CULTURE

Why Amandla Stenberg Gave Up Her iPhone: “It Was Taking Over My Life”

“I felt like my life was refreshing Instagram as opposed to refreshing life,” she says.


Amandla Stenberg - Royals - October 2017
Photograph by Mario Sorrenti for W Magazine.

At 18, Amandla Stenberg is the youngest talent in W‘s 2017 Royals portfolio, but she’s earned more than earned her place alongside Tilda Swinton, Pharrell, and Tracee Ellis Ross. In fact, the Hunger Games star could have been featured in multiple categories–actress, style icon, musician–but instead she earned the title of new activist, alongside Faye Wattleton, the youngest ever president of Planned Parenthood. Stenberg regularly uses her social media platform to call out cultural appropriation, speak about intersectional feminism, and inspire her fans–both young and old–to make the world a better place.

Though, Stenberg’s relationship with social media is somewhat fraught. In August, she announced that she was giving up her iPhone–something she’s had since she was 11–in exchange for a flip phone. “I was worried about the mental health effects it was having on me,” she says. “It was taking over my life a bit, but mostly I just kind of felt like I was floating away and I felt like part of that had to do with being in a virtual world that didn’t have any kind of tangible substance to it. I felt like my life was refreshing Instagram as opposed to refreshing life.”

Did you always know you wanted to be an actress?

I’ve been acting since I was really little, since I was about four years old. When I was in school, I did participate in the theatrical department, but I was also busy with stuff outside of school, so I could never really be a huge part of the productions, but I did play the fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof. I was the only violinist in my school, so I was the fiddler. You’d think if you’re in the title of the play, it’d be a big part, but it wasn’t.

I remember wanting to be a performer. I was the kind of kid who had a really active imagination, so I would star in my own musicals and stuff. I would write these very intricate stories in my head with full ballads and dance numbers and everything. The parts weren’t all me. They were distributed amongst a large group of kids in my head, which makes me sound like kind of a messed up kid. I had all of these imaginary friends. A lot of the times, I would line up all of my stuffed animals and then have the stuffed animals play characters in my different stories and pieces.

What was the first thing you auditioned for?

I can’t remember the first thing I auditioned for, but the first thing that I was ever in was a commercial for something called Fivesies, and they were these dolls that came in fives. They were five connected dolls that you would have to, like, rock them together and feed them. Honestly, why would you want five dolls? What is that teaching young girls? I don’t know, but that was the first thing I was in and I was in the background. So I was out of focus, but you can see, like, the shape of my ponytail.

Did you immediately think, this is what I love to do?

No, I think I was a little disillusioned ‘cause I thought it would be, like, this glamorous experience, but then I realized that’s not really what it was about anyways. If you go into acting for the glamour, you’ll be disillusioned very quickly and realize that you just always have to be very hot or cold and uncomfortable, but obviously it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.

Did you have a favorite teen movie?

Man, I had a lot of favorite teen movies. This is pretty classic, but Clueless. Everyone loves Clueless and I love it as well. I really loved that movie Big Fat Liar with Frankie Muniz and Paul Giamatti. And it’s, like, my favorite story now, especially now that I’m experiencing actually being in, in Hollywood. It’s about this kid who lies all the time, who writes this really amazing story, and then he almost gets run over by this big Hollywood producer. And he hops in the dude’s limo and while he’s in the limo, his story falls out of his backpack. Then the big Hollywood producer takes his story and turns it into this huge movie that becomes this huge blockbuster. It’s incredibly successful and this kid gets ripped off, and then he goes on this vengeance path to, to get back at this Hollywood producer, who is played by Paul Giamatti. It’s really a great film.

Did you have a cinematic crush growing up?

I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio was my cinematic crush. My walls were covered [with posters] when I was a younger teenager. I had all kinds of influences up on my wall, like, I had a couple Quentin Tarantino posters and I had, like, a James Turrell poster, and flowers, and things, and little notes my friends had passed me in class, and definitely at least a couple pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio. Titanic reigns supreme in my heart. I have seen Gilbert Grape. He’s great in that. I mean, he’s great in everything. I was just watching the YouTube clip from that part of Django, that moment where he slices his hand open. It’s bleeding and he went with that acting choice. That’s so cool to me.

