Halston Sage — The Bare Magazine

Halston Sage is not only obviously gorgeous but kind, stylish, funny and so, so talented. You can see her magical work as the ambitious Ainsley Whitly in the “Prodigal Son,” premiering January 12th on Fox. We were lucky enough to snag a few moments with Halston in New York City as she wrapped filming for the upcoming season, which had been shut down due to Covid-19. Needless to say, our photo shoot with the actress followed all pandemic safety protocols—but we didn’t let that hamper our good time! With a masked crew, Halston promptly picked out outfits inspired by the glamour of Old Hollywood and fell seamlessly into stellar character. Read more about her style icons, bicoastal lifestyle and dream roles below.

The Bare Magazine: Can you catch us up and share a bit about your journey since production shut down in March to getting back to it this fall in NYC?

Halston Sage: Last March, we wrapped the first season of “Prodigal Son” two weeks early due to the pandemic. Luckily, we had filmed the episodes out of order to accommodate scheduling conflicts, so we had already shot the finale by the time we had to go into quarantine. And the writers were able to throw together a few new scenes for our last day on set that bridged the gap between the missing episodes. So, the show was able to be edited so that the audience got to see the season end the way our showrunners intended. After we wrapped, I packed up my NYC apartment and moved back to LA where I spent the next six months with my family taking lots of wine walks, and having many Girls’ Night Zooms with my friends. I’m also a student at NYU, and my classes moved online, which kept me busy over the summer. I finally moved back to New York in September to start filming the second season of the show. I’ve been very grateful to be back at work, which has restored some normalcy to my life!

Bare: Which personality traits of your character, Ainsley, are similar to yours and which aren’t?

HS: Ainsley is driven and motivated to succeed in her profession, which I can relate to! We both love our jobs and share a very energetic, curious personality. I can also appreciate Ainsley’s relationship with her brother— I’m very close to my siblings and would do anything to protect them and my family—minus the murder!

Bare: In what way has the cast of "Prodigal Son" been influential and inspiring to you as an actor and a person?

HS: The whole cast is so talented—I feel very lucky to be on a show with actors who are always surprising me in ways that motivate me both on and off screen. Michael and Tom each have this incredible ability to perform such dark, dramatic scenes and then walk off set with a smile. I really enjoy my “dining room” scenes with Bellamy and Tom as well because they are always upbeat, yet their performances are layered with the darkness of their characters’ history. The whole family dynamic explored in the show is complicated, yet the Whitley’s find a way to enjoy each other’s company and talk about murder like most families talk about what they had for lunch.

Bare: Are there any other genres of work you'd like to explore? Any writers/directors/actors you admire and would love to work with?

HS: COMEDY COMEDY COMEDY. YES PLEASE WRITE THAT IN ALL CAPS. I started my career on a sitcom and have been lucky to find a great balance bouncing back and forth between dramatic series and comedic films, but I’m definitely ready to go back to where I started, and be a part of some funny projects. I had the best experience working with Nicholas Stoller and Seth Rogen filming “Neighbors,” so I would love to reunite with them on something...I’m a fan of Katie Silberman’s writing and how she is creating amazing (and hilarious!) roles for women...working with Damien Chazelle would be a dream...

Bare: You're pretty bicoastal. Can you compare and contrast your time in LA to NYC? What are some of your favorite things to do in each place? Would you ever live in NY?

HS: I always wanted to live a bicoastal lifestyle. Even before I moved to New York for work, I would come out here on weekend trips all the time. I love the energy and the culture of the city. There is always a show to see, an exhibit to experience, THE BEST pizza to eat! Living in Manhattan in my 20s is so much fun, but I can’t imagine calling any place other than LA my home. My family is there, and I love being able to go for a long walk with my dog without being wrapped up in a sleeping bag-sized coat.

Bare: Your appreciation of fashion is apparent, and you wear it all so well. Who are some of your favorite designers and why?

HS: I live in Alexander Wang. I like that his pieces are always fashion-forward with an edge. I love Khaite and Nili Lotan—both embody that chic New York style. Alessandra Rich makes my favorite feminine, colorful dresses. I love attending the Michael Kors shows at fashion week—I also just adore him as a human being! Bottega and Chanel are some of my favorite classics as well as Dior. I wore a Dior dress at my first big LA movie premiere for “Neighbors,” so it has a special place in my heart.

Bare: Did you enjoy channeling Old Hollywood vibes on our shoot? Who are some of your favorite style/beauty icons of the era? Is a red lip your glam go-to?

HS: Yes! A red lip is always my first choice for a night out, because it can change a whole look and elevate it without having to try too hard. I grew up with my grandpa always gifting me books and biographies on old Hollywood actresses like Hedy Lamarr and Audrey Hepburn, which I’m sure influenced my taste in glam.

Bare: Looking at the new year ahead, are there any goals or aspirations you can share?

HS: Over the last few months, I started working on a few tv show and film ideas that I’m hoping to pitch and produce going into the new year! I would also like to get more involved with a few organizations that have always been important to me. I used to volunteer time decorating patients’ rooms at children’s hospitals, but with coronavirus, opportunities like that have been limited. This year has put a lot in perspective for me, and I would really like to make a distinct effort to take care of the people around us who need it most.

Bare: What are your Bare essentials?

Wine

Dark chocolate to eat while drinking the wine

My dog, Louise

Kosas Lip Balm

Hydrangeas (always on my coffee table)

Country music

Barefoot dreams socks

Dior Mascara

Ice cream in bed