On May 29, one of the most anticipated films of the season is set to premiere — the biopic “Moss & Freud,” exploring the relationship between supermodel Kate Moss and artist Lucian Freud. Here’s what you need to know.
Kate in her voluminous fur coat and heels dancing at a 30th birthday party; Kate running at full speed in John Galliano’s iconic Union Jack print jacket… From fashion to the overall aesthetic — the first trailer for “Moss & Freud” instantly transports viewers to the dawn of the new millennium.
The first exclusive still, presented by British Vogue, features Ellie Bamber as the era-defining supermodel Kate Moss. She poses on a ladder in a gigantic, layered skirt, complemented by the very same British flag jacket — a true prize for fashion insiders.
Moss first appeared in it in 1993 on the Paris runway for Galliano’s spring-summer collection, later bringing back the look in 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. And the best part: the film uses the original piece from the model’s personal archive, not a replica. So, expect even more breathtaking fashion “easter eggs.”
A Role That Changes Everything
Ellie Bamber will transform into Kate Moss, while Emmy Award winner Derek Jacobi will portray Freud. Bamber will relive the turbulent noughties alongside her — a decade when Moss was in a relationship with Jefferson Hack, gave birth to her daughter Lila, and gracefully entered her thirties.
Early paparazzi shots from the set already showed Bamber in the original dark blue sequined dress — the very one Moss chose for her legendary “The Beautiful and the Damned”-themed party at Claridge’s. Incidentally, this dress previously belonged to Britt Ekland and debuted at the premiere of the film “The Man with the Golden Gun.”
A Film About an Intense Period in Kate Moss’s Life
The film covers one of the most demanding and intimate periods of Moss’s life — the time when Freud painted her portrait during the nine months of Lila’s pregnancy.
Their sessions lasted from 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM three times a week. As Moss later recalled in an interview with Nick Knight for ShowStudio, the artist demanded absolute discipline: even a five-minute delay would elicit a sharp reaction. The only time she was late, Freud sharply asked, “Are you on drugs?” — to which she calmly replied, “No, I’m pregnant.”
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Their story began after Moss confessed in an i-D interview that she dreamed of being the subject of one of his portraits — despite Freud rarely painting celebrities. This creative collaboration became defining for both, and the completed work was sold at Christie’s in 2005 for £3.5 million.
A Muse for Artists
Freud is just one of many who saw Moss as a muse. Allen Jones created her sculptural imprint using resin and steel, and Marc Quinn produced a series of sculptures in complex yoga poses. One of these even serves as a hat stand in her Cotswolds home.
Incidentally, Moss herself has an unusual souvenir from those sessions — a pair of birds tattooed by Freud on her lower back. “That’s a real Freud,” she joked in an interview with Vanity Fair, adding that the artist used to tattoo his navy friends. “I wonder how much that could be worth? A few million? If so, I’ll get a skin graft and sell it.”
An Oscar-Winning Screenplay
The screenplay was written by James Lucas, an Academy Award winner for his 2013 short film starring Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent. He began working on “Moss & Freud” directly in Freud’s studio — “where the smell of oil paints still hung in the air.” And, of course, he had full support from the artist’s archive.
The film will be released on May 29.