Royals 2017: Why Pharrell Williams, Winona Ryder, Tracee Ellis Ross and More Are the Role Models of Today

Winona Ryder wears Fendi dress; Angela Friedman bra; M&S Schmalberg brooch; Fogal tights; Gucci shoes. Beauty: Chantecaille.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Tilda Swinton wears Loewe jacket, shirt, and pants. Beauty:
Chanel.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Hailee Steinfeld wears Valentino dress. Beauty: Maybelline.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Tracee Ellis Ross wears Vetements dress. Beauty: Lâncome.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Saoirse Ronan wears Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello shirt and pants. Beauty: Nars.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Chris Hemsworth wears Boss shirt and pants; his own belt and necklace.
Grooming: Hugo Boss.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Pharrell Williams wears Sacai shirt; Bulgari necklace (top); his own necklace. Grooming: Giorgio Armani.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Robert Pattinson wears Dior Homme turtleneck; Haider Ackermann pants. Grooming: Dior Homme.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

James Corden wears Ann Demeulemeester shirt and hat. Grooming: Neutrogena.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

Jared Leto wears Gucci jacket, shirt, and pants; M&S Schmalberg brooch; Artemas Quibble belt. Grooming: Gucci.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti. Styled by George Cortina.

New Royalty: Movie Star

My first kiss was on set. It was my very first film as well. My character really liked this boy, and she didn’t know if he noticed her. In the end she got to kiss him. At that time, I was only 11 years old, and not ready to kiss a boy. I asked the director, “How long do you want me to kiss him? How many seconds?” And the director said, “Three seconds.” So while kissing, I counted in my head. Every single take I was like, One, two, three. And then: “Okay, kill, cut!” I definitely suffered for art.

Ronan wears a Louis Vuitton top, cape, and shoes; Falke tights.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Diane Kendal for Marc Jacobs Beauty At Julian Watson Agency; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY.

Classic Royalty: Movie Star

Is there anything that scares you? I’m not easily scared, and I’m wary of being bored. I think risk-taking is a subjective thing. One person’s risk is another one’s comfort zone. And, to be honest, I’m too lazy to get easily scared. Maybe I’ve got a bit of my brain missing, but I love not knowing what I’m doing next. What about when it comes to clothes? Did you always have a fashion-forward outlook? Again, what somebody might think of as unusual is, to me, supercomfortable, inspiring, and interesting. I’ve never truly been that aware of fashion; I’m interested in style.

Swinton wears a Haider Ackermann shirt; Alexander Calder necklace from Stephen Russell, New York.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Diane Kendal for Marc Jacobs Beauty At Julian Watson Agency; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY.

New Royalty: Renaissance Person

Where do you get your ideas? The shower is a frequent place. Actually, near any running water—whether it’s the faucet or the shower. And sometimes I get ideas on a plane because of the sound deprivation.

Do you record your ideas on your phone? I just hold on to them. The best way to remember something is if you home in on the excitement. That you don’t forget.

Is there a song that makes you cry? It’s been maybe 10 years since I heard something that made me cry. There is an old Donny Hathaway song called “Take a Love Song,” and it would make me emotional. But I think I was eating a lot of weed candy at the time, so that may have pushed me over the edge.

Whom do you consider Royal? Wes Anderson. I love what he does. Bill Murray running from a playground in Rushmore made me very happy. Anderson’s composition is amazing: his color, the music that he uses. I’m not an actor, but, in a heartbeat, I would just walk by or whatever he asked me to do in one of his films.

Williams wears a Chanel jacket and necklace; G-Star pants; Adidas Originals = Pharrell Williams shoes; his own shirt, belt, bracelets, ring, watch, and socks.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine For Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

Classic Royalty: Renaissance Person

When did you start dancing? When I was 3. I loved it. I did recitals and I loved being onstage. I particularly loved the collective mind of the audience. Applause was nice, but I liked the silence of the audience better. The silence means, Oh, my! You have their rapt attention.

