From the sombre scene in Shame (2011) where she sings a heart-wrenching rendition of New York New York, to clinking champagne glasses in Saltburn (2023), to opening an Oxford University acceptance letter in An Education (2009), Carey Mulligan’s repertoire is one for the ages. Her most recent film, Ballad of Wallace Island, in which she stars alongside Tim Key and Tom Basden, was recently nominated for a BAFTA, and her upcoming project – a new adaptation of Narnia, directed by Greta Gerwig – officially wrapped filming last month, due to launch on Netflix later this year.
This weekend, Mulligan will travel to New York with her husband (Marcus Mumford) who will be performing on Saturday Night Live. When discussing her outfit for the starry SNL after party, Mulligan explains that she’ll be borrowing something from a friend who has been sending options via a succession of selfies – her outlook on such high-calibre occasions refreshingly uncomplicated and upbeat.
But before she jets off stateside, Mulligan is in Milan attending Prada’s AW26 runway – a firm highlight on the fashion month schedule. She’s been a Prada fan for years. In fact, the house was the first to ever dress her for a big event, back when she was doing press junkets for An Education. Since then, the relationship has blossomed: she wore Prada to her first-ever Oscars, to the Met Gala, and even on her wedding day, with Mrs Prada making her a custom dress for the occasion.
ELLE UK caught up with the actor as she got ready for the AW26 show, talking everything from Greta Gerwig and upcoming projects to her most memorable Prada moments.
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@tiziano.raw
On Her Look For The Show
‘Ok, so it’s basically pyjamas. It’s like a uniform – an oversized longer top and baggy trousers. Just beautiful. And a coat, but I don’t think I’m going to need it because it’s so lovely out. Super cosy and easy. I love it for how simple it is, but it’s got really gorgeous ruffles at the top too. It’s got something about it that makes it elegant and chic, yet super easy to wear. It’s a dream.’
On Her Enduring Relationship With Prada
‘Prada was the first designer house to dress me. It was the early days during An Education stuff, and I got to wear a mixture of Prada and Miu Miu. Then they also dressed me for my first ever Oscars and then I went to the Met Ball with them – the dress for that was so quirky and punk. And they also made my wedding dress, which was gorgeous. This was all within a couple of years of each other.’
@tiziano.raw
@tiziano.raw
On Her Personal Style
‘I like not having to think, so I love coordinated looks because they’re just simple. In the last [Prada] collection, there was a look that looked like a jumpsuit but wasn’t – it was a shirt and trousers. I have that in a couple of different colours. It’s just easy when you have a little one and it’s just one-and-done. But I’m up for stretching beyond the bounds for red carpets and shows and things – I’m open to playing more and having a bit more fun with colour. ‘
On Her Role In Saltburn
‘I don’t think I had an inkling of who I was playing in Saltburn until I had the costume. So much about how I played that character [Pamela] was literally dictated by what she was wearing. There were things I wore that were so restrictive; I could barely turn my head. It became part of the character – that she was someone so keen to be wearing the most fashionable and iconic thing that it was restricting her movement and her ability to have a conversation.
In Maestro, the costume informed the process. We started with things like hemlines that made me look like I was in my 20s – and we went all the way up to my late 50s.’
@tiziano.raw
@tiziano.raw
On Her Friends As Her Muses
‘I’m just inspired by the people around me and the way they look. I’m going to New York this weekend to go to SNL because Marcus [Mumford] is playing. I had packed for this trip before I realised I had to go to an after-party. I was literally packing as if to go skiing because of the blizzard. So, I texted my friend Molly Howard and she started sending me photographs of herself in five different outfits from her wardrobe. They all looked so cool, I was like, “Great, when I get there, I’ll just come over and find it all.”‘
On Getting Ready For The Prada Show
‘I don’t know if I have many rituals. I was listening to [the band] Geese today – that was running while we were getting ready. Mostly I just try and get a hold of good coffee. Honestly, it is so lovely for someone to just be touching your head and making you look nice. It feels almost like self-care at this point, being taken care of by brilliant artists.’
@tiziano.raw
@tiziano.raw
On Working With Greta Gerwig On Narnia (2026)
‘Oh my goodness, I loved it. I want to work with Greta forever. Seeing her in her element directing was just amazing – she’s just unbelievable. I’ve not seen a single moment where she has looked stressed or unhappy or any sort of normal emotion that you might feel directing an absolutely enormous film like this. She’s a complete joy – and that was infectious to the crew. Just the happiest crew, best cast. I can’t wait to see what she’s put together.’
On Advice For Her Younger Self
‘You know what? It’s all tomorrow’s chip paper. Just enjoy these amazing, wonderful opportunities to go and see beautiful things. Getting to sit in a Prada show and watch the most beautiful creations coming out of those doors – what a privilege. I would just tell [myself] to enjoy how lucky I am to be there.’
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