Claire Foy was the only British star chosen to cover Vanity Fair’s quarter of a century issue as 12 Hollywood heavyweights came together to celebrate the past year.
She joined the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Chastain and Gal Gadot in a stellar line-up as the A-list came together to showcase some of the most powerful figures in the movie industry.
Vanity Fair wrote: ‘The films and TV shows represented by the actors in this year’s Hollywood Portfolio—which for the first time offers a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot—took the #MeToo movement in stride, offering strong women in leading roles, as well as strong men supporting them.’
All stars: (L-R) Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hanks, Michael B Jordan, Zendaya, Jessica Chastain Claire Foy, Michael Shannon, Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Robert De Niro all appear in Vanity Fair’s new portfolio of Hollywood’s finest
They added: ‘Here we have Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman summoning the women’s battle cry of Big Little Lies, alongside Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee, the indispensable sidekick to The Post heroine Katharine Graham.
‘There’s also Claire Foy and Gal Gadot, embodiments of their formidable characters, the Queen and Wonder Woman, and one possible future female president in the mix.’
The full line-up includes: Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hanks and Michael B Jordan. There’s also Zendaya, Jessica Chastain, Claire Foy, Michael Shannon, Harrison Ford and Gal Gadot.
This year’s main image took place in LA and New York and saw iconic photographer, Annie Leibovitz photographing film and TV’s most iconic actors. Editor-in-chief Graydon Carter launched the Hollywood Issue 20 years ago. Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter also joins Robert De Niro in the iconic snap.
Best of British: Claire Foy was the only British star to appear on the cover, with Vanity Fair remarking that she embodied the formidable character of The Queen in her hit Netflix series, The Crown
As seen on screen: Claire has played Queen Elizabeth in the Crown over two seasons that detailed her marriage to Philip, her accession to the throne and her struggle to balance her constitutional role with being a wife and mother and a devoted sister
Claire looked sensational for the cover image, oozing glamour in a nude ballgown with a feathered bodice and bardot sleeves.
The garment flared out into a full length tulle skirt which showed her long legs, the height of which she boosted with a pair of nude patent court heels.
Iconic: There’s also one possible future female president in the mix, in the form of Oprah Winfrey on the cover
Claire wore her glossy chestnut locks swept back away from her pretty features, whilst she bore a slick of red lipstick on her pump pout whilst posing up a storm amongst the other cover stars.
Claire has played Queen Elizabeth in the Crown over two seasons that detailed her marriage to Philip, her accession to the throne and her struggle to balance her constitutional role with being a wife and mother and a devoted sister to Princess Margaret.
Moving forward, though, as the series jumps several years, the role of Elizabeth is being taken over in season three by Olivia Coleman, from The Night Manager and Broadchurch.
Helena Bonham Carter is set to replace Vanessa Kirby as Margaret and while no-one has yet been officially cast as Philip, there are rumors that Paul Bettany is in talks for the role.
Representing the best of British was Claire Foy – who graced the cover in a nude tulle gown – and was chosen to join the stars following the magazine claims she ’embodies’ the strength of her character, Queen Elizabeth in The Crown.
Speaking about how feminism played a part in the role and her research of the monarch, Claire previously told Vogue: ‘I think that everybody who has ever met her [The Queen] has nothing but good things to say about her.
‘She has time for everyone and gives everybody her attention, and I think that’s extraordinary. Also, the idea that she’s sort of a feminist, it’s a bit of a misconception as well. In the sense that she may be an icon of femininity and women, but she did say “love, honor, and obey” in her marriage vows.
‘She would have very happily lived a classic 1950s marriage. I think her strength has come from not doing that, but I think she wasn’t a willing participant in that.’
Best of British: Representing the Brits was Claire Foy and was chosen to join the stars as the magazine claims she ’embodies’ the strength of her character, Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown (pictured with Michael C Hall, Jodi Balfour and Matt Smith)
A regal figure: Claire Foy famously plays The Queen in The Crown alongside Matt Smith
Jessica Chastain, 40, looks incredible in a red off-shoulder dress as she takes centre stage in the shoot. She has 30 films under her belt and her Help co-star Octavia Spencer recently spoke out about how she helped them both earn raises on their new comedic film project.
The 47-year-old told the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s ‘Women Breaking Barriers’ panel that Chastain spoke to her over a year ago about doing a comedy together.
And six months later, she said they were talking about pay equity, but she revealed Jessica had no clue that women of colour can earn less in the industry.
‘She had no idea what it was like for women of colour’: Octavia Spencer (right) recently revealed Jessica Chastain (left) fought for them to get equal pay and earned them both a huge raise on their new movie – pictured at the Golden Globes on January 7
Words: She told the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that Chastain spoke to her over a year ago about doing a comedy together – a still from The Help
She said: ‘Here’s the thing, women of colour on that spectrum, we make far less than white women. So, if we’re gonna have that conversation about pay equity, we gotta bring the women of colour to the table.
‘And I told her my story, and we talked numbers, and she was quiet, and she said she had no idea that that’s what it was like for women of colour.’