MacLaine wears an Akris turtleneck.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine For Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

Classic Royalty: Activist

I came to New York in the ’70s to become president of Planned Parenthood. It was a time of great difficulty for the city—and for the country—but also one when women made tremendous progress toward being in control of their lives and their bodies. My position allowed me to be a spokesperson for women in the midst of the great changes that were taking place and the turmoil that occurred as a result of them. Today, 40 years later, the continuing opposition to Planned Parenthood comes from people who want to roll back the clock.

Wattleton wears a Row coat; Vhernier earrings; Verdura necklace.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Diane Kendal for Marc Jacobs Beauty At Julian Watson Agency; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY.

New Royalty: Activist

When I was 11, my parents gave me an iPhone. I think it shaped who I am as a person because I had access to everything very, very early on. But
 now I’m 18 and I have gotten rid of it. I was worried about the mental-health effects it was having on me. The phone was taking over my life. I felt like I was floating away, and part of that had to do with being in a virtual world without any tangible substance. I felt like I was always refreshing Instagram instead of refreshing my life.

Stenberg wears a Prada top; Buccellati earrings.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine For Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

New Royalty: Renaissance Person

To me, Paula Abdul is royalty. I just saw her live, and the whole time I was watching her, I was hitting the person next to me and saying, “Oh. My. God. Yes!” I’m late to the game, but Paula Abdul is completely amazing.

Steinfeld wears an Yves Salomon coat; Nili Lotan dress; Mahnaz Collection ring; Lynn Ban earring.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Diane Kendal for Marc Jacobs Beauty At Julian Watson Agency; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY.

New Royalty: Renaissance Person

There were eight boys in The History Boys, and we were all at a similar point in our careers. The other seven would get incredible scripts for Spielberg movies or big HBO shows, and I would get a one-page script for the guy who drops off a TV for Hugh Grant. I remember thinking, These decisions are being made based on the way I look. I realized then and there that I needed to try and start creating stuff on my own. And I did.

Corden wears a Berluti jacket; Burberry shirt; Balenciaga scarf.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine For Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

New Royalty: Society

The notion of being born into the right stratosphere no longer exists. More and more, young people want to dedicate their lives to doing something meaningful that has a positive effect on the world. That’s what is valued now—not your name or your lineage.

Bush Lauren wears a Ralph Lauren shirt; Zimmerli of Switzerland tank; Hermès scarves; Vicki Turbeville earrings; vintage bracelet from Stazia Loren, New York.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Diane Kendal for Marc Jacobs Beauty At Julian Watson Agency; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY.

Classic Royalty: Society

You got involved with God’s Love We Deliver during the ’80s AIDS epidemic. It was a terrible time. We delivered meals to people who were sick. A lot of my friends thought I had lost my mind. There was so much fear.

How did you meet Robert Trump? At a fundraiser. We were married in 1984. But years later things changed, and, in 2007, we divorced.

Did you go to your former brother-in-law’s presidential inauguration? Yes. It was kind of an out-of-body experience. [Laughs] It’s like, Am I really here? I went to all the balls, and there was a wonderful small lunch, and Donald and Melania were there. She looked beautiful.

Is it strange to see your last name everywhere? Yes—very, very strange. I mean, forget paying with a credit card. It’s always, “Are you related?” It never ends.

Trump wears a Chloé dress; David Webb earrings.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Frank B for at The Wall Group; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY.

New Royalty: Model

I always go into a zone when I’m posing for a photographer. I like to try and get into whatever character is wanted for the photos. For this shoot, I tried to be kind of vulnerable and soft because I can be quite hard with my resting bitch face. I wanted to look innocent, but mysterious. And royal. Very royal.

Aboah wears a Calvin Klein 205W39NYC dress; Stephen Russell earrings; Vhernier bracelets; her own rings.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Francelle for Lovecraft Beauty at Art + Commerce; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY.

Classic Royalty: Model

What is your secret skill? Fucking.

Fucking? Mm-hmmm. It’s an awfully good thing to be good at, no? And it goes on forever, guys and girls. You should remember that.

