Q & A with Famous Redhead Actress, Lucy Dixon

Famous redhead, Lucy Dixon is a 25-year-old English actress. She is best known for her roles as Tilly Evans in teen soap opera Hollyoaks and as Danielle Harker in Waterloo Road. We spoke with her about how it was growing up as a natural redhead, her life as an actress and some of her favorite beauty must-haves!

H2BAR: When did you know you wanted to be an actress? 

LD: I have wanted to be an actress for as long as I can remember. I have always been confident and from about 3-years-old I performed poems, songs and dances in front of any family member unfortunate enough to be near me!

H2BAR: What has been your favorite role thus far?

LD: My favorite was Tilly, whom I played in Hollyoaks for two and a half years. She had confidence and wisdom beyond her years, and was a fearless and positive 16-year-old.

H2BAR: Last year you attended the 2013 gathering in Manchester for redheads, an event similar to those held in the Netherlands and Irleand. We love how you support fellow redheads. How was the experience? 

LD: It was a great celebration of being individual and being different. I’m very proud to be ginger. It’s a shame when people with red hair get bullied. It’s just because they don’t like it when someone stands out. You should be proud to stand out and be different.

H2BAR: Why do you love being redhead?

LD: I feel very fortunate to be born with red hair. When I was younger, it sometimes felt daunting being the “odd one out.” When you’re a child there is so much pressure amongst peers to fit in and be the same. But as you get older, you get used to the skin you’re in. Even though you may still have insecurities (don’t we all!), you start to receive compliments on what makes you different from everyone else. I love being a redhead because of my uniqueness.  The most incredible thing is how our hair is not a singular block of color, but a variety of shades: blonde, caramel, ginger, red, gold and brown. And, I love how my hair color changes with each season.

H2BAR: If we may ask, who does your hair? 

LD: Jonnie McKinnon is my super talented hairdresser.

H2BAR: We’re loving your pixie cut! Do you have favorite hair products to keep the look in place? 

LD: Thank you! I always use moose to control the frizz. If I put my hair in a quiff [a hairstyle that combines the 1950s pompadour hairstyle, the 50s flattop, and sometimes a mohawk], then I use Paul Mitchell Spray Wax which is perfect for moulding your hair easily. Also Argan oil and Moroccan oil are fantastic for putting oils back in the strands of hair that may have been lost due to swimming, using heated appliances and dying your hair.

H2BAR: What is the one beauty product you cannot leave the house without? 

LD: My red lipstick. I wear minimal makeup during the summer and love to let my freckles shine through, so I love popping on a bit of red to feel girly and glam.

H2BAR: And how about your favorite makeup product of all time? 

LD: Definitely lip balm. I’m a little obsessed with keeping my lips soft and plump, so you’ll always find at least three lip balms in my handbag! I wear a a SPF 30 lip balm in the summer and Carmex in the winter. A makeup artist told me about Carmex years ago and said all the models wear it. If it’s good enough for the models, it’s good enough for me!

H2BAR: Did you ever have a beauty phase you regret? 

LD: Yes! When I use to put black pencil eyeliner all around my eyes. It was too heavy for my face. I really wish someone would have told me about “blending” and “less is more.”

H2BAR: If you could choose one lip color, what would it be?

LD: RED!

H2BAR: We love red too! What is your current nail polish color?  

LD: Sao Paulo Streets by Nails Inc.

H2BAR: We absolutely love your red carpet fashion color choices, especially the yellow dress you wore at the 2013 British Soap Awards!

LD: Thank you! I felt like a Hollywood Starlet in that dress. It is by far my favorite look. It was created by Sabina Motasem and I loved it because I wanted to show a different side of me – a coming-of-age moment from a young girl to a woman. I wanted a dress with a little edge to it. I also wanted to show off my pixie haircut and went for a dramatic quiff to juxtapose the elegance of the dress. My wonderfully creative stylist, Martine Alexander, came up with the genius idea to dye my hair a blueish tone of bright red to make the canary yellow dress pop. And my lovely, talented hair dresser Jonnie, from Headmasters Chiswick, dyed and styled it for me. My stylist kept saying, “I know you’re always smiling, but you cannot smile in the red carpet pictures. It doesn’t suit the style of the dress.” I tried so hard not to smile, but it was difficult when the photograhers were shouting,  “Go on Lucy, give us one of your big smiles!”

H2BAR: How would you describe your style?

LD: I’d say eclectic. My style changes all the time. I’m always looking at what people are wearing from the catwalk to people on the street. If I see someone wearing an item of clothing I like, I’ll approach them and ask where they bought it.

H2BAR: Finish the sentence. You’ll be surprised to learn that I’ve never..

LD: I had never eaten a banana before I was 18. I know that’s very strange!

H2BAR: Who is your favorite redhead celebrity? 

LD: I was in love with Julia Roberts’ hair in Pretty Woman and was devastated when I found out she wasn’t a natural redhead.

H2BAR: One of our favorite quotes is: “A face without freckles is a night without stars.” Did you ever have a hard time accepting your freckles? Do you love and embrace them now? 

LD: That is a beautiful quote and I agree whole heartedly! I’ve always loved my freckles. I get really giddy when they start to grow all over my body in the summer.

H2BAR: What is the one piece of confidence advice you would give to young redhead girls?

LD: People who make horrible comments simply do so because they find it easiest to pick on the “odd one out,” and of jealousy because they don’t have anything unique about themselves. Rejoice being different. Be bold, be brave, be yourself.

H2BAR: What are your plans for the remainder of 2014?

LD: I just finished the short film Comedienne and am due to start filming a crime drama. I’m going on holiday with my dad and sister, a tradition of ours every year around my birthday. And, a hobby of mine is singing/songwriting, so I’d like to write more songs on my piano this year.