Skip to content

Top Navigation

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • News
  • Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Career
    • Charity
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now / Your Account
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore InStyle

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The 8 Breakout Hair Color Trends of Winter 2021

      Expect to see these shades all over Instagram. Read More Next
    • What Is a Capsule Wardrobe? 10 Tips to Help You De-Clutter Your Closet

      Fashion designer Misha Nonoo weighs in on the essential items that'll make your 'nothing to wear' days a thing of the past. Read More Next
    • "Maskne" Is a Thing — Here's How to Fight Face Mask Breakouts

      As if stress breakouts weren't bad enough. Read More Next
  • News
  • Fashion

    Fashion

    See All Fashion

    How to Find the Best Color to Wear For Your Skin Tone

    It's not as tricky as you think.
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity

    See All Celebrity

    The 35 Most Naked Dresses of All Time

    Naked dresses are perhaps the most impressive of all red carpet feats. While they may not always make the best-dressed list, they do require a certain breed of celebrity to pull off. Not only do you have to have the balls to risk a wardrobe malfunction, but you have to do it with enough confidence that you look fierce — not terrified — in the photographs. Take Naomi Campbell's appearance in Valentino's couture show during the spring/summer 2019 presentation. The legendary model gracefully strutted down the runway in a see-through gown with a ruffle skirt. (Click through the gallery for the NSFW photo).  Get the inside scoop on all your favorite celebrities with our FREE daily newsletter, InStyle Celebrity. Breaking news, relationship updates, hairstyle inspo, fashion trends, and more direct to your inbox! Let's not forget Rihanna’s infamous CFDA dress either. The girl rocked a completely sheer dress without a bra — and later remarked that her only regret was not wearing a bedazzled thong to match. That, my friends, is dedication. Then, there was the year 2015, when the Met Gala saw not one nor two but three naked dresses on the red carpet, all worn by Hollywood’s hottest A-listers. Jennifer Lopez, above, bared her famous curves in a custom Atelier Versace illusion gown. Beyoncé was nearly naked in Givenchy. And Kim Kardashian West almost looked modest in comparison in her sheer Roberto Cavalli dress, because no one’s getting naked without KKW joining in. Click through to see the best naked dresses of all time.
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty

    13 Steps You Can Take to Stop Stubborn Cystic Acne, According to Experts

    If you're struggling with breakouts on your chin and jaw area, read this. 
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair

    Hair

    See All Hair

    The 5 Haircut Trends That Will Dominate 2020

    The beginning of the new year comes with the irresistible urge to start over fresh, which means it's a great time to get a haircut.  This decade's first big hair trends include looks at every length that can be tailored to your hair texture and personal style. For anyone with a blunt bob — the most popular haircut of the past few years — you probably already guessed that the cut will still be going strong into the next decade. But there will be a few tweaks. As seen on Kerry Washington, 2020's bob has textured, softer edges, and looks amazing whether you part it down the middle or off to the side.  RELATED: The 10 Hairstyles You'll See Everywhere This Winter But if you swear that 2020 is going to be the year you finally grow out your hair, let Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian's extra-long lengths be your inspiration. Or, you can get the look instantly with the help of some clip in extensions.  To help you figure out how to wear your hair in the new year, we've rounded up the five biggest haircut trends of 2020, so you'll be sure of what you want before you head to the salon in January.  VIDEO: The Five Biggest Haircut Trends of 2020
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle

    Your Essential Keto Grocery List

    If you're embarking on the keto diet, here are the must-have items to add to your cart.
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues

    Politics & Social Issues

    See All Politics & Social Issues

    Joe Biden Broke Barack Obama's Nationwide Popular Vote Record

    Obama's record goes back to 2008.
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Career
    • Charity
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture

    Pop Culture

    See All Pop Culture

    Introducing InStyle's First Podcast: Ladies First with Laura Brown

    Join editor in chief Laura Brown as she talks to trailblazers like Emily Ratajkowski, Michelle Pfeiffer and Storm Reid about their historic "firsts" in the industry.
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    See All Shopping

    The 13 Best Shapewear Pieces to Shop, According to Thousands of Customer Reviews

    Upgrade your lingerie drawer with these top-rated body shapers.
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now / Your Account
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Celebrity Chevron Right
  3. Why Gugu Mbatha-Raw Wears Her Hair Naturally Curly Onscreen

Why Gugu Mbatha-Raw Wears Her Hair Naturally Curly Onscreen

By Samantha Simon
Updated Apr 12, 2018 @ 9:00 am
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Tom Schirmacher/Welcome Management

Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s acting portfolio boasts roles like a bonnet-wearing 18th-century aristocrat in Belle, a violet-haired pop star in Beyond the Lights, and a futuristic astronaut in The Cloverfield Paradox, to name a few. It’s impossible to predict whom the 35-year-old is going to play next—and that’s just how she likes it. “No one wants to be stuck in a box,” Mbatha-Raw says. “I have a short attention span and want to keep myself interested. Variety is the spice of life, and I never want to get bored.”

