Maisie Williams has revealed she lost nearly two stone in weight in preparation for her latest role as Catherine Dior.
The Game Of Thrones star has revealed she dropped 26Ibs to realistically portray Dior’s emaciated appearance when she returned to Paris after WWII.
Maisie stars in the 10-part Apple TV+ series The New Look, which centres on fashion designers Christian Dior and Coco Chanel during World War II.
The series also explores the previously untold story of fashion designer Christian Dior’s younger sister Catherine, whose character in the biopic is based on Justine Picardie’s book Miss Dior.
Catherine was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo in July 1944 after joining the Resistance and becoming a key member of a covert network which gathered intelligence for the Allies.
Maisie Williams has revealed she lost nearly two stone in weight in preparation for her latest role as Catherine Dior in Apple TV+ series The New Look
The Game Of Thrones star has revealed she dropped 26Ibs to realistically portray Dior’s emaciated appearance when she returned to Paris after WWII (pictured in January 2023)
She was imprisoned by the Nazis at Ravensbrück concentration camp and in order for Maisie to accurately portray her emaciated appearance for scenes set after the war, the actress endured a tough transformation.
Overseen by medical professionals, Maisie has revealed to Harpers Bazaar how she ‘was eating very little’. She managed to lose weight mostly through sweating out fluid just before filming – a technique that boxers and jockeys use before they compete.
‘I had to be up at 4am to start sweating,’ she explained. ‘The night before, at about 7 or 8pm I was allowed to have something salty and dehydrating – some smoked salmon and a tiny glass of wine.
‘Then I had a boiling-hot bath with lots of salts in it. And I sort of levitated to bed and slept for maybe three hours, and woke up and had a handful of nuts.
‘I wouldn’t be able to sleep through the night at this point. I kept waking up and feeling like a marble inside a bottle, rattling around…’
The historical series from Todd A. Kessler also stars Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior and Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel.
John Malkovich also appears as French couturier Lucien Lelong and Emily Mortimer as socialite and close associate of Coco Chanel Elsa Lombardi.
The first look images Maisie was almost unrecognisable in her up-close shot as Mendelsohn’s on-screen sister
Maisie plays Christian Dior’s younger sister Catherine who was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo in July 1944 after joining the Resistance
Catherine Dior was imprisoned by the Nazis at Ravensbrück concentration camp and was then forced to work in the Torgau military prison before her release in April 1945
The series will make its global debut with the first three episodes on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 on Apple TV+, followed by one episode every Wednesday through April 3.
Inspired by true events and filmed exclusively in Paris, the series centres on fashion designers Christian Dior, Coco Chanel as they navigate the horrors of World War II and launch modern fashion.
Set against the World War II Nazi occupation of Paris, the drama focuses on the pivotal moment in the twentieth century when the French city led the world back to life through its fashion icon Dior.
As Dior rises to prominence with his ground-breaking, iconic imprint of beauty and influence, Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer is put into jeopardy.
The historical series from Todd A. Kessler also stars Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel, Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior and John Malkovich as French couturier Lucien Lelong
The interwoven saga follows the surprising stories of Dior’s contemporaries and rivals from Chanel to Pierre Balmain, Cristóbal Balenciaga and more.
It also provides a view into the atelier, designs and clothing created by Christian Dior through collaboration with the House of Dior.
The soundtrack for series is produced by Grammy Award winner Jack Antonoff, and features covers of popular early to mid-twentieth century songs performed by artists including Bleachers, Florence Welch, Lana Del Rey, Matty Healy (The 1975), Beabadoobee, Nick Cave, Perfume Genius and more.
The March issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale from February 8.
