We were thrilled to be able to spend some quality time with Kate Siegel recently as she popped through NYC doing press for “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” You can watch her shine playing Annette (alongside a stellar cast) in the series, which is streaming now on HBO Max. Not one to rest on her laurels, Kate can also been seen in Netflix’s “Midnight Mass,” and is presently working on a new project for the streaming service in Vancouver called “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Phew. Needless to say, she’s not only talented and gorgeous, but high energy! After scrolling through this story, check her out in action in a special BTS video.

The Bare Magazine: What was most intriguing to you about jumping into the role of Annette in “The Time Traveler’s Wife”?

Kate Siegel: When I read the script, she jumped right off the page, love at first sight. Annette is living her best life up until the moment she loses her head!

As a huge Steven Moffatt fan, getting to deliver one of his epic monologues had been on my acting bucket list for a long, long time. Annette is dazzlingly written. In many of my roles, I try to hold myself together. Because in real life, I can be a bit dramatic; I have been called “extra” more than once. Annette helped me embrace that. I found playing someone who sparkles at every turn is so freeing. I didn’t feel like I needed to be cool or aloof. Annette grabs life with both hands and laughs. That freedom was very intriguing. 

Bare: Can you share some pivotal moments, both professionally and personally, that took place during the pandemic?

KS: Having children changed every atom in my body. When the first shut down happened, I had a six-month-old and a two-and-a-half-year-old. So, my family (plus my in-laws and brother-in-law) quarantined together for a full 100 days or so of solitude. It was equal parts a gift and a gauntlet. Then in July 2020, my nuclear family went up to Vancouver to film Midnight Mass. I felt like a brand new person, in the most literal sense. Not shiny and fresh, but slimy and uncertain. Prone to bouts of scream-crying. I didn’t know how to talk to new people, I forgot all my previous (albeit few) social graces. The Midnight Mass cast and crew really came together and kept each other safe and supported during that time. Looking back, those two experiences combined rebuilt me as a person. I love Kate from 2019, but I’m just not her anymore. And I wouldn’t want to be. 

Bare: Are you presently working on a new project that you can tell us about?

KS: I am! Back in my favorite work city Vancouver shooting a new limited series for Netflix called “The Fall of the House of Usher,” based on the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Most of the details are under wraps, but I will tell you it's an absolutely insane ride. 

Bare: What are some of your current passions and interests outside of acting?

KS: Always, always reading. Just anything I can get my hands on. And I got really into nail art during the pandemic and that stuck around. Just painting tiny odd things on my nails with little brushes. Oh, also trying to, ya know, keep the world safe for my children. Shit is deeply flawed and it’s not really working well, and that can’t be ignored. It’s overwhelming, there is so much that needs to be done to protect our basic human rights, and I would rather ignore it all and play Candy Crush, but I try not to let perfect be the enemy of good. Just do something whenever I can, and don’t ever stop. Be the little drop of water that, over enough time, can eventually break the rock. And never shut up about the truth. To be fair,  I’m not the shutting-up type.

Bare: You shared some great skincare finds on our shoot. Remind us of that fab face cream?

KS: Let me tell you, I am a sucker for good marketing, but our special effects makeup artists actually know the best tricks for protecting and repairing skin because they are up close and personal with skin being put through all kinds of drama. They turned me on to a cream called EDAP — it’s not from a fancy brand, and you can get it at makeup artist supply stores or online — and it is so healing and moisturizing. They also got me sleeping in a thin but slimy layer of Aquaphor; my husband thinks it’s hilarious, but it really helps me wake up all glow-y and bouncy.  Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Other times I spend all my money on Micro-Needling and La Mer. Balance, ya know?

Bare: On our shoot you told us not to retouch your underarm hair and keep your skin as makeup-free as possible. Talk to us about your love of realness…

 KS: I'm in a profession where it takes about two hours to get hair/makeup ready for a “just woke up and rolled out of bed” scene, and another hour (or more) to light that scene so we all look great. I KNOW commercial beauty is mostly smoke and mirrors. And even so, I catch myself feeling old, ugly and less-than after spending time scrolling through all the perfect images on the Internet. I should know better, but it still gets to me. And if that is the case, what about people who don’t know how much time and effort goes into those “effortless” images? So, I try to not contribute to the pile of things that make people feel small and unloveable. Also, I think armpit hair is very sexy and I like to be sexy. And once [Bare founder] Tina introduced me to the OGEE lip oils and face sticks, I just knew there didn’t need to be much more on my face to make me feel pretty. And that’s what I hope comes through…that I felt pretty on the day even if I never felt flawless. 

Bare: Take us into your wardrobe and tell us about some style staples, and your love of repurposing/vintage clothing.

KS: My mom loves to remind me that I had AT LEAST three wardrobe changes a day as a little girl. And I would grab anything in the house, nothing was safe. I had terrible boundaries. So, when I grew up, I started to collect clothing. All types. This is not an inexpensive or unobtrusive habit. It was taking up a lot of my money and space. So, I tried to solve that by getting into vintage shopping and being part of the resale market. Slowly, I grew away from fast fashion, and into the love of the hunt. I recently finished André Leon Talley’s autobiography The Chiffon Trenches, and it sent me into a froth over 90’s couture.  I recently snagged a  Lagerfeld-era Chanel jacket that I truly love, but my actual favorite (don’t tell the others) is a vintage Gucci dress with crystal flames up the sleeves—I saved it for the “Midnight Mass” premiere but that never happened. I hope she gets her day in the sun soon.  Big shout out to AGOLDE Jeans, Re/Done X Hanes 1960s t-shirts and The RealReal. You are the real heroes. 

Bare: Can you also tell us about the wardrobe in “The Time Traveler’s Wife”? How much does wardrobe/costume inform you as an actor?

KS: One of the best gifts from “The Time Traveler’s Wife” was meeting and working with the incredible Christopher Peterson. On my first fitting, I walked into Christopher’s office and he had the most gorgeous sketches and inspiration photos for Annette. Then he walked me into a room filled with racks upon racks of vintage day wear and evening wear from the 70’s and 80’s and I believe I legitimately squealed. We’re talking Bob Mackie, Diane Von Furstenburg, Elsa Peretti for Tiffany, Halston, just incredible history. He treated Annette with the same depth of love and preparation that I did — we became fast friends. We had too much fun during those fittings. I ended up with two full boards worth of clothing, and only a handful of looks were even used in the show.  He has an incredible eye and a wicked sense of humor.  Most of the looks had secret code names. But that’s private. 

Wardrobe informs my acting as much as it does my life. Which is to say completely. I’m always interested in how people dress to express, protect, hide, or change themselves. It's such a personal thing we do every day, but everyone can see it. Bizarre. 

Bare: What are your top 5 Bare essentials? 

KS: Lexapro, laughter, Aquaphor, my family, and Mac Lady Danger.

Photos/Makeup: Tina Turnbow using Ogee and Cle de Peau

Editor: Didi Gluck

BTS Video: Olivia Himes

Shot at The Bowery Hotel NYC