At our New York City shoot, she is in full-on storytelling mode, assigning personalities to the many hats she tries on. An oversize green Mulberry topper is “very My Fair Lady,” a straw-bow Delpozo style is appropriately dubbed Minnie Mouse, and a wide-brimmed Elie Saab design is so “Anne of Green Gables” that Mbatha-Raw jokes she should go get some honey from her bees as she poses.

Start Slideshow

1 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Hats Off

Credit: Tom Schirmacher/Welcome Management

There’s no doubt that Mbatha-Raw loves what she refers to as the dress-up element of getting into character, but when it comes to her hair and makeup, she prefers to keep things simple. “I feel most beautiful when I’m not being perceived as beautiful,” she says over coffee in Brooklyn a few days after our shoot. “If I’m not thinking about what I look like, then I’m just happy and free to be myself.” Growing up in rural Oxfordshire, “a million miles away from Hollywood or any big city,” she was raised by her English mom, a nurse, and her South African dad, a doctor, to “nurture the soul, spirit, and intelligence rather than the exterior.” That notion has stuck with Mbatha-Raw, so it’s been a process for her to accept the value placed on appearance in the entertainment industry. “I’ve had to come to terms with the concept of beauty without judging it as a vacuous thing,” she says. “My image is part of my job, but I’m getting more comfortable with knowing that it doesn’t define who I am or mean that I’m a superficial person. It’s about expressing yourself.” 

Both on and off camera, Mbatha-Raw favors wearing her voluminous, curly hair as is. If a project specifically calls for another hairstyle, “it really has to support the story,” she says, explaining that her role in 2014’s Beyond the Lights was one such case. “My character ultimately took out her purple weave and wore her hair natural, which was essential in the evolution of her authenticity.” For The Cloverfield Paradox, which hit Netflix in February, she was determined to have her character depicted just as authentically. “I was quite adamant about showing my natural hair onscreen, because I had never really seen anyone with hair like mine in a sci-fi movie,” she says. “Images are so important, and I thought it was an opportunity for little girls growing up mixed to feel included and see that they can be an astronaut too.” Though her hair appeared totally natural in the film, she did get a bit of added length from extensions. “I could never shed the character because I was literally carrying her on my scalp,” she says. “That was hard, because at the end of the day, you really want to strip it all back and just be you.”

RELATED: 10 Times Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Style Was Absolutely Flawless

1 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Au Naturale Beauty 

Credit: Tom Schirmacher/Welcome Management

Mbatha-Raw is all for a toned-down look, and after having her hair pressed into a retro “wet set” style for the upcoming 1950s drama Motherless Brooklyn, she gained a newfound appreciation for today’s more relaxed beauty standards. “I’m grateful that in the 21st century, I have the freedom to go to yoga or SoulCycle without having to worry about what I look like,” she says. “But even though I’m constantly running around barefaced with wet hair, I really do respect that element of putting yourself together before you step out the front door. There’s definitely power in making a choice about how you present yourself to the world, as long as you never feel tied to wearing a mask.”

Disguises are limited to the big screen for Mbatha-Raw, who doesn’t plan on pursuing a full-time gig on TV anytime soon. “I have to say, I’m a bit of a commitment-phobe,” she says with a laugh. “I just can’t get my head around the idea of playing one character for several years right now, which is why I like film. It’s nice to have a beginning, middle, and end. That way, you know where you’re going.” She might know where she’s headed, but one thing’s for sure: Her audience certainly never will. 

For more stories like this, pick up the May issue of InStyle, available on newsstands, on Amazon, and for digital download April 13.SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE IMAGES

2 of 6

3 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Tom Schirmacher/Welcome Management

3 of 6

Advertisement

4 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Tom Schirmacher/Welcome Management

4 of 6

5 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Tom Schirmacher/Welcome Management

5 of 6

6 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Tom Schirmacher/Welcome Management

6 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Samantha Simon

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 6 Hats Off
2 of 6 Au Naturale Beauty 
3 of 6
4 of 6
5 of 6
6 of 6

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
InStyle InStyle

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Accolades Licensing
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
InStyle is part of the Meredith Beauty Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com

View image

Why Gugu Mbatha-Raw Wears Her Hair Naturally Curly Onscreen
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.