Its your typical overcast, brisk afternoon in London, and the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park is buzzing.
I look at the pictures and Im very happy with how it turned out, says photographerEthan James Green.
Not only did he shoot the 2025 calendar, but he was also instrumental in selecting its stars.
Vincent Cassel for the 2025 Pirelli Calendar by Ethan James Green
[But] then you end up with people who really want to participate in making images like that.
You cant approach work like this without it being that way.
I was super excited; I found out on my 34th birthday.
Hoyeon Jung for the 2025 Pirelli Calendar by Ethan James Green
I was not expecting it.
So to be able to be included in that, it just feels like a huge milestone.
Ive had such an exciting career and its just nice to have a new thing.
Padma Lakshmi for the 2025 Pirelli Calendar by Ethan James Green
The last time I felt this good was probably my firstVoguecover.
But it really wasnt that.
I approached Ethan very early on and I said, Is it about fashion?
John Boyega for the 2025 Pirelli Calendar by Ethan James Green
Because there was a lot of fashion that displayed a lot of transparency.
Saint Laurent did everything sheer and I thought, should I use that?
And that does not really smack of fashion at all.
It just smacks of something beautiful that becomes part of them and part of the art piece.
Every time someone says Pirelli, I dont think tires, I think calendar.
Looking through all the calendars, they stood out as very timeless.
They didnt feel any less relevant than I think they wouldve felt when they came out.
At first I was like, Wait, wheres the rest of it?
For me, its just a time to have a new experience and to step into a new space.
With the fashion world, Ive always been on the outside looking in.
When youre in the studio, you have control.
Acting is quite a naked process.
You do have to have a certain element of confidence to do it.
Youre in front of a crew who dont act.
Sometimes it can be a little bit cringey and you kind of can cave into yourself.
That requires a level of self-acceptance and thinking youre quite good-looking.
I was a model in the 90s.
She wasnt ashamed of her body in the house.
I had a very, I think, natural, comfortable relationship with my body and other peoples bodies.
So I was very comfortable doing these kinds of pictures.
Because we had multiple women be fully nude, we needed [some guys] to do it.
This is the most air Ive felt in between my legs on a set.
Ive taken clothes off onscreen before, but that feels more controlledits more about embodying somebody else.
I had worked with Ethan before.
I actually picked him to shoot my lingerie campaign earlier this year, and I loved working with him.
I think hes an extraordinary photographer, especially when you consider how young he is.
If Avedon and Meisel had a baby together, it would be Ethan.
My dad had calendars growing up of preachers, Nigerian preachers.
So it wasthat, it was neverthis.
Drink water and mind your business.
