How to look like Bond girl Léa Seydoux

The French actress starring alongside Daniel Craig in Spectre shares her beauty and travel secrets

Which hair products do you use?

'I get my hair dyed a lot. I have a very good colourist: Christophe Robin at Le Meurice in Paris. I love him and his products. To keep it healthy and shiny, I use Opalis La Crème conditioner.'

Who has given you the best beauty advice?

'It didn't come from my mother or my grandmother, as you might expect - one day my father told me: "Pretend to be beautiful."'

What is your signature nail colour?

'I like bright nails paired with bright lips. I'm a fan of the flashy shades from American Apparel.'

Your favourite scent?

'It depends. I am not faithful to one perfume in particular. I like to change; sometimes I do it on purpose before playing a new character. I wore Prada Infusion d'Iris for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. I spray it on my clothes. I don't like it on my skin, except on the neckline for special occasions. I have a strong relationship with fragrance in general. It can be a perfume in the air, the smell of grass, the scent of falling rain. Right now I am wearing Prada Candy Florale: it reminds me of flowers blooming.'

Have you discovered any great beauty finds while travelling?

'French pharmacies remain the best places in the world to buy beauty products. I could spend a lot of time browsing in any of them.'

Which are your top skincare brands?

'I am crazy about oils and keeping my skin hydrated. I love La Roche-Posay and the Puressentiel products, which are made out of essential oils. I prefer non-perfumed creams and balms.'

How do you get your skin and body beach-ready?

'As I'm fond of good food, I play sports all year round. I do multiple classes with my coach and run about seven kilometres a day. I don't like diets; I just love eating. The best way to be healthy is to stay fit.'

Which spa do you love?

'I like to relax by having massages. I especially adore the spa at Les Sources de Caudalie near Bordeaux.'

Where is your favourite sunny destination?

'My mother has a guesthouse on Gorée Island, Senegal, called Asao. It is a very wild island 20 minutes from the coast in a longboat. She has been living there for a long time and I have lovely memories of it as a child. Because my skin is rather pale, I don't sunbathe a lot, but when I do I use La Roche-Posay Anthelios Gel-Crème Toucher Sec SPF50.'

What is your skincare routine when you fly?

'I don't usually wear make-up. I spray water on my face with a little atomiser that I always carry with me on flights. To keep up appearances, I apply a bit of red lipstick on my cheeks to give me a fresh look. I usually take YSL Pur Couture lipstick, an Armani concealer and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, which I use as a lip balm.'

This feature was first published in Condé Nast Traveller July 2014