Hutton wears a Row coat.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Francelle for Lovecraft Beauty at Art + Commerce; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs Beauty at Exposure NY; Set design by Phillip Haemmerle. Produced by Kyd Drake at North Six. Production Manager: Danica Solomon. On-site producer: Steve Sutton. Printing by Arc Lab LTD. Lighting Technician: Lars Beaulieu. Digital Technician: Johnny Vicari. Photography Assistants: Kotaro Kawashima, Javier Villegas. Fashion Assistants: Steven La Fuente, Alex Paul, Elyse Lightner. special thanks to Pier 59 Studios and Highline Stages

Classic Royalty: Superhero

My first audition was for some random sort of commercial. I remember walking in and having to tell them about myself, and none of it was very interesting because I never got those jobs. My first regular acting gig was on a soap opera called Home and Away. I did that for three and a half years, and I went through every melodramatic tragedy that one can go through: plane crashes, fires, robberies, landslides. I had three different kids with three different women. And my character was 19 for three years. I never had a birthday. Never aged.

Hemsworth wears a Boss jacket, shirt, and pants; Western Spirit bolo tie; stylist’s own belt.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Grooming by Kumi Craig for La Mer at Starworks Artists

New Royalty: Superhero

I don’t fuck with karaoke. I tried it once, and it was the biggest disaster. The song I bombed on was “Eye of the Tiger.” It was at a wedding, in front of hundreds of people. The only line of the song that I knew was “eye of the tiger,” so I just mumbled, and it was awful. Deep shame. Now I stick to singing my own songs onstage with my band, Thirty Seconds to Mars. There are some things you just know you’re not good at.

Leto wears an Ann Demeulemeester shirt; Gucci pants; Mikimoto pearls; his own ring and necklace.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine for Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

New Royalty: Television

As a boy, I was very, very sensitive. Ever the emotional young thing. In eighth grade, a drama teacher put me in a play, and I got really involved with theater. Within a year, all the kids who were making fun of me were my allies. I remember thinking, Instead of being a weird guy in the corner of the classroom, now I’m the weird guy that everyone has to pay attention to! And, like, Wow—maybe someone will kiss me!

Middleditch wears a Prada shirt; Coach 1941 pants; Artemas Quibble belt; Calvin Klein 205W39NYC boots.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine for Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

Classic Royalty: Television

Since signing on to Stranger Things, I’ve become a binge-watcher of TV. My favorite show is The Americans. It’s brilliant, and Keri Russell is just mind-blowing. I watched the entire last season all at once, and I was crushed when it ended. I met Keri, and I was like, “What’s going to happen?!” I had turned into a fan-geek. But she wouldn’t tell me. Everyone in TV has to keep things a big secret—which I’m learning.

Ryder wears a Dior dress and hat.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine for Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

New Royalty: Movie Star

I didn’t think I could play Dr. Dre in Straight Outta Compton. I was asked to audition, and I remember saying no because I didn’t want to be the one to mess it up. I was nervous because it was Dr. Dre. And now, after the film, I walk down the street and people ask, “Is that Dr. Dre?” Nobody did that before Compton. Now everybody does it.

Hawkins wears a Giorgio Armani jacket, shirt, and pants; Tom Ford shoes.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Akki at Art Partner; Makeup by Frank B at The Wall Group; Manicures by Honey for Marc Jacobs at Exposure NY.

Classic Royalty: Movie Star

What was your first acting job? When I was 15 or 16, I was cast as Reese Witherspoon’s son in the film Vanity Fair. I went to the screening, and no one had informed me that I had been cut from the film. But the casting director felt so guilty that she gave me a first run at the part of Cedric in Harry Potter, which I booked. So, in the end, I was quite glad to have been cut from Vanity Fair.

How did you prepare for your role as a bank robber on the run in Good Time? I stayed in character for several days and got a job at a car wash. I wanted to change myself so that people would not be able to recognize me for the whole shoot. And it worked. We were filming in a packed subway at rush hour; I was directed by text message, and no one could tell we were making a movie. Not one person took a cell-phone picture, which would have ruined the whole thing. It was great to not be recognized.

