and expressive playground for herself, seeking roles that will challenge and push her forward artistically. “Especially coming from fashion I think it’s really easy to be intrigued by roles that are very pretty and lighthearted and beautiful. But at the same time, I love what I do and I love finding the more interesting character roles. In Condemned I’m a really grotesque junkie…and that’s putting it lightly!” Another film that she is particularly excited for is The Downside of Bliss, where she was required to draw upon personal experiences in order to execute the role of lead character, Bliss. “It’s a drama, and Bliss lives a very complicated life. She’s in an estranged relationship from her father but she’s also been diagnosed with cancer and it’s not actually a very happy ending for her. It’s very emotional, and having lost my father a year ago to cancer, in a weird way, it sort of helped me to process and witness what I had gone through. I was attracted to this film because of the passion of the project and this character.”
In addition to her modeling and bourgeoning acting career, Lydia is active with various charities, including Operation Smile, a non-profit benefitting children who suffer from cleft lip or palate and helping them receive the appropriate surgical care. “I’ve been involved with them for about eight years. When you are working with these children its remarkable to see that the simplest thing, like a smile, can honestly change somebody’s life. And really I’m so grateful to be apart of the organization. I remember when I first started I began working with them.” Going above and beyond normal celebrity philanthropy, Lydia likes to get involved one-on-one with the children she fights for. She recognizes the charity world can be full of flash and glam rather than the actual demand to serve those in need. “Well it’s very easy to put on a cocktail gown and sip champagne and toast everybody in the room saying what a good job you did. It’s a completely different story when you’re really out in the field, being there with these children and their families.”
While her schedule has her working non-stop, she lives by her own mantra, recognizing the endless possibilities that exist for anyone. “I think it is really important to focus on today because it is extremely easy not to, especially when you’re working in fashion and entertainment. You can get emails and phone calls about options and possibilities. You are always finding out what the next thing is going to be. But if you get caught up with wondering and worrying about it, and getting excited about the next big thing, you’re going to miss out on whatever it is you are doing right now.”
Lydia Hearst photographed by Indira Cesarine for The Untitled Magazine #GirlPower Issue
Fashion Editor: Indira Cesarine
Stylist: Kelly Brown
Make-up by Stephen Dimmick
Hair by Frankie Payne
Photographed at Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills
Grab a print copy of the issue today and check out The Untitled Magazine’s behind the scenes video with Lydia below.
LYDIA HEARST BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO – THE #GIRLPOWER ISSUE 8
Photography and Video Direction by Indira Cesarine
This article originally appeared in The #GirlPower Issue of The Untitled Magazine (2015).
