Riley Voelkel
Riley Voelkel stars as Renee Segna in the third and final season of the hit drama “Hightown” streaming now on Starz. She is not only gorgeous but super gifted, generous and kind. She swung by our Brooklyn studio where we had the pleasure of photographing her from day into the misty rainy night. Scroll down to check the results of our hang and chat about Hightown, directing, style, clean product obsessions, secret skincare weapon, a sweet list of her bare essentials.
The Bare Magazine: You've had quite a few great TV gigs - what makes working on "Hightown" a standout experience? And in what way have you grown personally and professionally being part of it?
Riley Voelkel: Each project I've been a part of has had an impact on me personally and professionally. They have all been stepping stones to the next one and I am so grateful for each of them. That being said, booking Hightown probably had the biggest impact on me. At that stage in my career, I was craving a real and gritty role and wanted to creatively challenge myself. The process of playing a character so different from myself forced me to break creative walls and be vulnerable and messy in ways I had never shared before on camera. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and brought out sides of me I didn't know I had both personally and professionally.
As scary as that was, it was the most fulfilling experience of my career so far. We had such a supportive and talented cast, crew, and production that every day was an opportunity to learn, play, and evolve. Having such a supportive team allowed me to let go and show a messy side of myself through the character. It taught me how powerful honest portrayals of emotions and life struggles can be when connecting with your viewers. Everyone on that set really cared about telling this story, which created a rare and special dynamic between all of us. I learned so much from all of them and will carry that with me throughout my life and career.
Bare: Has being in front of the camera been an inspiration to get behind the lens and direct?
RV: Definitely! I'm always looking for ways to evolve and continue to grow and learn in different areas of the industry. I've worked with some amazing directors throughout my career who have inspired me to dip my toes into the world behind the camera. Our lead in Hightown, Monica Raymund, has been one of those inspirations. She is a remarkable actor and director, and watching her talent and strength, both in front of and behind the camera, was extremely motivating for me.
In our third season, I had the incredible opportunity to shadow-direct Laura Belsey on episode five. Laura was an amazing teacher and the entire process was such a fulfilling experience. Witnessing what truly goes into creating an episode and the complexities of telling a story through a camera lens was so exciting and sparked my desire to learn and create more. I hope to write and direct a short film soon, continue to learn from those who have paved the road for first-time directors, and see where that journey takes me.
Bare: During our shoot we were so impressed with your sense of personal style. How would you describe it? Who are some go-to stores/designers/brands?
RV: Thank you so much! I think my style is ever-evolving and I'm constantly inspired by people around me. I think the best way to describe the style I love is elegance with an edge. I love classic, feminine, and soft colors and textures, but I always like to add a touch of rock'n'roll… Alice and Olivia has that vibe to me, I love their pieces!
I get most of my clothes from REVOLVE. They have a ton of my favorite brands and designers, and I'm often inspired by the looks they put together. One of my favorite shoe designers is Tamara Mellon. I have a collection of her shoes, including my go-to leather boots. She has a "pillow top" collection of gorgeous heels that are specifically made for comfort! Self-expression through fashion has always inspired me. All that being said, I love an oversized sweater and leggings as much as I love getting full glam in a dress and heels.
Bare: Your face is such an amazing canvas to create different looks! But on a daily basis, what is your bare minimum makeup/skincare routine?
RV: Well thank you, I think that has a lot to do with having a wonderful makeup artist like yourself. (note from the editor: “thank you!”) My day-to-day makeup is usually a light foundation or skin tint, a cream blush, a simple winged liner, mascara, and a moisturizing lip color. Sometimes I just pat my lip color on my cheeks as blush and call it a day.
For skincare, I use Caudalie Paris's "Vinoperfect Radiance Serum" as my morning moisturizer. It's lightweight, but still keeps me moisturized and feeling fresh. At night, I use either Eve Lom or Farmacy cleansing balm and Clean Skin Club's disposable face towels. Having a fresh (and biodegradable) towel every time I wash my face has been a game-changer! After cleansing, I use Guerlain's "Super Aqua-Lotion", an Elemis moisturizer, and Biopelle's "Stem Cell Eye Cream." One of my secret skincare weapons is getting a "dermaplaning" treatment before a shoot. It makes my skin feel baby-soft and makeup applies like a dream!
Bare: Have you tried any new cosmetics or skin care lately that you're loving?
RV: Yes! I am recently obsessed with Kosas Glow I.V. you can wear it under your makeup or by itself and it gives my skin the perfect glow! Lately, I've been using a lot of Ogee's products. It's hard to find clean, organic products that are also high-performance and Ogee products are both. I love them! Tower 28 is another great company that has clean products and works great on my sensitive skin. And lastly, I can't get enough of YSL's "Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Sticks." They melt on the lips and smell delicious!
Bare: Fill in the blanks:
RV:
I've been listening to all things 90's on repeat
My favorite meal lately is a steak salad
When I'm in NYC I love to eat, see a play, and dance!
My next dream job would be a role that revolves around music, especially in another era like the 70s!
A good workout to me is high-intensity pilates, yoga, or a hike.
My favorite self care treat or indulgence is dark chocolate and a foot massage
Bare: Please list your top five or six bare essentials (they can be anything).
RV:
My Friends and Family
My Cat Quentin
Music
Nature
Red Wine
Love
Photos/Makeup: Tina Turnbow using Ogee
Dresses: Queens of Archive
all other clothing Riley’s own
Shot at Bare studios BK
Founder & Editor in Chief - The Bare Magazine
