Taken from Issue 26 of 10 Magazine Australia - TRANSFORMATION, EVOLVE, JOY - on newsstands September 18th.

Lisa Rinna knows how to have a good time. She arrives on set for our story in Paris, on the eve of her 62nd birthday, full of energy and ready for action. The afternoon before, she’d been a guest at Demna’s final Balenciaga couture show, where a few days later she will go viral for her well-known wit (“It’s couture, honey, look at the tag… it’s couture” – if you know, you know). Before this trip, she had spent a month in Ardross Castle in northern Scotland for her return to reality TV on the American version of The Traitors. As larger than life as her legendary personality is, she also has a quiet, contemplative side. She makes everyone in the room feel seen with her intrinsic maternal instincts, and she is deeply emotional (a Cancerian, after all). She digs deep creatively, doing whatever she has to do to get the shot, and magics up characters effortlessly, endlessly transforming. She works hard, fast, deliberately.

The LA-based actress and TV personality’s career began in 1992 with a part in the soap opera Days of Our Lives before her breakout role in Melrose Place. In 2007, she played Roxie Hart on Broadway in Chicago alongside her husband of 28 years, the actor Harry Hamlin. And then there was her infamous eight-year stint on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where her unfiltered personality, candour and natural comedic brilliance revived the series and conjured up a new generation of Rinna devotees. In the past year, she has turned her obsession with fashion into her newfound stage.

While she’s getting into her final look, Nowadays, a Roxie blockbuster from Chicago, is playing in the studio and it brings Rinna to tears. It’s the first time she has cried on a photoshoot, she tells me, but the song takes her back. She also mentions that, recently, she’s had an emotional release, more of which later, and it can be felt. She’s undoubtedly connected to her body and has no inhibitions: earlier in the shoot she danced with an infectious passion to Madonna’s Give It 2 Me and Britney’s Gimme More. Our kind of woman. Between looks, we sat down to talk life with Lisa right now.

I saw that you recently said you’re in your fashion era. When was the first time you realised you were obsessed with fashion?

When I was 12 or 13, I lived in Medford, Oregon, a very small town, and I got Seventeen. That magazine gave me a window into fashion. By the time I was 16, I’d got my first Vogue. That’s when it all changed. I saw a model in a sweater dress with buttons down the back and she had on brown suede pumps. Never seen anything like that in my life. That was the life-changing moment.

Who were your fashion icons at that age?

[The models] Kim Alexis and Kelly Emberg. I’ve been obsessed with fashion and models since I was very young. I come from that era. Then, of course, Cindy, Naomi, Christy, Kate, Linda… but Kim and Kelly were before that. And Beverly Johnson.

Do you have a dream archival piece to own that you have not yet had in your grasp?

That is very hard to pick. I once wore this Alaïa two-piece purple bodysuit with a tiny collar, laced up the side with the skin open. God, I’d like to own that. Wore it maybe 25 years ago. I’d like to find that piece.

You have such amazing energy. It’s so great to be around you, everyone here is so invigorated. How do you cultivate your energy?

Kindness. I come from a place of being very grateful. And the importance of being kind to people. That’s what we’ve taught our children [the models Amelia Gray and Delilah Belle] – gratitude and kindness. I teach my children that, so I think I better live it. We’re all doing the best we can and we’re all doing these jobs. I think it’s just about being kind.

Do you talk to yourself kindly? Or are you very critical?

I’m kind to myself. I’ve worked on that. I was very critical up until I was probably 50, and once I turned 50 that changed. I was very critical of myself in my twenties, thirties and forties. As a mother, you can feel guilt, like you’re not enough… the idea that you can’t work and be a mother at the same time.

What do you think made that change?

Just life and wisdom. You don’t get there until you’re older. You don’t get it. I would say to my 20-year-old self, it’s gonna be okay. Be kinder to yourself, give yourself a break. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Be more gentle. In the end, it’s gonna be okay and it’s all gonna work out. By the time I turned 50 it got easier and now I’m just having a ball.

