IN CONVERSATION WITH LORD SPIKEHEART
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For the launch of Miu Miu’s new fragrance Miutine: Numéro Berlin in conversation with brand ambassador Emma Corrin
Tucked into London’s Audley Square, the University Women’s Club has embodied graceful rebellion since 1886 – a sanctuary for women who shaped society from salons instead of stages. The only women’s club in the UK wholly owned and governed by its members, it’s a place where tradition and transformation coexist. It’s also where Miu Miu chose to unveil Miutine, its new fragrance: light-footed yet bold, a quiet contradiction that lingers. In the Women’s Library – surrounded by worn pages and whispers of history – Numéro Berlin sat down with Emma Corrin, actor, muse, and embodiment of Miu Miu’s vision of elegance-meets-rebellion, to talk scent, creativity, and the unexpected power of softness.
The Abridged English Dictionary defines Miutine as an unyielding spirit, magnetic, unpredictable, confident in contradictions, always ahead.
Nicole Atieno: You have a longstanding relationship with Miu Miu. What first drew you to the brand, and how has that connection evolved over time?
Emma Corrin: It’s been a beautiful journey. I’ve got to see and understand the work that goes into the brand and learned so much through the amazing team. Their style does align with mine extremely well, there’s something instinctive about it. We’re a perfect fit in the sense that Miu Miu embraces contradiction – softness with strength, elegance with a twist – and that’s something I really connect with. Over time, it’s felt less like a collaboration and more like a conversation that keeps evolving.
Can you tell us about the new Miu Miu fragrance? What does it evoke for you personally?
The mix of elegance and rebellion does speak to me. There’s a kind of quiet confidence to it. It‘s not loud, it lingers, makes you smell twice. It feels like walking into a garden, having all the different flowers blossoming at once. There’s playfulness too, which I love. It’s layered, like a good character.
If this new Miu Miu fragrance were a character in a film, who would they be?
The character would be rebellious but still having a soft side – someone who walks their own line, a little unpredictable but magnetic. They’d have this kind of classic, almost vintage elegance about them like they’ve stepped out of another era but then surprise you with something completely unexpected. Maybe they steal strawberries from a garden at midnight, or laugh in moments you wouldn’t expect. There’s that warmth too, something intimate and a little bit wild, like a secret only they know.
How does scent play a role in your own creative process, especially when embodying a new character?
A lot of actors use scent to build their characters, they choose a specific fragrance to help them get into the role. I haven’t really tried that yet. But maybe I should. It’s such a subtle, powerful thing… a smell can trigger something deep, something instinctive. Could be an interesting way in.
There’s a kind of quiet confidence to it. It‘s not loud, it lingers, makes you smell twice.
Fragrance can be so emotional and memory-driven. Does this scent bring you back to a specific moment in your life?
It reminds me of summer. A walk through a garden with different scents and a mix of something sweet hanging in the air. There’s this rush of wild strawberry, almost like you’ve just picked it straight from the vine and then the warmth of brown sugar sneaks in, soft and comforting. It makes me think of late afternoons, barefoot on warm stone, everything slowed down. It’s nostalgic but not in a heavy way, more like a memory that catches you off guard and makes you smile.
Miu Miu is known for blending elegance with rebellion. Do you see that spirit reflected in you or your own style?
Yes, absolutely. The mix of rebellion and softness does really show up in my style.
What does authenticity look like for you, both personally and professionally?
Authenticity, for me, is showing up without the need to impress. Professionally, it’s being present in the work, letting the character speak without forcing it. Personally, it’s being honest, even when it’s uncomfortable. And part of that – both in life and in the craft – is having a routine that keeps me steady. Something simple. Balanced. It’s keeping the noise down, so I can hear what’s real.
It’s nostalgic but not in a heavy way, more like a memory that catches you off guard and makes you smile.
Portraying Princess Diana in The Crown was a breakout moment in your career. What personal discoveries did that role lead you to?
It taught me a lot about being soft but also standing your ground. I was really drawn to the calmness Princess Diana carried, even in the chaos. And at the same time, there was this quiet rebellion in her, the way she pushed back, often silently with so much strength. I think I discovered that part in myself too, the ability to stay centered while still questioning everything around me. It was a strange, beautiful mirror.
What’s a role you haven’t tackled yet but feel deeply drawn to?
There are still so many roles I want to explore. Sometimes I read a script, and the character just… hits something in me. There‘s depth, there‘s layers that feel real, familiar, or sometimes completely foreign in the best way. That kind of complexity speaks to me. I’m still curious to step into different roles, different lives. So when people ask me to choose just one direction… it’s hard. Because I don’t think I’m done discovering yet.
Authenticity, for me, is showing up without the need to impress.
How do you reset creatively between roles, especially after emotionally intense characters?
Resetting after a heavy role… It’s not always immediate but I’ve learned to lean into the simple things like relaxation, routine, coffee in the morning without urgency, a walk through the park, letting my mind breathe. No backstory, just trees, strangers, silence. That’s how I come back to myself. Slowly. Quietly.
What’s a piece of advice that’s stuck with you through your journey in the public eye?
One piece of advice that’s really stayed with me is this idea of letting things wash over you. It’s hard to explain because it’s more of a feeling than a rule. But in this industry everything can be unpredictable, intense, sometimes overwhelming. You meet all kinds of people, face all kinds of pressure. And I think growing up, I learned not to let it all get under my skin. Just breathe, stay grounded, and let it pass through. That mindset has helped more than I can say.
One piece of advice that’s really stayed with me is this idea of… letting things wash over you.
What’s something small or mundane in your daily routine that makes you feel most likely to be seen?
I think it’s perfume. Yes, I really like fragrance and I think it’s beautiful doing that as a final thing before you walk out the door in the morning. But even if I’m out and about I always carry a little fragrance with me and it really uplifts me.
If you could go inside a movie for an era for a week, which movie would it be?
I think again a classic film like Bringing Up Baby or It’s A Wonderful Life – those films are so heart-wrenching and I like to imagine what it would have been like to be on set with those actors and see the difference between the actors themselves and the characters they were playing.
If there were an Emma Corrin perfume, what would it smell like?
It would probably be Miutine. There’s something really beautiful about it, it starts off sweet, but then shifts. You spray it, and at first it’s one thing… but then you let it breathe, and it becomes something else entirely. It evolves. On paper, it smells differently, but it’s on the skin where it really comes alive. I always tell people don’t judge it from a strip. Wear it. Let it settle. That’s when you really understand it.
