By Jesse Stirling / Photography by Richard Hume
Stylist: Toni Ferrara / Assistant Stylists: Carla Pallares and Brynn Herberer
Makeup: Gregory Arlt / Hair: Stephen Mason / Location: Smashbox Studios
At just 23 years old, AnnaLynne McCord has played a wide range of vixen-type roles in the movies and on TV. From the scheming Eden Lord on Nip/Tuck to the anti-heroine Naomi Clark on 90210, this young starlet simply oozes sex appeal. Last year AnnaLynne was nominated for a Teen Choice Award, named by the āLook to the Starsā organization as āone of the strongest young female philanthropists standing up for the charities she believes in,ā and honored as āHollywood Life Young Superstar of Tomorrow.ā At this exact moment in time, she is sitting in a make-up chair in a studio in Los Angeles, channeling Bridget Bardot for our cover shoot, transforming her look with sultry perfection. āOf all people, I get to pay homage to my hair icon, Bridget Bardot!ā exclaims AnnaLynne.
As we launch into the interview, AnnaLynne finds the lighting in the studio too hot and removes her top. Maintaining eye contact suddenly becomes a challenge. With a smoldering smile and a confidence well beyond her years, she leans forward and quotes Marilyn Monroe: āYou can sell a kiss for a thousand dollars and your soul for 50 cents.ā AnnaLynne continues: āThereās a lot of pain behind that quote. Iāll sell my kisses, of course, but my soul youāll never get. This town can do things to people. My mom didnāt want me to move to L.A. at first, because love of money, fame and power will lead you astray. Youāve got to find a deeper purpose.ā
āWhat is my purpose? Why am I here?ā muses AnnaLynne. āThrough pursuing my selfish dream of being a movie star, I discovered my real happiness is being an activist for human rights. My passion project is fighting human trafficking. I have a voice now to speak out on a national and international scale on behalf of these children who are voiceless. Different causes pull at different heartstrings, and this terrible epidemic of human trafficking and teenage prostitution just breaks my heart. I challenge my peers to do more. Young Hollywood needs to step up. You can guilt people, and make them feel bad, but when someone finds that purpose inside themselvesā¦ you experience something you never thought you would experience.ā
In Conversation with AnnaLynne McCord:
CHILDHOOD: I was a quiet observer as a youngster, now Iām a loud mouth.
GROWING UP: When I was nine I started doing little community productions in Atlanta. I was homeschooled, and graduated with honors at 15.
EARLY CAREER: I moved to Miami at 15 and got into modeling. A few months later I moved to New York, was there for 3 years, then off to LA at 18. Needless to say it was a good move.
FAMILY SUPPORT: At times, my whole family wasnāt behind my acting career. I was always a rebel ā a rebel with a cause. Now they are fully on the bandwagon and support me.
AMBITION: Iām the stereotypical, āLook at me! Iām the actress!ā middle child. Iāve wanted to be a movie star since I was nine years old.
HER BIG BREAK: Nip/Tuck is a show watched by many people in the entertainment industry. After my season on that show I got more respect walking into a room and meeting a casting director.
OVERCOMING THE VIXEN STEREOTYPE: Iām not evil, Iām not a psychopath, and I donāt poison people like my characters do ā Iām just a good actor.
STYLE: My personal sense of style varies a lot. One day I might be flirty in a sundress, and that night unapproachable in a leather corset. Iām not defined by one specific trend.
FASHION ADVICE. Know your body type. Just because itās in style doesnāt mean it will look good on you.
EDUCATION: I am obsessed with education. When I was a kid, my parents would take away my schoolbooks as discipline.
THE COST OF FAME: In my old place, paps (paparazzi) would literally sit outside my door. Now I know certain streets to avoid. If I want to get hummus at Newsroom Cafe on Robertson, prepare to get photographed.
HER MISSION: Help victims of sexual abuse.
CELEBRITY PEERS: What makes me the happiest is people standing up for something, supporting a cause. Be on the cover of a magazine for a better reason than driving the wrong way down the 405.
FOR FUN: I love to cook and throw
dinner parties.
FAVORITE THING TO COOK: Chicken in orange citrus sauce, with homemade macaroni & cheese.
FAVORITE SONG AT THE MOMENT:
“Crash” by Dave Matthews.
THE WAY TO YOUR HEART: My love language is touch. I love to be hugged and kissed and hugged and kissed and massaged.
CELEBRITY CRUSH: Iām obsessed with Robert Downy Jr. I would do anything for him. Heās so sexy and talentedā¦ and did I mention sexy?
FAVORTIE FOOD: Ethnic food of all sorts: Mexican, Italian, Spanish, Japanese. Three nights per week Iām eating spicy tuna on
crispy rice.
BEST FRIEND ON SET: I have such a deep friendship with Jessica Stroup, my costar who plays Silver on 90210. Jessica is such an incredible, talented and giving actress. No offense to the rest of the cast, but Jess is my favorite to work with.
TRAVEL: All the time and I love every second of it. Flew twice this week. Iām living in Beverly Hills right now, but I make a joke that I either live on set in Manhattan Beach or in LAX.
FAVORTITE FOREIGN DESTINATION:
I love the ocean. Greece. Thailand is a
close second.
EXERCISE: The best workout routine anyone can have is a healthy love life. Get a little cardio in while youāre at it. I also like hiking and rock climbing.
WATCHING HERSELF ON TV: I TiVo my show. Iāll catch up on 3-4 episodes at once. When you are watching yourself on TV, you notice the sets and the camera angles and the lighting. Iām like, āThatās Stage 28. Thatās where the trailers are. I had a headache that day.ā You canāt get lost in the story. Imagine videotaping your office then watching it. You canāt be objective about it. Thereās no escapism.
ANY SNACK OR CANDY YOU CANāT RESIST: Reeces Peanut Butter Sticks. The cups will do if they are frozen, but the sticks I cannot live without.
BEAUTY TIP: Bronzer is everything. A little bronzer gives life to your face.
ACTING TECHNIQUE: Iām very blessed that my mom has a photographic memory. I can look at a page a couple of times and snap a picture of it with my mind. So I learn my lines last second for the spontaneity of my character Naomi to come out. At least thatās my story. The truth is, I learn my lines at the last second because Iām lazy.
HER IMAGE: It is completely awesome, weird and hysterical that paparazzi chase me around to get my photograph and sell them. I always try to look nice, because I care about my image and my fans.