I couldn’t decide what to put on my face ahead of my video interview with Grace Van Patten. Y2K-style glam in honor of her emotionally fraught turn as Lucy on Hulu’s Tell Me Lies? Or a flirty, feminine beat to celebrate her newly announced Charlotte Tilbury partnership? So I went with a hybrid of the two. When the actress joined the call, I noticed she’d landed on the same idea: a mauve-y cheek, pouty, overlined lips and subtly defined eyes, striking the exact balance I’d been going for, but done with the precision of someone who’s camera-ready for a living. I, a mother of a toddler, was not on the same level, but my muse? She still is.
The 29-year-old’s impact on our psyches in Tell Me Lies was strong—helped, in part, by real-life chemistry with co-star and boyfriend Jackson White, who plays her onscreen love interest-turned-nightmare, Stephen. But the show is far from Van Patten’s only notable role: she also played Amanda Knox in Hulu’s The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, a fictionalized portrayal of Knox’s wrongful conviction in the murder of Meredith Kercher—quite the departure from the emotional theatrics of the aforementioned college series (even if both roles called for their own kind of intensity).
In my interview, ahead, we spoke about being the new face of Charlotte Tilbury, the Tell Me Lies finale and what you can see her in next.
Congratulations on your Charlotte Tilbury partnership! Out of all the brands you could’ve worked with, why Charlotte?
“It’s so personal to me. Charlotte has been an inspiration to me since I knew what makeup was. Some of the first products I ever bought for myself have been staples in my everyday routine for as long as I can remember, so it feels really special and full circle. I just love what Charlotte is about; she wants everyone to feel confident, beautiful and positive, and it’s been such a dream to partner with them.”
Do you remember which product you tried first?
“It was the Pillow Talk Lip Cheat ($28). It always felt natural to me; I never felt like I was transforming. I always felt like myself when I wore it. And I still do. It’s still always in my bag without fail.”
The Y2K makeup and fashion on Tell Me Lies was so good, and it’s having a moment again. Was there a look from the show that you loved so much you started wearing it in real life?
“Honestly, I feel like I wasn’t a ‘blush girl’ before Tell Me Lies. The makeup artist would always put the Pillow Talk blush on me, and I loved that look. I wear it now whenever I feel like I need a little color. I really love that sun-kissed look—that hybrid of bronzer and blush that just looks like you sat out in the sun for a bit or were on vacation. I probably stole that blush look from Lucy.”
Was there a product from set that became a personal holy grail?
“Probably the blush, honestly. I’m wearing it right now, actually: Naughty Talk, my favorite shade, but in the Airbrush Blush ($43).”
Did you pick up any techniques or tricks from set that you still use today?
“It was a little different from how I normally do my makeup, because we had to adhere to early-2000s beauty, so a lot of trying to make my eyebrows look thinner, whereas every day now, I like to embrace the thickness of my eyebrows and brush them up a little more. It felt very different for me, which is what I love about makeup, too. In situations like when I’m playing a character, it’s a way to transform and feel like somebody else.”
What does your everyday makeup look and skin-care routine look like these days?
“I’m pretty simple on an everyday basis. What I do without fail is the Airbrush Concealer ($36). It’s so skin-like and lightweight, whether I’m covering blemishes, imperfections or brightening under the eye. It looks so natural and effortless, and I love when I feel like I’m not wearing makeup at all. I love a little Naughty Talk blush for color, a lip cheat liner and a little glow with the Unreal Highlighter ($44). I really love a dewy, glowy look.”
Do you also use Charlotte Tilbury skin care?
“Yes! I remember trying Magic Cream ($105) for the first time and loving the smell of it. I’d wake up every morning with the most hydrated skin ever. I’ve put my whole family onto it. My mom is obsessed, my little sister is obsessed. I think it’s so good for all ages, and it looks so cute in your bathroom. It has the most beautiful packaging.”
Playing Amanda Knox really speaks to your range. Beyond the obvious differences from Tell Me Lies, how did the makeup and skin prep differ on set?
“I don’t think there was much makeup, except maybe some deep circles under my eyes. What’s so cool about makeup and playing different characters is that it’s used to tell a story and show who these people are. With Amanda, we wanted her to look like a young girl, not a character on TV. Beauty wasn’t the priority at all.
But in terms of prep, I always did eye patches in the morning. My favorite thing right now is the Therabody Depuffing Wand ($170). It gets really cold and really hot, and it’s been a lifesaver for depuffing before set or before an event. I love it so much.”
You and Jackson White are both in such a demanding industry. Do you share any self-care rituals?
“We both started using sunscreen around the same time, which was nice. We were both bad about it before, and now we remind each other to do it every day.”
I can’t resist the ask: What was your reaction to the ending of Tell Me Lies? Did it surprise you and the rest of the cast?
[Editor’s Note and Spoiler Warning: In the Tell Me Lies series finale, which aired earlier this year, Stephen exposes a wedding’s worth of secrets in a speech that reveals Bree leaked Lucy’s tape—detonating every relationship in the room.]
“It surprised all of us. I don’t think any of us predicted anything that happened in the finale. But I loved it. I thought it was the perfect ending. Sometimes shows end in an unrealistic way, or an unrealistically hopeful way, and this just felt consistent with the tone of the whole show. I was really happy with it.”
Do you think Lucy lands in a place of peace by the end, or is she still figuring it out? And after living in her world for so long, where did you land emotionally?
“I think the end of the show is like the beginning for Lucy; that’s how I saw it. It was a big weight off her shoulders; she’s finally free and can start her life. For me personally, it was the end of something really special—such an amazing experience doing that for three seasons and meeting some of my best friends on it. It was a beautiful experience, and I’ll be grateful for it forever.”
What’s next for you? I heard you were filming a film called Rubber Hut in Rhode Island. Did you get a chance to explore while you were shooting?
“I love Rhode Island! Shockingly, I’d never been, even though I’m from New York. I had the best time. I love the people, I love the food and we had so much fun filming there. I’m so excited for people to see it.”
