French beauty giant L'Oréal Paris has appointed British actress and activist Gemma Chan as its newest International Spokesperson.
After turning down a career in law to pursue her acting ambitions, the 37-year-old rose to fame with appearances in UK dramas Doctor Who and Sherlock, before landing her breakout lead role in sci-fi series Humans.
She has since gone on to make waves in Hollywood by starring in hit 2018 romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians and superhero blockbuster Captain Marvel, and is now set to star alongside Meryl Streep in the Stephen Soderbergh-directed comedy for HBO Let Them All Talk.
In addition to her film and TV presence, L'Oréal chose Chan as its latest spokesperson due to her efforts as an advocate for inclusivity and feminism, values which strongly align with those of L'Oreal Paris, according to the company.
In 2019, she founded her own production company with the aim of amplifying the voices and helping to tell the stories of minority groups, which saw her named as a 'Force for Change' by Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle as part of her turn as guest editor of British Vogue.
A founding member and financial contributor to the Justice and Equality Fund – the UK's equivalent of the Time's Up legal defense fund to fight sexual harassment, assault and discrimination – Chan is also an ambassador for children's charity UNICEF UK and most recently volunteered with charity Cook-19 to help deliver free meals to key workers across London during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting on her new role, Chan said: "I've always believed that we should embrace our difference as our strength.
“So I'm thrilled to join L'Oréal Paris, a family of empowered women of all origins standing together to show the power and beauty of diversity.
“The L'Oréal Paris message to every woman, 'believe in your self-worth', is as needed today as ever."
Chan will appear in the brand's future advertising campaigns and promote its products, and joins L'Oréal's diverse line-up of ambassadors including Helen Mirren, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, Katherine Langford and Lily-Rose Depp, among others.
Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, Global Brand President of L'Oréal Paris, added: "Gemma Chan is proof of the success that happens when you have the confidence to follow your own dreams, and speak up for others to be able to follow theirs.
“Committed to her causes with innate female strength, she's a source of inspiration beyond the screen, for young women to be the change.”
