PS: What is that process like when you are creating a character? Especially now that you're so established in your career, I imagine you have a little bit more power to say, "No. I think she would do X, Y, and Z."
RW: Everything in film and television is very collaborative, so it's important to be a good partner and really listen to people's ideas. We pull a lot of old photos from archives and photo searches. We'll have a little bit of time to talk and play around, and then it's go time. You can't really change it after you've made these choices. These movies last forever, so we always say to each other: "OK, do we feel good about this forever?"
"It's great, because if I get in a pinch and I need a smoky eye, she can just pop one on me really quick."
PS: It seems like every teenager and young woman out there is a total makeup pro these days, because they came up in the age of the YouTube tutorial. Your daughter, Ava, is that age, too. Is there anything that she passed on to you, beauty-tip wise?
RW: Oh my gosh. She has a whole array of brushes that I have no idea what she does with. There's all kinds of blending, square blending, fan blending. It's crazy. But it's great, because if I get in a pinch and I need a smoky eye, she can just pop one on me really quick. She really can. She's like, "No, no. Mom, go like this and go like this." And then she gets really frustrated because she doesn't think my palettes are the same kind of palettes that she uses.
PS: Tell me about this partnership with Elizabeth Arden. You've already done so many cool things with them, but I wonder if there's anything more that you have in mind to leverage this storyteller-in-chief role going forward?
RW: I love telling the story of Elizabeth Arden. I think she was such a pioneer in the beauty industry — starting her own company, really believing in holistic beauty, the health of your body, the importance of self-care; the way she championed women's rights by helping the suffragettes, showing solidarity by passing out lipstick while they were marching on the right to vote. She's just an inspiration. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the women like her who started that entrepreneurial spirit. I wouldn't have the companies that I have. If you think about the bravery of women, the boldness, and the determination to change things for all women, it's really inspiring.
PS: Self-care is a big talking point these days, and I think a lot of people are turning to that to find balance in their lives. Is there anything that's kind of an important part of your own self-care routine, whether it's beauty or just relaxation?
RW: I definitely take time for myself. I exercise or walk outside every day. I think it's important. As hard as we all work, particularly working moms taking care of kids, you get home and you do your other full-time job. It's really important to have moments where you completely mentally unplug. I walk the dog or go outside for a bike ride. That really clears my mind.