I have received some very strange observations about my appearance recently which has led me to believe that there must be a certain look to English women.
My first experience was being told at a party that I looked liked ‘Steve Martin’s ex-wife.’ I knew whom the person meant but neither of us could remember the woman’s name. We stood there for a few minutes, drinking our wine and racking our brains trying to figure it out but couldn’t. I’ve just looked it up; it was Victoria Tennant, an English actress.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, a complete stranger came up to me and told me I looked like Emma Thompson. He also told me where he lived and that I could pop in anytime. Fancy that!
When we were skiing, I was queuing for lunch when a woman came up to me and said ‘I know you, don’t I? You’re an actress aren’t you?’ I was tempted to reply, ‘yes, you may have seen me in Tomb Raider or Mr and Mrs Smith’ but I just got all flustered and embarrassed and said no. I returned to the table and told my family who all burst out laughing. You? They thought you were an actress? Once they’d all picked themselves off the floor from laughing so hard, we headed back out to the slopes.
I don’t think I look anything like Emma Thompson or Victoria Tennant but perhaps there is an English ‘look’ that I have which would explain why I stand out here amongst California Girls.
Just in case you think this is all going to my head and that I’m sitting here feeling smug and waiting to be compared to Kate Winslet next, I’ll fill you in on my experience on Tuesday. I booked a post Christmas, the little buggers have gone back to school facial. It was supposed to be a treat, I can’t remember the last time I had one. As I was lying there, a lovely warm heating pad under my back, New Age music tinkling away, I completely relaxed, I deserved this, I needed this tiny bit of luxury. Then the therapist started pointing out where I needed botox and filler on my face. I beg your pardon? What did you just say? My treat was turning into a horror film.
I guess I am in the land of perfection; I just hadn’t come across it yet. Not first hand anyway.
So, I may look like a classic English lady but apparently one that needs a bit of work. At least now I have the name of a good plastic surgeon. The therapist gave me that too.
{ 12 comments }
Wow. I remember those feelings. Coming from the East coast of America to Cali is probably very similar to what you’re experiencing…it’s a whole new world filled with people who think the sun never stops shining. Because, well, it doesn’t in LA.
It took me a good two years to fully adjust. But it’s worth it. Cali is really a great place!
Good luck!
Please don’t let them get to you. Faces are allowed to show people’s age. As are teeth, by the way. I’m always freaked out by snowwhite teeth on old people.
That’s so American. My dentist here told me that I need braces because I have a misaligned overbite which is ‘typical of the English’. (My dentist in UK never told me there was anything wrong and indeed said my teeth were in pretty good shape). I’m sorry but wear braces at 36? Excuse me, I am not Ugly Betty.
Here they don’t recommend botox, still controversial, instead they suggest products for ‘more mature skin.’ I’ve suggested they offer a quart of whisky when they say that.
hi lorna, i do hope that dope doesn’t get to you either. however, what an interesting experiment to see how long it takes a lovely, level-headed oc transplant to succumb to the pressure to “get a little work done.”
How bloody Rude!!! Actually I must have a really common face too because people are always telling me I look like “someone”. Usually they can’t think who, but it’s be nice not to have people do double-takes quite so much!
Ok, see, now that you’ve written it – I can totally see the Victoria Tennant comparison – but only if they’re talking about her circa 20 years ago with LA Story. I really can see the resemblance to her *from then*, not her currently. Botox, fillers, surgery – I’m a native and I know fewer people that have than haven’t. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of natives I personally know that have bothered with any of it. Most people I know that are in our demo or older, have not.
Not surprised at all that you were getting a facial and had those comments though – most spas also provide those services now so it’s not unlike the other products they push and try to convince you you somehow “need.”
I try not to be judgmental, it’s a personal choice for each woman, but I hate that is seems society is somehow expecting the natural aging process to somehow be reversed for women, and that we should all just happily line up for the procedures to ensure it.
I don’t feel like British women have a particular look (although I can often pick them out due to clothing choices) but I can often pick a British man out in a crowd, especially the Prince Charles type look with the ears.
Botox is pure evil. And the person who said that probably gets a commission on all the Botox they sell, this is after all the American pharmaceuticals industry gone awry! Have you seen the Brooke Shields add for the new drug that makes your eyelashes thicker? As though having thin eyelashes was now so serious it deserved a drug treatment? Egads.
Don’t take it personally, I’m sure she was just trying to drum up business. But I bet you are always described at “the English woman” as I am always “that American one…”
Oh she DEFINITELY gets a commission on the ‘cosmeceuticals’, so that’s why you got the suggestions. However I’m pretty sure she talked her stupid self out of a tip – not exactly the right way to make you feel beautiful and relaxed, DUH!
People are awfully unimaginative regarding accents. They hear an English accent and automatically you look like someone who sounds like you. I’ve had that, too, but with different actresses who are blond ranging from Helen Mirren who is admittedly gorgeous but proper OLD (WTF?) to Cate Blanchett (I was dead pleased, but was he effing blind?) to Petula Clark (uh?)
V. funny!
The cheek of it! I had a facial this weekend also, and this being Northern California instead of suggestions of botox, along with my facial I got a nasal massage (weird), and some kind of acupressure that involved being bopped about the head with a rubber hammer.
Maybe that scares the wrinkles away?!
You must be pretty Californian to have even thought of having a facial…. And to have gone through with it. British mums just moan about looking old. Or is that just me?
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