Model Chanel Iman covers C Magazine ‘s Summer 2015 issue where she speaks on her big screen debut in Rick Famuyiwa ‘s acclaimed indie, DOPE .
The Atlanta-born, L.A.-bred beauty stars in the Inglewood-set dramedy as Lily, the off-the-rails, ecstasy-taking seductress.
“I love my character because she’s really edgy,” says Chanel. “She’s wild, young and free-spirited. It was the perfect part because nobody’s ever seen me messed up. They’ve all seen me nice and dressed up—like a lady.”
Set to hit theaters on June 19, the film started a bidding war at the Sundance Film Festival and it was also the final screening at the Cannes Film Festival .“[This role] was just meant to be,” she continues. “The script popped up, and I wasn’t even thinking about doing movies yet, I knew it was something that I wanted to be part of because of the people who were involved.”
The feature also stars Shameik Moore ( The Watsons Go to Birmingham ), Tony Revolori ( The Grand Budapest Hotel ), Kiersey Clemons ( Transparent ), Blake Anderson ( Workaholics ), Zoë Kravitz ( Mad Max: Fury Road ), A$AP Rocky , Tyga , Keith Stanfield ( Selma ), Casey Veggies , Vince Staples , and Rick Fox ( Hit the Floor ).
Among producers is Forest Whitaker , along with Pharrell Williams as an executive producer and by Sean “Diddy” Combs as co-executive producer.
As for how difficult it was to transition from modeling to acting she says, “Acting is just like being a fashion model. If you’re not trying too hard or overthinking it, the pictures come to life.”
Chanel also explains how social media has been for her career: “It gives models a chance to have a voice and personality—a lot of my coolest jobs come through social media. Some people just fall in love with you—who you are, not just a pretty face.”
For her Gilles Bensimon -lensed shoot in C Magazine, Chanel “Makes A Splash” in hot swimwear by Eres , Dsquared2 , Lisa Marie Fernandez , and La Perla selected by fashion editor Deborah Afshani .
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