Pattinson wears a Berluti jacket; Charvet scarf.

Hair by Recine for Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

Classic Royalty: Television

After Everybody Loves Raymond ended, it wasn’t hard to say no to other sitcom offers. This sounds awful, but I had all the money I needed, my wife had all the money she needed, and creatively I wanted to do other things. I thought, Suddenly I have time, I have money, I have a bit of fame, and this is going to be fun. After three months, it wasn’t fun anymore. I had a kind of emotional breakdown until I started creating the next show. People ask me sometimes, “How do you keep going?” And I like to say, “I have to keep moving, or I catch up with myself.”

Romano wears a Balenciaga shirt.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine for Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.

New Royalty: Television

Your mom is Diana Ross. Did you ever borrow her clothes? I’m not going to lie: It was more like stealing. One time, she left the house and I saw her car go down the driveway. I marched myself into her bathroom and started taking clothes. I liked to put them in my closet and live with them as if they were mine. Just as I was loading up, my mom walked into the bathroom. She said, “What are you doing?!” I was like, “I’m organizing your closet for you!” To this day, I visit her closet and call it shopping.

Ross wears an Alexander McQueen dress; Gianvito Rossi shoes.

Photographs by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by George Cortina; Hair by Recine for Rodin; Makeup by Kanako Takase for Shiseido at Streeters; Manicures by Lisa Jachno for Chanel at Aim Artists.
1/30

You’re in W‘s royals portfolio this year. Who, to you, is royal?

Kendrick Lamar. I have been listening to Damn for the past couple months, ever since it dropped. And just hearing what he has to say about his position in the world, what it’s like coming from Compton, and I’m also from south L.A., so I think I feel, like, a connection to it. What it’s like coming from there, being at the place that he is in the world now, what it’s like navigating people trying to murder him. Like, I can’t relate to that, but people trying to murder him admits all of the greatness he’s achieving. It blows my mind and so, to me, he’s definitely a god. He creates complete operas with his music in such an inventive way. I feel like he’s the person who’s pushing culture forward in music.

And you’re making music now, too, right?

Yeah, right now, I’m tentatively making music. I got to make a song for the soundtrack of my film Everything, Everything. It was a cover song of a Mac DeMarco tune called “Let My Baby Stay”. So that was really fun. I ended up directing a music video for it, just for kicks.

What was it like directing yourself?

It’s very easy to direct yourself, but I didn’t expect it to be so difficult to edit. That’s something that I was experiencing for the first time as I was sitting down with the footage and watching myself do these really awkward dance moves. I was like, oh, my god, like, this is difficult, but I ended up kind of overcoming some fears of mine, just by going through that process and kind of being more comfortable with myself afterwards.

You’ve grown up on the internet, in a way. When did you first get connected?

Well, when I was 11 years old, my parents gave me an iPhone. It was the first iPhone that came out, and I think honestly that’s completely shaped who I am as a person ‘cause I had such access to everything very, very early on. So when I was 11, I started an Instagram and you can actually scroll back on my page. You can scroll all the way back and basically see how I’ve evolved aesthetically since age 11. And honestly, I don’t think that much has changed. I’ve always had a very strong hold on my aesthetic sensibility. When I joined Instagram, I don’t think I cared about followers. I think I was interested in it as, like, a photography tool. Like, I was interested in the filters. If you scroll back, you’ll see, like, I use a lot of filters, for sure.

Do you have a favorite filter?

Oh, my god. I think back in the day, my favorite filter was Valencia, ‘cause it added a little bit of an old grain to it that I liked.

How about a favorite emoji?

My favorite emoji is the little angel emoji, but only if it’s the black one. I’m not a huge emoji person, I don’t think. Well, this is the thing. I got rid of my iPhone a few months ago because I was worried about the mental health effects it was having on me. I feel like it’s very easy for your perception of reality to get distorted when you have this device in your pocket 24/7 that you can refresh, like, a hyper reality that doesn’t actually exist. It gives you these weird perceptions of what people’s lives are like and I didn’t like that.

