Julia Roberts gets dark for Givenchy

LONDON — Julia Roberts is often associated with her megawatt smile and twinkling teeth, as seen in her Lancome ads for the brand’s La Vie Est Belle perfume. Hats off to the actress then, for embracing something darker for 2015.

The 47-year-old was handpicked by Givenchy’s creative director Riccardo Tisci to star in the French fashion house’s new ads and there’s not a flash of Roberts’ famous smile in sight.

“The mood of the show was about this very powerful woman and Julia represents this very much,” Tisci said of the spring 2015 ads, which will break in the March issues of monthly titles.

Sporting minimal make-up and Givenchy’s core, boyish offering of clothes, the result is an arresting set of portraits captured by revered photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

“I decided to make her more intellectual, more serious, more pure,” explained Tisci. “It’s a different, fresh, new way to see Julia — really cool and urban, I think.”

And the Italian designer is clearly in awe of the Pretty Woman star. “She’s incredible as a woman. I love her so much: she’s funny, ironic, intelligent, cultured — everything.”

Having been largely out of the spotlight for several years, Roberts made a return to the red carpet late last year to promote August: Osage County and attended the SAG Awards, Golden Globes and Oscars — the last for which she wore Givenchy Haute Couture.

“She represents the couture part,” said Tisci. “It’s important to show your iconic work. I want to build what is the real classic wardrobe.”

Roberts will share the campaign with a slew of younger models on location as Tisci’s campaigns often juxtapose studio shots and outdoorsy images.

Roberts is set to grace screens next year in The Secret In Their Eyes, a drama co-starring Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH