The voice sounds serious, deep and slow from Los Angeles. They say that he still has a bit of an Elvis touch, the biopic that he filmed after working with Quentin Tarantino or Jim Jarmush, has made him even more the young star to follow. Austin Butler speaks softly, like the shy guy he was before he freed himself by playing others. At 32 years old, he has looked more inward than in front of the mirror. He often wonders how he can be better, he likes to meditate in the morning, wake up leisurely to the smell of coffee, read, cook and, lately, saunas and immersion in ice water (he has gotten very fit for Dune 2) . And, of course, taking long walks with his dog, the same one that demands his attention mid-interview, scares my cat and reveals the cutest Austin.
Three posts on Instagram, all about work, and 3.7 million followers. That is having a pull, especially among the Z, the generation that everyone wants to conquer right now. There is no need to look for traces of his red carpet poses with the model Kaia Gerber, his partner for a couple of years. It's a pity, because it exudes that modern and broad-minded style – it's one of those who defend a loose black silk shirt with a bow as strongly as a white T-shirt à la Marlon Brando – that suits MYSLF so well, the YSL perfume that wants give a new vision of masculinity.
“Natural but complex. Confident but close. Sensitive and authentic”, they describe it from the brand. “Austin is a modern representation of what it means to be a man. He embraces all facets of him. Accept his individuality and generosity without remorse,” says Stephan Bezy, international managing director of YSL Beauty.
How would you present yourself?
As a human being, which is something very complex. There are so many different facets to each of us! We are constantly evolving, growing. I think the most important thing is to be faithful to our most inspiring part, the one that makes us unique. Because there is a lot of pressure outside, a lot of people saying what we should be.
What values do you share with Yves Saint Laurent?
I have read a lot about him, about his work. He was constantly exploring who he was, letting his creativity flow. I think there was something rebellious about him, in the sense that he didn't want to just do what everyone else did. He wanted to create something new, not pigeonhole people into a label, a generalization or a taste. I admire him a lot.
“The most important encounter in life is the encounter with oneself,” said Saint Laurent. Do you subscribe to it?
Yes. It is radical honesty with oneself and the ability to silence all the external noise that surrounds us to focus our attention inside, on our mind, on our soul. It is the specificity of the experience that each person has with the world, in how they see it. What I value most in people is that they are authentic, that they do not pretend to be someone they are not.
What do you like most about MYSLF?
I have always liked woody fragrances and MSLF has that point, but when you apply it, the first thing you notice is its luminosity, its floral notes. I especially love orange blossom because it takes me back to my childhood, to the orange trees we had in the backyard of our house. I remember when I picked the oranges with my mother – she lost her at a very young age – the smell that remained in her hands. It is a round and beautiful fragrance.
What was your first perfume?
I was a kid and I snuck into my parents' bedroom. First I put on my mother's perfume, very floral, and then my father's, more woody and spicy. One on top of the other. They caught me right away, of course! I could smell it from afar! Since I was little I have really liked fragrances.
We will see him in The Bikeriders and in Dune 2, where he plays Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Did she like playing the bad guy?
It has been very fun. I loved the first film and was already a fan, as well as admiring its director, Denis Villeneuve, for years. Being part of this adventure has been especially exhilarating. My character left many doors open to explore and is very different from all the roles I have played so far. The challenge has been very interesting.
The concentration of stars in Dune 2 is impressive…
There were so many people I admire on set! Yes, it was impressive the amount of talent that was concentrated in one room. Having Christopher Walken, Javier Bardem, Timothée Chamalet close by... We spent a lot of time together and I feel very lucky to have shared this experience with them. We have become good friends during filming.
What was it like filming the MYSLF campaign with Palme d'Or winner for Titane, Julia Ducournau?
Julia is an incredible director. I've seen Crudo and Titane and I loved them. They are two fascinating films, with their own perspective. It has been a great opportunity and I have really enjoyed working with her. She had a very clear message, a very specific vision of where she wanted to go. It has been a pleasure to film with her.
How do you see this new masculinity?
Masculinity has many clichés to forget and get rid of. I believe that perfume is about expressing a new nuance of what it means to be human. Masculinity, femininity, or whatever you want to call it, are just labels, simple energies that are in each of us.
