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Sophia Hammons has a few things in common with her Freakier Friday character – well, characters – and at the London premiere on July 31, it showed.
In the movie, Hammons plays Lily, who is Anna (Lindsay Lohan)'s stepdaughter, and body swaps with “grandma” Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis). At most of the premieres, she's paid homage to the character's original style with Y2K looks and bright colors, but for this one, she opted for a more figuartive take on the theme: Two different looks by the same designer, Sau Lee. For the carpet, she paired the gown with Kurt Geiger shoes, Sky Diamonds rings, and a David Morris necklace. For the after-party, she switched into a mini dress paired with Sebastian Milano shoes.
Ahead, Hammons took Teen Vogue behind the scenes of the premiere, letting us in on her makeup hacks, styling secrets, and everything she learned on set.
Teen Vogue: Tell me a little bit about your role in Freakier Friday.
Sophia Hammons: Well, this one's a fun one because I play two roles technically. I start out as Lily, who's a girl from London who just moved to LA, and she loves fashion, loves designing, loves drawing, just a very creative person, and she doesn't really get along with her new stepsisters. And then when I switch bodies, I play Tess, who is a therapist and a grandmother, so kind of polar opposite to Lily.
TV: Were you familiar with the movie originally? When did you first see the original movie?
SH: I first saw the original movie when I was 12 or 13. At my school, we would have Freaky Fridays sometimes, where we would swap clothes with our best friends, or teachers would dress up as students, and students would dress up as teachers. So it's very full circle that I get to be a part of this now.
TV: What has it been like as the new generation stepping into this iconic movie franchise?
SH: It's a huge honor. I mean, this movie was iconic for me just as it was to anyone else. I think it's timeless; that's the great thing about it. I'm just so grateful and excited. And I think this one, I think we did a good job on not trying to make it a remake, because that's not what it is. It's just an awesome extension of the story, which I think people have been waiting for, so that's it.
TV: Did you have any favorite moments on set when you were filming, when you stopped and were like, "Wow, I can't believe I'm doing this"?
SH: I think that moment for me might've been the first week where we were filming. One of the first things we filmed was the switch scene, which is crucial to the film, because without that, we don't have the rest of the plot. And it was all four of us, and we could not stop laughing. It was so much fun. And it really shows on screen how well our chemistry was that day. Then it also set the tone for the rest of the filming process. So I think in that moment, all of us, the director, the rest of the cast members, the producers, the crew, everyone was like, “Okay, this is going to be great and it's going to work.”
TV: For the premiere, what was the vibe you were going for on the red carpet? How did you decide on the look?
SH: We've had the incredible opportunity to have done three premieres, which has been so great. And for each one, I just wanted to keep it fun. I wanted to feel confident, and I couldn't have a better group of people around me. I'm so grateful for my stylist, Jordan Dorso, and my hair and makeup, Jen and Mark.
We’ve been staying very on theme with the colors and the Y2K vibe for the LA and NYC premieres, but for London, I really wanted to go all out and feel like a princess. I was so excited when we found this beautiful baby pink gown from Sau Lee, which just fit me perfectly from the moment I tried it. I was even more excited to know it was from a female-founded Asian-based designer, which felt like a homage to our film that was all run by incredible women. I loved it so much that I even changed into a mini dress version of it for the after-party.
TV: Do you have a favorite part of your day when you're getting ready for a big event like a premiere?
SH: Honestly, the glamming process has been so much fun. Always listening to music, always just yapping, and it honestly makes going to the carpet less intimidating because I just have a good group of people around me right before. So I feel very supported, safe, and beautiful.
TV: Are you more of a jamming to songs getting ready person, or do you prefer a calm vibe? What's the music playing when you're getting ready?
SH: It's so funny because it definitely changes depending on the time of day. In the morning, when we get ready for press, when we were in New York, I was playing Fleetwood Mac and Etta James and all those good vibes. Definitely still jamming out to them, but then versus the London premiere, I was listening to a lot of Charli xcx and Britney Spears and all of those fierce pop girlies.
TV: Is there one beauty item that you always have to have in your bag, whether that's on a red carpet or just when you're going out in your day?
SH: Well, no matter what, I have some lip product, but I feel like that's a given. But I don't think I could live without an eyelash curler.
TV: Real.
SH: Right? If I were going on a desert island, that'd probably be the one thing that I'd bring.
TV: Is there anything you say to yourself before you step out on a red carpet or step out where you're going to be photographed?
SH: Honestly, and Jamie even told me this too, I just remind myself to be present, because this is honestly a dream come true. This whole experience, filming it and then now going on this press tour, it's seriously all I've ever dreamt of. And Jamie on set used to say, "Be where your feet are," which has stuck with me because you could be on a carpet taking photos, but your mind could be totally somewhere else.
TV: Were there any fashion or beauty moments in the movie that you got to wear that were your favorite or stuck out to you?
SH: Definitely, as Lily, I had lots of fun fashion moments. I actually wore a lot of Vivienne Westwood, which was so fun for me. It was super fun to get to play with wardrobe, because it was one of the main factors that would differentiate our characters when we did the body switch. So for some of the movie I was wearing a cute little skirt and a leather jacket and these awesome tall boots, but then later in the movie I'm wearing glasses and a neck scarf and plaid pants.
TV: How do you describe your personal style?
SH: I think I'm very minimal. I love the kind of effortless '90s look right now. I wish I could dress like Lily most days, but I think it's just out of habit that I love a good-fitting jean and a nice white top and some flats. That's usually my go-to.
TV: Very model off duty. I'd really love to know, are there any products, whether fashion or beauty, that you're just loving right now?
SH: Ooh. Yeah. Well, every single day for makeup, I use the Armani Luminous Silk Concealer, and I've been using that forever because I was introduced to it on a previous set, and now I don't think I could live without it. I also have a fun little secret eyelash hack. I use the L'Oreal waterproof Lash Paradise. I take an older tube of mascara and apply it to the roots of my lashes, and then I take a newer tube and use it on the tips of my lashes.
TV: Wait, that's smart.
SH: I've been doing it for years. As long as I have a little concealer and a good eyelash, I'm honestly good. Oh, and then a lip product. I've been using one of the Chanel... Any Chanel lip product, honestly.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
GRWM Credits
Hair: Marc Mena
Makeup: Jen Tioseco
Styling: Jordan Dorso
