INTERVIEW – FASHION MODEL ANNEKE WEERTS
Name: Anneke Weerts
Nationality: Dutch
Profession: Fashion model, actress, filmmaker and writer
Agencies: Eefje van Daal Agency (modeling) and Henneman Agency (writing, acting & filmmaking).
Milestones:
As a model: Otazu, Axe, Geox, Cars Jeans, SPM Shoes & Boots, Le Ballon, Pleasurements, Manix, Beau Monde, Grazia, Playboy, Z|Z This=Us and the Dutch ‘Meldknop’ anti-cyber-bullying campaign.
As a filmmaker: My Utrecht School of the Arts graduation movie My Brahma Triad (which functioned as my audio-visual coming-out as a bisexual woman living together with both a man and a woman) and, as a crewmember, my work on the WNF documentary Carice van Houten in Caribisch Nederland, the Dutch television-series Van God Los and Mixed Up and the trans media project Human Birdwings.
Current location: Hilversum, The Netherlands
How did you start modeling?
“I started modeling at the age of 16. I worked together with a few talented photographers and started to build my portfolio. Within a few years I got my first publications. After my work for Otazu and Playboy my modeling career had a serious lift-off.”
What does your career do for you?
“It enables me to visit lots of wonderful locations in the Netherlands and abroad and to work together with lots of inspiring people. Great teamwork is what I love most.”
What’s your most memorable shoot?
“It’s impossible to pick only one because I love this job so much. I’ll never forget my first fashion shoot with Dutch Photographer Salvador Pozo. The shoot I did for an editorial for the Dutch Playboy magazine was also very memorable. Dutch photographer Alek Bruessing photographed me while I walked around practically naked in Kololo (Limpopo, South Africa). During my stay I got to see the amazing beautiful South-African nature and animals. The campaign I did in Belgium for Manix was also memorable, because the 124 feet billboards, photographed by Belgian photographer Kurt Stallaert, caused some traffic congestion. The shoots and campaigns I did that went further than just being beautiful were also memorable. I am very proud of the fashion editorial and cover I did for Z|Z This=Us magazine, photographed by Dutch photographer LaPeet. The pictures were dedicated to lesbian and bisexual women, sexual minorities that definitely deserve to get more attention. The work I did for the Dutch ‘Meldknop’ anti-cyber-bullying campaign with Dutch photographer Floris Krelage was also memorable because I could show off some serious facial expressions for the right cause.”
What do you think MODELLIST-ID can do for the model community?
“I think it can help models to get to know more about each others professional and personal lives and to stay in touch. It is also a great help for traveling and you get to know the spots were you’ll have a good chance to meet some beautiful familiar faces.”
Who do you admire and would you like to meet?
“I admire everyone who does what he or she loves to do. I like to meet al those inspiring people that love great teamwork just as much as I do. Let’s create some amazing things together!”
What’s your favorite book/film/music?
“I love the novels of Dutch writer Jan Wolkers and I’m also very impressed by La Solitudine dei Numeri Primi (The Solitude of Prime Numbers) by Paolo Giordano.
I’m addicted to movies, especially art-house. Examples of movies I like are The Dreamers, A Single Man, Les Amours Imaginaires, Heavenly Creatures, La piel que habito, Summer Lovers, Head in the Clouds, Vicky Christina Barcelona, La Tourneuse de Pages, Bound, Viola di Mare, The Blue Lagoon, Jumanji, Lost and Delirious, Monster, The Accused, Antichrist, Les Intouchables, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Dutch movies like TBS and Tirza.
I have a somewhat complex taste when it comes to music. My personal Spotify playlist includes artists like Calvin Harris, The Cliks, Compuphonic, Ellen ten Damme, Enigma, Freemasons, Fischerspooner, Gorillaz, Jace Everett, K’s Choice, Robert Palmer, Joe Cocker, Kiss, The Knife, La Roux, Ladytron, Le Tigre, Muse, Ratatat, Scissor Sisters, Sia, Sisters of Mercy, Stromae, Sting, Studio Killers, Tegan and Sara, Trentmoller, Uh Huh Her and Whitesnake. Some specific songs literally helped me to pose and act during a photo- or filmshoot. For example Ode to the Bouncer by Studio Killers resulted in a sweet beauty-shoot with candy on my lips. Feeling Good by Muse resulted in an artistic striptease scene for a commercial. Mea Culpa by Enigma resulted in intimate imagery of me posing together with another female model, both of us wearing beautiful Swarovski jewelry. Love Gun by Kiss resulted in excessive fun and some crazy, wild and sexy pictures during a test-shoot.”
What’s your beauty regime?
“First of all I don’t use drugs, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. I’m a (pesco-) vegetarian, but not a very strict one due to a severe nut and peanut allergy. I do eat fish sometimes to make sure I get all the vitamins and proteins that I need to stay healthy. It’s a pity that not all eateries serve vegetarian food, this makes it hard to keep up a full vegetarian lifestyle, especially while traveling. I love to perform martial arts to keep my body in shape. I’ve worked as a Les Mills BodyCombat instructor for quite a few years but it was hard to combine with modeling and filmmaking. I love photo- and film shoots that are physically challenging. When I’m not modeling or acting I try to use make-up as little as possible. After a photo- or film shoot I clean my skin with Atamé tonic and put on Jacob Hooy chamomile daycream to keep my skin hydrated. To make sure my lips never become dry or cracked I regularly use Elisabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, especially during harsh weather.”
What are your favorite hang out spots in the city you live in?
“My favorite hang out spot is the henhouse in my garden. I have some very cute big Brahma and Silky chickens and I love to take care of them. I also like to watch art-house movies at the Hilversum Film theatre, to eat at the REX Restaurant and to have something to drink at The Guardian.”
What is your favorite city and where do you like to hang out there?
“My favorite cities are Amsterdam and Utrecht. I’m very lucky to live right between them. My favourite spots in Amsterdam are Café Batavia (near Amsterdam Central Station) and movie theatres Het Ketelhuis and Tuschinski. My favourite spots in Utrecht are Café Stairway to Heaven and movie theatres ‘t Hoogt, Louis Hartlooper Complex and Pathé Rembrandt.”
Do you have any advice for those who want to start modeling?
“Modeling is a job you learn by doing it. Work on your portfolio and try out different things. Never pay money to get signed by an agency. If a good agency (check their references and ask colleague models) is interested, they’ll be happy to invest in your career. Always keep in mind that you are an independent artist. Even when there is someone directing you (for example a photographer or movie-director), you can always say no when you feel that someone crosses your line. Always take good care of yourself, because it is your own body and personality that you’ll have to work with in this profession.”
What are your future plans?
“My main future plan is to stay happy, both on a personal and professional level. I want to continue sharing my life with my boy- and girlfriend and to continue modelling, acting, filmmaking and writing for as long as possible. I’m very happy in this three-way relationship and my work in front and behind the camera has always been endlessly inspiring to me. My short-term goal is to finish the debut novel that I’m currently working on soon!”