I love that. I met Amelia backstage at a show once and she was so sweet and so happy to be there. I see what you’ve taught her. What do you think your children are teaching you at this point in your life?

Healing. I think children come into your life to heal you. These children came into our lives to heal parts of ourselves that we haven’t been able to heal yet. I do think children choose their parents and I’m very honoured that they chose us. When I met my husband the first thing I said was, “I need to have kids with him.” I don’t know why. I mean, he’s fucking hot, but the first thing I felt was that I needed to have children with him. That’s why I’m here. So we did that really well.

Are you happy that Amelia and Delilah have chosen to be in the industry?

I love it. Are you kidding me? I think it’s the greatest thing ever. I want them to do what they want and what they love. Harry and I are their biggest cheerleaders.

What’s your star sign?

Cancer sun. Gemini rising. Pisces Moon. Both my children are Geminis. Both my parents were Gemini. My husband’s a Scorpio.

Gemini energy! What’s inspiring you right now?

Really hard work. Not being afraid to work very hard.

Is this the hardest you’ve ever worked?

Ever in my life. I chose to do The Traitors. I don’t know why because I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to go back to reality TV. I’ve been out of it for two and a half years but everyone in my life kept saying you need to do it, we think it would be good for you. Well… it was hardest thing I’ve ever done. I lost my mom three and a half years ago and I’ve been pretty shut down since then. Very closed off. I was emotionally bereft and put up a big wall. I was trying for the last three years to break down this wall in therapy. I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t cry. Traitors broke me wide open.

Do you think it was the right timing for that?

Yes. I have been asking the angels and the universe for it. Please, show me a sign, give me something to open me up again. Who would’ve thought it was going to be a reality show in a castle in Scotland? I’ve never worked harder. Harder than on Dancing with the Stars. Harder than doing Chicago on Broadway playing Roxie Hart for eight shows a week. I don’t know why but I’m really grateful.

Are you quite spiritual?

Yes. I used to love to go to church. My parents didn’t really go to church but my friends did and I always begged to go to Catholic church with them. I think it started at a very young age. I loved the community. I love the feeling I had when I would sit in a pew. It came from that.

And do you still go to church?

In my head, in my own church. The Church of Lisa Rinna. It can be scary at times, but it works.

Iconic! I will join your church. What’s vital to your routine, to being Lisa Rinna?

Yoga. I need to do yoga poses. I mean, there are a lot of other things, but I do yoga poses a lot and I think stretching is the key to youthfulness. You’ll see me stretching all over the place. It’s what ends up saving me because I haven’t slept. I’ve been working more than I’ve ever. I’m also realising that I’m way stronger than I’ve ever given myself credit for. We as humans can do so much more than we actually do.

You’re so strong and obviously look fabulous. What’s your workout routine? Everyone wants to know.

I’m just consistent. I’ve been consistent since I was 16. I just move. I’ll hike, do Pilates, go to yoga. It’s like brushing my teeth. I’m not a maniac. I do light weights. I love this class called Torchd that my friend Isaac Boots teaches. It’s a hard class that works out your whole body. It’s just consistency.

[The hairstylist, Johan, interrupts to say that he’s going to put a wig on Rinna and transform her even more. She replies by telling him to go ahead.]

The issue’s theme is transformation.

Oh my God, it’s all about a transformation right now. Okay everyone, keep going. I’ll die if we stop.

What do you love about transforming into all these fabulous characters through fashion?

I’m an actor, too, and this is my way of acting right now because, being a woman of a certain age, I don’t get as many acting jobs as I’d like to get. This lets me play different characters and I get fulfilled as an artist. This is art to me. It’s not just, you know, we’re gonna put some wigs on and do some fashion. This is like my heart and my soul, that’s why I love it so much.

What’s your dream role?

That’s very difficult to say. Today I want to be in the new American Horror Story with Sarah Paulson [who is returning for its upcoming 13th season]. And [its creator] Ryan Murphy, because I need to work with him more [Rinna was in a season three episode of the AHS spin-off American Horror Stories]. I also want to be on the next season of The White Lotus. I’ll take either one or both.