Octavia added: ‘She said, “You and I are gonna be tied together. We’re gonna be favored nations, and we’re gonna make the same thing, you are going to make that amount”.’
She revealed that last week, she was earning five times more than what she had asked for.
Support: Reese Witherspoon spoke about the #MeToo movement during her tribute to her Big Little Lies co-star, Nicole Kidman at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in November – a still from the TV series
Spreading a message: (L-R) Actor/producer Nicole Kidman, author Liane Moriarty, actor/producer Reese Witherspoon and producer Bruna Papandrea attend the after party of HBO’s Big Little Lies at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on February 7
Reese Witherspoon spoke about the #MeToo movement during her tribute to her Big Little Lies co-star, Nicole Kidman at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in November.
She praised her for her work on the TV series, as she presented her with the Film Tribute Award and said she believes her portrayal of the character, Celeste Wright, may have helped women in a similar position to come forward.
She said: ‘I’m here to talk about one of my favorite people, Nicole Kidman. My beautiful, soulful, talented friend Nicole.
Talking about her role as Celeste, she said: ‘[She] showed the intricacies of what so many women are going through in abusive relationships, and I truly believe this helped open up the conversation that so many people are having now about people who are facing this same struggle with abuse and harassment in their own lives.’
Role model: Nicole Kidman (pictured left at the 2018 Golden Globes) has spoken up about the #MeToo movement, and recently praised her feminist icon mother Janelle (pictured together right at the 2004 ceremony) for all her guidance
Meanwhile, Nicole has spoken up about the #MeToo movement, previously vowing to do her best to support those who have been impacted. ‘A lot of it is based in helping each other. And feeling safe and being heard,’ she told Ten News.
Her message was amplified during her acceptance speech for the Best Actress in a Limited Series award that she picked up at the Golden Globes, where she thanked her feminist activist mother. 77-year-old Janelle, who lives in Sydney, worked as a nursing instructor and was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, a non-profit feminist lobby group founded in 1972.
And Queen of Hollywood Nicole, 50, gushed over her mother Janelle, telling the audience: ‘My momma was an advocate for the women’s movement when I was growing up, and because of her I’m standing here.
‘My achievements are her [Janelle’s] achievements. Antonia Kidman, my sister, and I say thank you Janelle Kidman for what you fought for so hard.’
Future President? Oprah, who graces the cover in an all-black haute couture dress, became the first black woman to win the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award. She caused a ripple with her empowering speech at the event
Oprah, who graces the cover in an all-black haute couture dress, became the first black woman to win the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award, caused a ripple with her empowering speech at the event, which led to calls for her to become 2020 President.
She said: ‘I want all of the girls watching here now to know, that a new day is on the horizon.’
However, Oprah recently shut down requests for her to start a career in politics, explaining that she does not want to take on Donald Trump in a run for US president because she does not ‘have the DNA’ for it.
In the talk with InStyle which would have been conducted in mid-December, she said: ‘I’ve always felt very secure and confident with myself in knowing what I could do and what I could not. And so it’s not something that interests me. I don’t have the DNA for it.’
Taking a stand: Wonder Women star Gal Gadot came to prominence with the role, but also for refusing to sign on for a sequel unless accused sexual harasser Brett Ratner (right) was removed from the franchise
Wonder Women star Gal Gadot appears on the cover in a glamorous gown featuring a feathered bodice and sheer tulle skirt. The 32-year-old Israeli actress came to prominence with the role, but also for refusing to sign on for a sequel unless accused sexual harasser Brett Ratner was removed from the franchise. Ratner, through his attorney, has vehemently denied the allegations against him.
She confirmed the news on NBC’s Today Show, as when asked about the claims she explained: ‘The truth is, there’s so many people involved in making this movie, it’s not just me, and they all echoed the same sentiments. Everyone knew what was the right thing to do.’
A source told Page Six at the time: “She’s tough and stands by her principles. She also knows the best way to hit people like Brett Ratner is in the wallet.
‘She also knows that Warner Bros has to side with her on this issue as it develops. They can’t have a movie rooted in women’s empowerment being part-financed by a man accused of sexual misconduct against women.’
Woman of the moment: Gal plays the titular role in Wonder Woman but claimed she wouldn’t have starred in the sequel unless she was comfortable with the cast and crew on board
At just 21-years-old former child star Zendaya is the youngest star to grace the cover, but has been vocal about the fight for equality between the genders and the role that celebrities play in inspiring young women.
Speaking to Flare magazine, The Greatest Showman star reasoned: ‘In the words of Tupac Shakur: I am a real model because I’m not playing a role and I’m not pretending to be some good kid that’s perfect. It just happens that I’m a good kid, and I don’t do bad stuff and I like to be positive because that’s just how I was raised. I think if I were faking it, then you would’ve seen me break character a long time ago…
‘A feminist is a person who believes in the power of women just as much as they believe in the power of anyone else. It’s equality, it’s fairness, and I think it’s a great thing to be a part of.’
The Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue is out on February 2.
Speaking out: At just 21-years-old former child star Zendaya is the youngest star to grace the cover, but has been vocal about the fight for equality between the genders and the role that celebrities play in inspiring young women