Some people really value history for how culture and laws were shaped, but he valued it for the beauty that was created. It was important to him to know who had owned things before him, even if it was just a silver [dish] that he used to put candies on the table. I loved having a friend where you went over and sat up a little straighter.But then he was so naughty, and he had such a great laugh. He loved Hollywood stories, and would love hearing gossip. He thought Jennifer Lopez was the most beautiful woman alive. He would say, “She’s beautiful—but not like Jennifer Lopez.” And he would always be on me for my physical appearance—somewhere in between a fatherly way and a designer way. Like, “Did you gain three kilos? Why aren’t you wearing mascara? Would it kill you to put a little swipe of lipstick on?”
Do you remember the first time you met?
I don’t, but I do remember the time we met where we then became friends. I was doing a play in London in 2002. He and [his business partner] Giancarlo [Giammetti] came, and they said, “Why don’t you let us have a dinner for you?” They had this lovely dinner for me, which was so sweet. It was all of these aristos and HRHs. I was like, “Oh, what world am I stepping into here?” I was fascinated by him. He had this incredible elegance in the way that he carried himself—but then he really was so naughty. My favorite combination is regal-ness and naughtiness.
