Executive Overview
British actress Emilia Jones has cultivated a career defined by profound versatility, effortless charm, and an unwavering commitment to her craft. First stepping onto cinematic screens at the tender age of eight alongside Anne Hathaway in the 2011 drama One Day, Jones has steadily evolved from a promising child star into an internationally recognized critical darling.
Today, audiences know her best for her powerhouse, Oscar-nominated work in the heartwarming sensation CODA, as well as her recent creative ventures spanning high-profile television adaptations, intense indie films, and immersive biographical projects. Beyond her on-screen accolades, Jones has firmly planted her feet in the beauty and lifestyle sector, stepping up as the official campaign face for Clinique’s iconic Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.
In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview, Jones opens up to ELLE about everything from the realities of maintaining healthy skin during grueling 17-hour filming schedules to her culinary bootcamps in Michelin-star kitchens, her signature beauty routines, and the high-stakes projects defining her next chapter in Hollywood.
Detailed Chronology
Early Beginnings and the Evolution of a Multihyphenate Talent
Jones’s journey into the arts began long before she became a household name. Growing up in a culturally rich environment, she transitioned effortlessly from early bit parts into substantial dramatic roles. Her career trajectory accelerated dramatically following her breakout performance in CODA, where she mastered sign language and vocal performance to deliver a universally praised central character.
Rather than resting on her laurels, Jones has continuously sought out challenging, physically and emotionally demanding roles. From indie psychological dramas to large-scale biographical features, her resume reflects a deliberate choice to avoid typecasting.
Currently, Jones is actively shooting Bad Bridgets, a gritty, rebellious feature directed by Kneecap filmmaker Rich Peppiatt that follows two women raising hell across history. Concurrently, she is preparing for the release of several highly anticipated projects, including the Netflix series adaptation The Retrievals and the culinary-themed indie film Charlie Harper.
The Clinique Partnership: A Multigenerational Legacy
Jones’s partnership with Clinique feels less like a traditional corporate endorsement and more like a homecoming. As the face of the brand’s Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, Jones notes a deeply personal connection to the cosmetics house.
"My mom and grandma actually used Clinique, and I grew up seeing it as a trusted name," Jones shares. "It’s a brand that is genuinely multigenerational."
This authentic connection was put to the test during the production of The 99’ers, an upcoming feature film chronicling the historic victory of the U.S. women’s national soccer team during the 1999 World Cup. Filming under the harsh sun for up to 17 hours a day left cast and crew members battling severe dehydration and skin irritation. According to Jones, her secret weapon on set was the Clinique Moisture Surge line.
"We were filming outside in the sun for hours, and everybody’s skin was so dry," she recalls. "It was hard to find moisturizers that were hydrating and didn’t make me break out. When we were shooting, some of the girls were like, ‘Why is your skin glowy?’ They went out and bought some Moisture Surge too, and then suddenly we all started using it."
Supporting Context & Metrics
The Skin Care and Hair Care Arsenal
For an actress constantly navigating changing time zones, heavy stage and screen makeup, and unpredictable weather, maintaining a strict wellness routine is paramount. Jones admits to being an avid consumer of "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) videos, using them as a diagnostic tool to refine her regimen.
"I watch those videos to see if I’m missing out on any products," she explains. "I travel a lot and am here, there, and everywhere. I like having a routine, particularly in the morning and night, and it’s lovely and calming."
Emilia’s Curated Beauty Breakdown:
- The Base Regimen: Jones utilizes a prescription tretinoin cream for acne management, paired alongside the Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and the Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.
- Sun Protection: A recent convert to daily SPF protection—thanks to a warning from an L.A. insider about the aging process—she relies on Clinique Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 50 and products from Obagi.
- The Double-Cleansring Method: To preserve cotton pads and efficiently dissolve heavy cinema makeup, Jones pairs Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm with Bioderma Sensibo H2O Micellar Water.
- The Makeup Bag Staple: Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, a hybrid balm-and-lipstick that she employs across nearly all her film sets.
- Hair Care and Styling: To combat the drying effects of professional styling, Jones relies on luxury treatments from Sisley Paris (specifically their Hair Care Oil and Restructuring Nourishing Balm), Roz (founded by hairstylist Mara Roszak), and texture sprays from Oribe and Sam McKnight.
Method Acting and Culinary Bootcamps
Jones’s dedication to authenticity extends far beyond skincare. In preparation for her role as a Michelin-star chef in the indie film Charlie Harper (slated for release in September), Jones traded her traditional comfort foods for intensive culinary training inside a professional kitchen at the Ritz.
"I didn’t really cook before that, and went into the Ritz kitchen to train. It was hard but fun," she reflects. Stationed on the grueling amuse-bouche line, Jones experienced firsthand the intense adrenaline and physical stamina required of professional chefs. "I was shadowing a lot of the chefs, and then I ended up running the amuse-bouche station. It was so hard. I didn’t actually think I would be putting food out there, but I did, and it was stressful. Chefs are literally on their feet the whole time, and the hours are crazy."
This culinary immersion crossed over into her preparation for playing Anthony Bourdain’s high-school crush in the biographical feature Tony, directed by Matt Johnson. To capture the aesthetic and zeitgeist of the 1970s, Jones immersed herself in Bourdain’s literary works and even found architectural inspiration in New York City’s famed L’Industrie Pizzeria, studying the mechanics of the open kitchen.
Official Statements
Reflecting on her expansive career trajectory and the stark contrasts between her off-duty comfort and high-glam on-screen transformations, Jones remains grounded in her appreciation for character-driven storytelling.
Discussing her upcoming role in the high-stakes dramatic series The Retrievals—which explores the harrowing true events surrounding women who endured agonizing IVF procedures after a medical worker stole their fentanyl—Jones highlights the emotional gravity of the narrative:
"Normally I play characters that are quite different from myself, but I actually think that my character Gabby is a little bit similar to me, and so that’s going to be really fun."
Whether discussing the nuanced cultural impact of culinary icon Anthony Bourdain, the camaraderie built on the athletic fields of The 99’ers, or the generational trust she places in brands like Clinique, Jones approaches her professional and personal life with a rare blend of humility, intellectual curiosity, and acute self-awareness.
Future Outlook
As Emilia Jones steps into the back half of the decade, her professional pipeline signals a formidable expansion of her artistic range. With Charlie Harper preparing for its September festival and theatrical rollout, and principal photography well underway on Rich Peppiatt’s Bad Bridgets, Jones is actively cementing her status as one of her generation’s most dynamic leading ladies.
Simultaneously, her burgeoning role as a beauty tastemaker and campaign face for Clinique guarantees that her influence will extend well beyond the silver screen. By balancing high-octane indie filmmaking with major television dramas and lifestyle partnerships, Jones has engineered a blueprint for modern stardom—one defined by authenticity, relentless hard work, and a genuine passion for the arts.