What have you been watching?

I’ve been in the [Traitors] castle locked up for weeks but I’ve been rewatching Mad Men. While I was there, I could only focus on one thing at a time, not a bunch of shows. I’m watching Mad Men and my husband’s about to come on the show. He’s in two seasons and was nominated for an Emmy for it [in 2013]. He plays Jim Cutler. So I think that’s cute.

What have you been listening to?

The Sunset Boulevard soundtrack. Oasis, Wonderwall. And what’s that other one? José Feliciano, California Dreamin’. That’s been the rotation right now for the last week.

Are you going to go to an Oasis show?

I would love to. Let’s put it out there.

What’s the album that soundtracks your life?

Hard Candy by Madonna.

Oh my God, that’s a great answer. Best concert you’ve ever been to?

Madonna. When she had that blonde hair and was wearing the [Jean Paul Gaultier] bra. Her peak! What was that era called?

Maybe the Blond Ambition tour in 1990… What are you reading right now?

I have a book called The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. My daughter Amelia said, “Mom, you need to read this. It will change your life.”

It’s life-changing, I just finished it. What change do you wish to see in the world?

I would like to see peace. I would like to stop seeing the cruelty and the wars that are happening. I would like people to pay attention to global warming and trust that it’s real and do something to save this planet before it’s too late.

What do you implement into your life to try to cope with everything that’s happening around us?

Xanax.

Perfect. Best lesson you’ve learned recently?

Let go. Let God.

Do you have a motto?

Just do it.

Biggest challenge you’ve faced?

Traitors. Finishing Traitors. No, but really, the biggest challenge I’ve faced is myself and my thinking. That’s my biggest challenge.

There’s going to be a full Moon tonight, which is apparently incredible for breaking bad habits. It’s a good release.

I know. I’m so looking forward to it. And you know, my birthday’s tomorrow so I think it’s powerful. It’s been a powerful time for me in Paris. I’ve been here for 10 days and I’ve done some major healing and gone to some healers who have worked my body. I feel closer to the angels in Paris for some reason. I don’t know why. It’s very spiritual for me and things are happening in synchronicity very quick, so I welcome it.

You’re in alignment. What are you grateful for today?

I’m so in alignment. I’m grateful for my family. Delilah, Amelia and Harry.

What’s next?

Everything. The world. I’ve arrived. So everything. But it only happened on July 8th.

What happened on July 8th?

Oh, I arrived. I got there. Spiritually. I know it sounds weird, but I believe strongly that I arrived at wherever I was trying to get to, as we all are. I got there on July 8th at 3pm.

We do love an arrival at 10. How are you going to celebrate it?

Well, I had a glass of rosé. I hadn’t had anything to drink. I saw this amazing woman who does just a lymphatic massage, but she’s also a shaman. I can’t write this, it’s crazy. But something changed. She moved something in me. I saw her on July 7th.

Did you have your inevitable release?

I did that on my last day of Traitors. I had a huge release on camera. Wiping tears. The full thing.

You did it.

I got to release. But it took three and a half years of pent-up energy… imagine.

And now, how good does it feel?

I feel a whole lot better, I gotta tell you. I feel much more in touch, much more grounded, much more alive and much more my authentic self.

balenciaga.com

Photographer BYRON SPENCER
Fashion Editor DANYUL BROWN
Talent LISA RINNA
Text ROXY LOLA
Hair JOHAN HELLSTROM using BJORN AXEN
Make-up CHYNARA KOJOEVA at Forward Artists
Manicurist FRIDA SELKIRK
Photographer’s assistant MATILDE BONO
Fashion assistant EMMA SIAUT
Movement director VALENTIN BEAUFILSat Call My Agent
Videography ANABEL BURROWSand THIBAUT THIERRY
Retouching HAYLEY BROWN
Production RD PRODUCTIONS
Shot at LES STUDIOS FRANÇAIS, PARIS
Clothing and accessories throughout by BALENCIAGA