I still have my Instagram and everything. I have an iPad, so I will monitor my use of it, and use that to get everything I need to get done.

Was there a specific event that made you get rid of your phone?

It was taking over my life a bit, but mostly I just kind of felt like I was floating away and I felt like part of that had to do with being in a virtual world that didn’t have any kind of tangible substance to it. I felt like my life was refreshing Instagram as opposed to refreshing life.

I’m kind of reaching a point in my life where I see how I can channel my energy into other pathways as well. So while I still utilize social media as a tool, I mostly wanna use it as a tool for people to feel like they can connect to a real person, as opposed to always using that as the conduit for activism. Now I feel like I’d rather channel it into larger actions.

What was the moment where you decided to become publicly political?

I think when I was about 13 or 14 I started reading Rookie magazine and that was an opening into the fray of even thinking about politics or my place in the world in that way. And then I think I already had that intrinsically in me ‘cause of my mom, the way she raised me, just, like, identifying and being proud of the experience of black womanhood and so when I first started thinking about feminism, that kind of opened my mind to thinking about race, politics, and how I experience the world and why I experience it in that way. And when I started thinking about that, it made me think about the world as a whole and outside of myself and how I could affect these systems that I think don’t make sense and are unhealthy and negative.

Stenberg wears a Prada top; Buccellati earrings.

Photograph by Mario Sorrenti for W Magazine.

What was your favorite birthday?

When I turned 17, I got my nose pierced and that was a big event. I did discuss it with my mom. I basically told her I’m going to go get my nose pierced and I got my sister to be the one who was signing off on it, because my sister is a bit older than me, and so sometimes we can make it pass like she’s my mom. So that’s what we did and I told my mom. I was, like, my sister’s going to take me and she was like, “I don’t wanna be a part of it. If I don’t have to sign off on it, then go ahead.” I remember getting it and feeling, like, yeah, I got my nose pierced. I’m a real teen now. It hurt so bad because I got a septum piercing. It’s the one right in here. It’s basically, like, an extremely painful sneeze. I had to take it out ‘cause I’ve been, you know, traveling around doing movies and it didn’t really fly to have a septum ring in for most of my roles.

And do you have ears pierced?

I do have my ears pierced, yeah. I went through a period of wearing, like, a lot of jewelry and all of the sudden, I just didn’t want it anymore. I don’t know. I think when I cut all my hair off, I kinda felt, like, I don’t really wanna be adorned with anything. I just kinda wanna be me.

And were you scared to cut all of your hair off? It looks great.

Thank you. No, I wasn’t scared. I was excited. I’ve wanted to cut my hair off my entire life, but I never could because of acting. I was always advised not to, but when I could do it for a role it was justified, and I did it for a really important reason, too. It was because I was playing a character who was a victim of the holocaust and so I felt like I was honoring that character and I got to experience not having hair, which I think everyone should experience at some point. I love feeling all of the elements on my head now. It’s really amazing. It’s, like, such a nice sensory overload in the best way.

But you don’t miss your hair?

Sometimes I miss my hair. I miss being able to play with it, but the thing is I can pretty much do anything with it. I can wear wigs. I’m letting it grow out a little bit more, so I’ve got these little tiny curls on my head now, which I really like.

Where was your first kiss?

My first kiss was at a party when I was 14. It was, like, the first time I had ever made out with someone. And I remember sitting on this boy’s bed and I remember him leaning in, like, panicking and looking away. I remember finally kind of getting more comfortable with him and making out and being, like, this is weird. I don’t like this. I think he was probably just a bad kisser. We dated for a brief moment. He took me to the museum, the movies and everything, but it was weird ‘cause he looked a lot older than me. And I think it kind of freaked out people when we were in public, even though we were the same age. I was very small. I didn’t really hit puberty until, like, a year ago.

And you just shot right up?

Yeah, everything just kinda bloomed. I was not content being small. My mom had to listen to me so much, be like, oh, when am I going to grow and all the other girls in middle school have boobs and I don’t at all. I think finally now I’m really comfortable in myself ‘cause that’s something I don’t have to deal with anymore, is feeling really behind or feeling like a like a tadpole.

