Emmanuelle Chriqui (Sancha)

“At a certain point you realize, ‘Oh, our bodies change,’” she says, vowing, “I’m not going to starve myself to remain at a 24 jean. As much as it makes me sad, because that means I have to get rid of half of my closet, it’s not realistic anymore. To do that would mean to starve myself, and why? It’s not naturally where I am anymore. The only thing that makes me really sad is looking back, I never appreciated it when I had it. I would say to any woman, young girl or teenager, just f***ing appreciate it, man.”

If you’re surprised by her candor, then you’ll be equally staggered to hear about her biggest fantasy. “My dream would be to live on a commune, have my own garden and be surrounded by a community of people who are innovative, creative, and amazing,” she shares, citing the Burning Man festival—which she’s been to twice—as an example. “Whenever I’m in a situation like that, I’m like, ‘This is what it’s all about!’ [When I would go] I would bring little glow things; I’d share them and say, ‘You’re too dark—you need some light!’ Those kinds of environments, where it’s all love based, are great; it’s so fluffy and hippy dippy, and it’s my jam. It’s seriously what I dream about.”

While her secret self wishes she could have been a teenager during the Woodstock era, the Emmanuelle of reality is a very different person. She’s raw, she’s honest, and she doesn’t have time for bullshit—of the Hollywood variety or otherwise.

“I’m very hardworking, and I don’t like to fail. I don’t like to get into a situation where I’m not prepared; I will not go on set if I don’t know my lines. I’m very studious. I’m a bit of a control freak. I see things to be a certain way. My challenge is to allow myself to flow. I would describe myself as sensitive, probably to a fault. My feelings can get easily hurt, but only by the people I care about. I’m afraid of getting bored: it’s my biggest fear in life,” she admits, adding, “Another way of describing myself is ‘naturally always searching for joy.’ I love laughing; when I don’t laugh for a long time, it’s like my soul is not in a good place.”

She pauses thoughtfully, and smiles serenely. “Where there is joy, everything exists.”