Is this the ‘wokest’ Pirelli Calendar? Emma Watson, Kirsten Stewart and Claire Foy lead 2020 spread

In its 55 year history, the Pirelli calendar has been famed for its racy images of naked models… before an image overhaul in recent years aimed to modernise the calendar with a more feminist stance.

After the likes of Lara Stone, Kate Moss, Amy Schumer, Lily Cole and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley bared all for the racy incarnation of the calendar, this year has taken a wholly new direction. 

Emma Watson, 29, Kristen Stewart, also 29, and Claire Foy, 35, lead the new faces of Pirelli’s 2020 calendar, in which they were shot by famed fashion photographer Paolo Roversi, 72, for his Romeo and Juliet inspired vision.   

It was for the 2017 edition, that manufacturers claimed to have ‘ripped up the rule book’, with a new feminist overhaul on the calendar. The inclusion of older models was deemed a step forward. The spread featured Robin Wright, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Rampling, and Helen Mirren (then aged 50, 55, 70 and 71 respectively).

It was in 1973 when the calendar first featured full nudity, with a topless woman in a shoot, and again the following year before it was axed for a decade due to financial constraints. In 1984, it returned in extremely racy style. 

The coming year’s calendar sees Emma, Kirsten and Claire join Yara Shahidi, Mia Goth, Stella Roversi, Rosalia, Indya Moore and Chris Lee as the new faced in the edgy forward-thinking calendar.

Shot by famed fashion photographer Paolo Roversi for his Romeo and Juliet inspired vision, former Harry Potter actress Emma dons an opulent pink Emilia Wickstead dress and white veil as she poses in a derelict room. 

Oh my! In 2010, Daisy Lowe and Catherine McNeil left very little to imagination as they went topless while using a tyre to protect their modesty on the bottom half

Changing with the times... Emma's demure take on Juliet is worlds away from previous shoots

Hot stuff: Model Marloes Horst (right) posed for a smouldering shoot for controversial photographer Terry Richardson in 2009

Changing with the times… Emma’s demure take on Juliet (left) is worlds away from previous shoots such as model Marloes Horst (right) smouldering shoot for controversial photographer Terry Richardson in 2009

Edgy: Kristen displayed her usual androgynous look in the shoot as she glared at the camera in her covered-up look

Edgy: Kristen displayed her usual androgynous look in the shoot as she glared at the camera in her covered-up look

Changes: Kristen's brooding shot displayed her androgynous style in a stark contrast to previous calendars

Sizzling: Marloes Horst (pictured in 2009) has featured in sizzling snaps for the calendar in the past

Changes: Kristen’s brooding shot (left) displayed her androgynous style in a stark contrast to previous calendars (right, Marloes Horst in 2009)

Speaking of being involved in the project with Roversi, Emma revealed: ‘Paolo is someone I have always wanted to work with. His photos look like these unbelievable paintings. ‘It’s lovely to have the narrative behind the image still. I think that makes it a richer image.’

Kristen also enthused about the venture, expressing that she was a ‘huge advocate’ of the character of Juliet because she was ‘a baller.’ Claire also seemed to share the same sentiments as her fellow calendar girls as she was seen looking stunning while posing with the photographer in a black and white snap.

In another image Yara Shahidi looks undeniably glamorous as she shared some words with Paolo

Out and a pout: Gone are the days of scantily-clad models such as Catherine McNeil who was photographed by Terry Richardson

Out and a pout: Gone are the days of scantily-clad models such as Catherine McNeil who was photographed by Terry Richardson

Her Crowning glory: Claire looked striking in the moody shot, which comes a decade after Lily Cole posed for an extremely racy shot

Shock: Lily's shot involved her going totally topless

Her Crowning glory: Claire (left) looked striking in the moody shot, which comes a decade after Lily Cole posed for an extremely racy shot (right)

Similarities? The only shot which harked back to the former style of Pirelli was an  image of Indya Moore with no top on

Similarities? The only shot which harked back to the former style of Pirelli was an  image of Indya Moore with no top on

Italian-born fashion photographer Paolo selected nine stars to interpret the role of Juliet for Italian tyremaker Pirelli’s 2020 calendar. The line-up sees actresses and singers from different countries and cultures across the globe execute their very own take on the theme.

Speaking of the calendar, which was shot in Paris and Verona over the course of a week in May, Roversi revealed: ‘I am still searching for my Juliet and I will be searching all my life. Because Juliet is a dream.’ 

Emma has previously made her feelings of nudity known as she responded to queries about whether she would strip off on-screen by saying: ‘I’ve been saying since I was 16 that if it’s the right role and important for character development and the story, then of course I’ll do it’. 

In 2016, Kristen filmed a nude scene for French director Olivier Assayas’ indie film Personal Shopper. On going nude she said: ‘I wasn’t apprehensive. I feel super great with director Olivier, as well…

Rolling with it: Photographer Paolo Roversi (left, in January) waxed lyrical about romance when he snapped this year's calendar -

Way back: Former photographer Terry Richardson (pictured in 2009) has been slapped with various sexual harassment law suits

 Rolling with it: Photographer Paolo Roversi (left, in January) waxed lyrical about romance when he snapped this year’s calendar – in stark contrast to former photographer Terry Richardson (pictured in 2009) who has been slapped with various sexual harassment law suits 

Wow: Actress Joni Flynn featured in the 1986 carnation of the incredible calendar

Wow: Actress Joni Flynn featured in the 1986 carnation of the incredible calendar 

‘The scenes in which I don’t have clothes on or the scenes that seem ‘risqué’ from an outsider’s perspective, there was no acknowledgement on his part. They’re very f**king French…

‘We are weirder about s**t like that. You kind of have to take yourself personally out of it. My feeling about that is that I’m really unashamed. it’s kind of nice to see someone stripped and bare, totally bare. There’s a strength in it.’

In 2018, Claire said of filming sex scenes: ‘If I never had to do a sex scene again, that would be the best thing in the world, because no one in their right mind would enjoy that. You’re worried about what the crew are thinking, whether they’re really uncomfortable, whether you’re uncomfortable.’  

Moving with the times: Li Yuchun,  better known by her stage name Chris Lee, is a Chinese singer, songwriter, DJ and actress, who opted for an edgy period ensemble

Way back when: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley posed nude in 2009 (right)

Moving with the times: Li Yuchun, (left) better known by her stage name Chris Lee, is a Chinese singer, songwriter, DJ and actress, who opted for an edgy period ensemble. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley posed nude in 2009 (right)

Wow! Spanish singer Rosalía posed in a corset for the shoot branded Looking for Juliet, which involves actresses and singers of different cultures and countries taking on their take on the Shakespearean protagonist

Wow! Spanish singer Rosalía posed in a corset for the shoot branded Looking for Juliet, which involves actresses and singers of different cultures and countries taking on their take on the Shakespearean protagonist 

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