interview

Name:
Theo Neilson

Agency:
Select Model Management (London)

Age:
21

Height:
6’2″

Instagram:
@theoneilson

Place of Origin:
London, born and raised

Ethnic Origin:
English and Scottish

Birthsign:
Virgo

How discovered:
I was doing a runner job for a film production company near Oxford Circus and got approached in the supermarket next door to the Select agency. I didn’t follow it up until a few months later because I was starting university and it would have been too intense. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into at the time, it’s been a pretty crazy ride so far!

Favorite things:
I like traveling a lot, which is great because I get to do it loads through modeling. I love rock-climbing and have gotten a few mates from uni into it so it’s always fun. I paint in my free time; I mostly do portraits and drawings from collages of images that I like or from my own photos.

What are you listening to at the moment?
I listen to quite an eclectic mix of stuff. At the moment, my housemates have got me listening to some indie rock bands such as Ultimate Painting, Twin Peaks, and Willie J Healey—who’s playing at our house party next week, which I’m really excited for.

Favorite movie, tv show:
I like quite abstract or surrealist movies: Spirited Away is a classic, it’s cool because it’s both childish and spooky. Waking Life is all about lucid dreaming and philosophy, which I find really interesting. I’m also a big fan of Wes Anderson’s films and Tarantino (Pulp Fiction is probably my favorite).

Favorite book:
Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorite authors. His novel Mother Night I think is one of his best. I recently read Patti Smith’s autobiography Just Kids and it’s become one of my favorites. I like it as it’s all about her growing up and making her way as an artist in the ‘60s. I feel as though I can relate to bits of what she was feeling at the time.

Favorite designer, fragrance or beauty product:
Uniqlo is good for basics and their MoMA art collaboration stuff is pretty cool too. I don’t wear many things from one brand apart from Doc Martens, which I wear pretty exclusively these days.

What would you be doing if you weren’t modeling?
I’d probably be working harder at university, haha! In terms of a future career, I want to go into film. I’m not sure what exactly job, but definitely something creative. I’m trying to get work experience to see what appeals to me most in the industry and see where I go from there.

What’s something uncool that you love anyway?
I play chess. I’m not amazing at it, but it’s fun. I’m also subscribed to some geeky science and philosophy channels on YouTube, and I love the first Toy Story.

Favorite modeling experience so far?
I was in a Mert and Marcus shoot for Love Magazine which was shot in Berlin. The whole thing was really strange and quite surreal. It was one of my first editorials abroad and with two of the biggest names in the industry. I met some really cool people there too.

How did it feel to be chosen by Anthony Vaccarello to represent his new vision for such an important brand?
At the time, I had no idea that it was a big deal. Funnily enough, whilst we were shooting, Collier Schorr kept telling me to relax because she thought I was really nervous, even though I wasn’t in the slightest. I think she may have just assumed I would be, but because it was my first job I was pretty clueless. It wasn’t till afterward that I learned more about the brand that I appreciated it. It was an interesting situation, because the challenge was to stick to the brand’s core image, whilst at the same time to do something very different from what went before. I suppose the coolest thing from the experience was getting to see behind the scenes of how that process is handled, especially when the stakes are so high.

What’s the best thing about your hometown/country?
The best thing about London is that there’s always something going on—art galleries, gigs, etc., so it’s hard to get bored. If you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life.

Which brand would you really love to model for?
Burberry would be awesome. They capture the essence of British style. Hopefully I get to do some stuff with them in the future.

Place you would love to visit:
There are so many… Iceland is a place I’d love to go as it has some of the most incredible geography. Yosemite National Park in California, as it has some of the best rock-climbing in the world. I’ll have to do a big trip there one day.

Currently you’re obsessed with/about:
American politics. I don’t think it really needs explaining as the whole thing is so crazy at the moment, but I’ve spent a lot of time recently reading articles about it all. That being said, UK politics is fascinating now too, especially after Britain leaving the EU. It’s an exciting time for politics, but also kind of worrying.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Know more about the world today than you did yesterday, and be kind to people. It’s simple, but easily forgotten.