See Amandla Stenberg’s Transformation from Adorable Child Star to Teenage Activist and Burgeoning Style Icon

November 2011: For a very early red carpet appearance at the Nickelodeon TeenNick HALO Awards, Amandla Stenberg looked darling in a pink satin and lace one-shoulder dress. She completed this look with minimal accessories and low black peep-toe heels.

Photo by Jesse Grant/WireImage

November 2011: The pre-teen actress looked angelic on the red carpet of BAFTA Britannia Awards wearing a white midi cocktail dress with gold scrappy sandals. The dress featured a sweetheart neckline and mid-length tulle skirt out of a fairytale.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images For BAFTA Los Angeles

March 2012: Channeling the Little Mermaid at the premiere of “The Hunger Games” in Los Angeles, Stenberg wore an ombre mint green Collette Dinnigan sequined dress. She paired her dress with metallic scrappy sandals and a box clutch.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

November 2012: At the 2012 premiere of “The Twilight Saga; Breaking Dawn Part 2” in LA, the starlet posed on the red carpet in a nostalgic 90’s look. She opted for a multicolored H&M tea dress and clear jelly sandals.

Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

February 2013: Stenberg attended the 44th NAACP Image Awards wearing a beautiful frothy ivory frock, accessorized with gold glitter sandals and a headband.

Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

March 2013: The starlet went young and fresh for her look at the 2013 Kid’s Choice Awards. She opted for a vivid teal mini dress with a full skirt and sleek black peep-toe sandals.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

February 2014: In 2014, Stenberg debuted a bold style that she would soon come to favor while at the Costume Designers Guild Awards. She wore an oversized turtleneck, tailored black trousers, cool Mary Jane pumps and dark metallic lipstick.

Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

April 2014: Not giving up on her sweetheart style just yet, the star opted for a modern princess-like look at the Jimmy Choo 2014 launch of CHOO.08. She wears a tulle skirt, with a black satin crop top and yellow ankle-strap sandals for a pop of color.

Photo by Donato Sardella/Getty Images for Jimmy Choo

May 2015: At the Women in Film 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards, Stenberg paired her new grey braided locks with a dark metallic grey frock. Keeping the focus on her new ‘do and dress she went for a barely there understated tan suede sandal.

Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

November 2015: Donning a futurist shiny blue Phelan dress with cutouts, the starlet looked chic and fearless as she posed on the red carpet of the “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” premiere. She kept the shine coming as she paired metallic silver Christian Louboutin pumps with this look.

Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

January 2106: Never shying from color, Stenberg paired a bright red lip and blue suede platforms with her fitted rose pink Stella McCartney polo top and maxi skirt at the designers Fall 2016 presentation .

Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage

January 2016: Channeling a vampy school girl, the actress paired a charcoal wool duster coat with a graphic t-shirt and plaid skirt for Glamour’s 2016 Women Rewriting Hollywood lunch. She completed her outfit with a pair of chunky olive combat boots and a deep burgundy lip.

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Glamour

February 2016: The actress-turned-activist (and burgeoning style icon) arrived to the Marc Jacobs Fall 2016 show in full look from the designer: A red silk blouse, face-print pencil skirt and cool multicolored cross trainers. Her hair and makeup gave Princess Leia-went-to-the-disco vibes.

Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs

April 2016: Returning to her retro menswear-inspired style, Stenberg attended the 2016 Black Girls Rock! BET event in orange Moschino pantsuit and chartreuse shirt look. She finished her look with a black leather lace-up shoe.

Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic

May 2016: At the 2016 Met Ball, the starlet stunned in a 70’s-inspired merlot Calvin Klein satin wide-leg pantsuit. This three piece suit featured a bandeau styled top under the blazer and exuded power as it read playful conservative.

Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images

August 2016: Stenberg went for a bohemian-inspired brown suede tank and skirt with red leather ankle booties at the”‘Morris From America” premiere and youth talent show. She accessorized with long box braids.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage
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