Emily Hampshire — The Bare Magazine

We were excited to capture some BTS glam moments of the gorgeous multi-talented Emily Hampshire getting dolled up for the HCA awards on a recent trip to LA. We also had the pleasure of chatting with Emily about her first graphic novel “Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch”…which we can’t wait to get our hands on April 11th. But wait…there’s more Emily to love on screen soon in “Slip” streaming on the Roku channel beginning April 21st and in “The End of Sex” premiering April 28th. Aside from all her work goodness we chat some bare beauty essential goodness too! Scroll on down and get to know this incomparable bad ass better.

The Bare Magazine: Can you share some of the steps in your journey creating and publishing your first comic book Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch?

Emily Hampshire: It all started when John Domingos (a former talent agent of mine who left film and television to follow his passion for comic books) reached out to see if I’d be interested in doing a comic book. He had started working for Z2 Comics, a company that helps musicians tell their stories through graphic novels, and thought I might have one in me. Creating a comic book had never crossed my mind, but the minute it was presented as this limitless canvas where anything I dream up can come to life on the page, I was IN! I just needed a story.

So, I was watching some vintage Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and I couldn’t stop thinking, “what if there was one sister nobody knew about because she wasn’t part of their reality show.” If I happened to be born a Kardashian, I would’ve been kicked off the show for being too off-brand. And that’s where Amelia was born. Amelia is the black sheep of her famous family of super witches who have just gotten their own reality show, but no one wants Amelia to be part of it because her magic is, well... basic. And by “basic,” I mean bad. When she tries to magically dress for the big red carpet premiere of her family’s show, she ends up with a witch hat permanently stuck on her head. In a world where witches exist, it’s uncool to sport a witch hat. It’s a bit on the nose. Like a hat on a hat... or on a witch.

I was then magically paired up with my comic book writer soul mate, Eliot Rahal, and artist Kristen Gudsnuk. I couldn’t believe that two humans existed who could not only understand what was in my brain but actually execute my vision while taking it up 12 notches with their brand of magic. I’m using the word magic way too much, but that’s what this whole process has felt like. It took waaaaay longer than nine months, but I feel like I finally gave birth to my firstborn child, and I love her more than anything.

Bare: Why would you recommend someone pick up a copy?

EH: I felt so seen in the misfit characters of my youth, like Ramona Quimby, Emily the Strange, and every Judy Blume book. The first time I read the finished comic book, it gave me that same feeling again. So, I would recommend every young person pick it up to feel that rascal connection for the first time, and every my-age person picks it up to relive that feeling.

Also, Kristen Gudsnuk hid soooo many easter eggs from Schitt's Creek, 12 Monkeys and every part of my life deep in the panels so it’s a super fun Where’s Waldo experience to find them all.

Getting zipped by her longtime stylist Annabelle Harron

Bare: Who are some of your current favorite authors/books? Is reading/writing a great self care kind of escape for you?

EH: Geena Davis’ book Dying of Politeness was recommended to me by a journalist who was interviewing me. She said I should read it because um... I think I sounded like I, too, might be “dying of politeness.” I can’t even express how affecting that book has been. I also found Jane Fonda’s book My Life So Far to have left a similar mark. I guess I like reading about actresses’ lives and careers from before my time. But as a straight-up author who isn't an actress, Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir Fun Home is EVERYTHING.

Writing is 100% my greatest escape. The thing I’m always chasing is that moment when you're writing and the story suddenly starts to tell itself. It’s like writing and reading at the same time.

Bare: Is it true that jumping on your new trampoline is a recent addition to your self care routine?

EH: YES! I recently bought an Olympic-size trampoline for my backyard. It’s the most obnoxious thing ever to my neighbors, I’m sure, but I have no regrets. I bounced before this interview, and I’ll bounce after it. It’ll forever be part of my pre and post-interview routine. It does something for my brain. Whatever mood you’re in, if you go and jump on a trampoline, your mood will be lifted. Physics? Brain science? It's one of those.

Bare: Would you say makeup is on the list of things you enjoy that make you feel good? (we heard you have quite a collection of it!?)

EH: I have too much makeup, which is weird because a full face of makeup or putting any effort into how I look is the complete opposite of my personality. But there’s something I love about sitting on the floor in front of a full-length mirror and spending hours doing my makeup. I usually don’t even want to go out after. It’s the doing of it and the art of it that I find soothing. I’ve had my makeup done by amazing artists all my life, so I feel like I’ve picked up a lot of tricks and love to learn new ones and discover new products.

Bare: Has growing your hair out been challenging? Are you looking forward to having long hair again? Do you have any favorite hair care products or stylist who keeps it shaped up?

It’s a love-hate relationship. When I had long hair, I never used anything. I didn’t even own a brush. But with short hair, I have to reserve a drawer for all the products: brushes and combs I need daily. Lately, I’ve been loving the Living Proof Dry Volume and Texture Spray and the Perfect Hair Day Bodybuilder Spray. Also, in Los Angeles, Jill Buck is my savior. She is like the California Goddess of Hair, and then Kirsten Klonz in Toronto is my East Coast angel of hair.

Bare: Can you describe your personal style? You have had a long-standing working relationship with your stylist Annabelle Harron - how has she helped your style evolve?

EH: What I love about Annabelle is that she understands fit and fabric like no other. She finds clothes to fit my body and never makes me feel like there’s something wrong with my body for not fitting the clothes. I knew we were meant to be when I was wearing this J.Mendel dress for the SAG awards, and it hit the floor, and she was like, “You know, you can wear a sneaker under this dress if you want.” She’s so professional, makes the process easy, and is exceptional at her job while being a person I love being around. She’s a rare gem.

Bare: Your skin is so luminous! Have you ever had struggles with it? How does internal care such as stress mgmt and diet come into play?

EH: I feel like I get so many compliments on my skin now. I have to work on this, but I have an album on my phone called “Acne” to show people how bad my skin used to be, so their compliment is eradicated. That is a terrible habit, probably coming from being Canadian and being born into apology. I’m very sun-avoidant. I always have a massive hat on when outside and Elta MD sunscreen (the only one I’ve found that works under makeup and doesn’t make my face sweat). And I re-apply! I used to love to try every skincare product, but I’ve learned that sticking to my Skinceuticals regime is my skin’s favorite. But if I eat too much sugar, I break out, and stress also makes everything... not good.