Manning Cartell

Australia’s Jessica Gomes​ is well-known for her modelling but recently has also been busy acting in Hollywood films. She worked alongside Bruce Willis in the action comedy Going Under and alongside Owen Wilson in Bastards, out in November. Gomes, 29, talks to me about the highlights of this week’s David Jones‘ autumn/winter fashion launch, her favourite style trends for the season and her intimate scenes with Bruce Willis.

 

How did you prepare for the David Jones fashion show?

I’ve been boxing almost three days a week, which has been really good. Just eating healthy, getting lots of sleep, just really taking care of myself. I think it’s important for me to just feel energised when every time before David Jones. It is a lot of press and a lot of long hour days so I definitely make sure that I’m in good shape and I’m well rested.

Do you still get nervous on the catwalk?

I still get butterflies definitely before each show, especially the VIP nights because everyone has worked so tirelessly beforehand. So, you just don’t want anything to go wrong. It’s good nerves. But I remember my first show, I was so nervous because it was my first time being the ambassador and it’s a big deal and big responsibility. So, I was definitely nervous then but now, I’m more comfortable, within my role and I feel like it’s just so much fun.

What are some of the trends we’ll be seeing this season?

We’re seeing Victorian designs, which are kind of high neck, lace black. Another trend is eastern prints, which is involves lots of ethnic prints from the Far East.

Do you have one fashion item that you’ve seen in the collection that you couldn’t live without this season?

I am loving the Camilla and Marc  long trench coat blazer, which Cath McNeil is actually wearing in the campaign and it’s something that you can put over a dress, an evening gown, you can put over jeans and a T-shirt.

What’s the first thing you do when you get back to Australia?

Usually, I’ll go grab a coffee and go down to Bondi and do a soft sand run and go for a swim because it just brings me back down to earth. After a big flight it just grounds me.

Congratulations on your recent acting roles. Has it always been a goal of yours to be an actress?

Well, I started out acting on a TV show in Perth, when I was 10 years old and then kind of modeling just kind of took over because modeling was easy. I mean, it was great money, I got to travel the world, I loved fashion and I loved the lifestyle that I got to live. I did study at Stella Adler. I did work with some great coaches like Susan Batson, who has worked with Nicole Kidman. So acting has definitely always been there for me, but now doors have opened for me and I’m pushing through them and seeing where it takes me. Now, it’s definitely something that I’m more focused on versus modeling.

What was it like to work with Bruce Willis and Owen Wilson?

Bruce was amazing. I mean, he was very supportive. One of our first scenes together was quite intimate. So that was interesting and I was kind of like, “Oh I wonder how it’s going to go,” but he totally guided me. He was very respectful. He knew where I was at, in my training so that was great. Working with Owen and Ed Helms and Glenn Close was a trip. It was just amazing to witness them at work together and just meeting these incredible actors that I’ve looked up to, really blew my mind and really gave me that confidence and encouragement that I can be alongside these players.

Were you nervous to do the intimate scene with Bruce Willis?

I was nervous. I mean I was telling myself, “How do I even do this?” I’m used to taking my clothes as a swimsuit model but this is actually me being intimate with somebody, which is a sacred thing. Before we went on set, Bruce actually called me to a trailer and we had a conversation and that really helped. And then as soon as we got into it, the first take, it was really fun and it was fine. In fact, I was like, “You know what, I’m just going to do it. This is happening right now and it’s real.”

Was it hard to block out the camera and crew?

It was a closed set so there weren’t a lot of people around us. It was actually really great. It was a great scene. Like a lot of actors say that sex scenes are really awkward for them. But it wasn’t awkward for me. It felt really natural and really beautiful.

Did you receive any really valuable advice from Ed Helms and Owen Wilson?

Ed Helms told me that with auditioning, it’s just good to be over-prepare to the point where you’re like, “It doesn’t matter what happens.” I think that’s the difference between modeling and acting… you have to really prepare for acting roles where with modeling, where you can kind of just arrive and go, “Hey.”… That’s the one thing that, that work ethic has been the challenge for me, for sure. It’s just a different type of a process, creative process, really.

Is comedy what you always wanted to do?

I think it was just a natural instinct. I didn’t even realise I wanted to get into comedy. Because before that I was going for really dramatic roles, playing these badass chicks. With these two roles, it was interesting, because when I went into the audition, and I was kind of going through the motions of it, I was like, “Oh, I’m actually really funny.” [Laughs] I didn’t even realise that I had that comedy streak in me, until I was able to just let go and be like, “Oh yeah, I’m pretty funny.” It was just kind of like a light bulb moment, and where other people were finding me funny! It was nice that I got to let my hair down and just be me.

What would be your dream role?

I would love to do lots of indie films and to play a Bond girl would be amazing.

Who’s someone you look up to and admire?

I love Charlize Theron because I think she’s super ballsy and just fearless. I love Jennifer Lawrence because she’s funny and I love Marion Cotillard, she’s just so talented.

 

WE WENT TO One Street Over, Sydney CBD

WE ATE  Scrambled eggs with prosciutto and scrambled eggs with spinach.

WE DRANK Coffee and orange juice

JESSICA WORE Manning Cartell dress.

I WORE Ginger and Smart dress.