Introducing September Starring Alicia Silverstone

Alicia was photographed in Los Angeles at Historic Hobart Wallsworth House by Raul Romo; she was styled by Jacquie Trevizo; makeup by Simone Siegl; hair by Kylee Heath. Interview by Alison Engstrom.

It is so great to meet you! You have done so much for animal rights and inspiring others to live a kinder life. I feel like the key to living your best life is being intentional in all ways. When did you realize that your decisions ultimately could lead you to live a more conscious life?

It was my love of animals that put me on this path. By being a vegan and eating this way made me feel like I was getting younger and more powerful. It made me feel more nourished, more beautiful, and stronger as I was aging. I started to have more energy, while simultaneously, feeling very calm and at peace with myself. My mind was focusing easily and I was thinking more clearly. It helped me shed pounds I was holding onto and it brought me to my healthiest self, effortlessly. It started with the animals; I thank them because they led me on this very healthy path.

I feel like we have come so far and evolved, I remember telling my family I wasn’t going to eat meat in my 20s and they just did not understand.

I remember when I first went vegan, Jay Leno would do whole bits. I’d be on his show and he’d be like, what’s a vegan? Are you an alien? (laughs). The science is undeniable. When you see doctors left and right turning vegan and telling their patients to go also vegan. When I was in the hospital, when my mom was sick, and I heard doctors telling her a plant-based diet was the way to go, I thought think, what did you just say? It’s happening everywhere. Then there are these incredible films like The Game Changers, which is about these athletes who get more energy and more power from being plant-based. It dispels the myth that being plant-based is for weak men, Arnold Schwarzenegger helped present the movie, for gosh sakes (laughs). A lot of people like What the Health, and if you are an environmentalist called Cowspiracy, which is so good and so is Seaspiracy. 

I am experiencing a happy change in the world where there used to be a time when you had to argue or defend your healthiness. I think where we are now, most people—not all people—especially in cosmopolitan cities will take the stance of they know it’s better for your health, but I just can’t do it yet. To me, that’s a better place to be. Most people know that eating plants is better and the more plants we eat, the better. They have heard or understand from a doctor or a great book, like The Kind Diet, that this is a healthier way for them. They are on some type of journey, maybe the beginning or maybe they are trying and that’s a great place to be. So I feel really good and hopeful. 

As your professional life evolved how would you say you have stayed true to yourself in a field that can be rewarding but also has its struggles? 

I am having a really good time with my choices. I feel lucky that I have been working with great actors, directors, and fun people. I had been working in Europe with interesting artists and having the time of my life. In January and February I was in Amsterdam and my son came to stay with me for a week. We rode our bikes all over the city and we went to Paris. Going to work everyday I was so inspired and excited—it was so creative and ridiculous. I am just having fun, everything I am saying yes to has been a pleasure. I feel really grateful. Being a mommy is so important to me and I am able to balance both of those easily, but obviously every day is a challenge. The hard part of life is the admin. If you want to answer texts and emails, you really can’t do anything else (laughs). With all of the things I am doing, I am so happy. I feel very lucky.

I think having fun is key. When you start out you are in the pursuit and you can loose sight of fun, while trying to achieve a goal or dream. 

There have been hard parts, it hasn’t all been a breeze, but in general, I love my life. I love my son, my home, my activism, and making a change in this world. My focus is in so many places so the artist in me never gets bored. If my son ever says he is bored, I say, that’s such a good feeling, really soak into that. It’s because I know it’s a fleeting feeling, that childhood boredom, and so much creativity is born out of that. I don’t have time to be bored, I am pretty much always working on something. 

Boredom leads to daydreaming, and that's so important! I daydream all the time. Going back to your animal activism. I’m sure it’s rewarding but also can be hard emotionally. How do you balance that?

It’s a very real thing and it’s very hard when we realize what’s happening to these beautiful, sweet creatures. It’s just heartbreaking. I think what makes it balanced is that I don’t have to contribute to it. My choices are making change and every day I fight for them. We know that 1.2 billion people don’t have enough food to eat yet we bend over backwards to get cows, pigs, and chickens fatter by the minute and yet still 9 million people die of hunger every year. It’s such an inefficient use of resources, so my hope that people continue to care about this and fight for real change. The news likes to get you hyped up about what is happening in the world, but never highlights these problems and that’s because there’s no political gain in the subject.

Those 9 million people are not dying because there isn’t enough food, there is enough food. But we take their food and we feed it to cows, chickens, and pigs and then turn it into an inefficient amount of food. All these resources that could hae gone to the mouths of starving people and made them healthy and well, instead we are feeding it to the animals for one piece of meat and that’s not ok.

Over the years, I have learned that I am allowed to have joy and it’s my right. I used to feel guilty about feeling joy when there was so much suffering in the world. I fight tirelessly, so, I am doing what I can to contribute and inspire. I see the effects and change.Am I seeing it at the rate I would like? No way. I wish I could push a button. I hope when I die, there will be a little less suffering, hopefully from my team’s efforts, contribution and all the people who are working together. I have a podcast called The Real Heal and I talk to these incredible people who are doing this great work. The whole show is asking the question, what is it going to take to heal ourselves, our communities, and our planet?

The Kind Life, your website, is a direct reflection of this work. It’s such a great resource! What inspired you to start it? 

It’s a spot for me to put my thoughts in long-form. I have two more books in my brain that I have been wanting to get out out, but because I keep acting and being a mom, you can’t do it all, I wish. I humbly accept I will fail in many areas but I refuse to fail in the area of being a mom and I really love my acting. I just do my best to keep my activism and all of that up at the same time. 

Your first book came out in 2011. What gets you excited in the kitchen? Are you going out a lot, talking to plant-based chefs?

I love to go out and eat. When I was in Amsterdam, the food there was incredible.  There were these restaurants, like Yerba Bar and Saint-Jean, which have the most insane pastries on the planet. I don’t tend to make that food at home, because at home, I am doing more healthy healing since I want to be my best self. Eating at a restaurant is fun, delicious, and such a special art itself, but I want to make healthy, delicious food at home that makes me feel fueled. Most of the time I am making things out of my garden—salads, soups, healthy grain, and bean dishes. I am trying to find healthy food that my kid can enjoy. For most of his life, he said kale was his favorite food (laughs), but I think that might have changed now to pizza.

Love it! One of the other things you touch upon on your website is sustainability. I feel like we live in a society where it’s always more, more, more, putting pressure on consumption. How do you balance that, I am sure you get sent a lot of things?

Saying no is the answer. Over time I just always said no, so now they know. Mostly I am sent eco-vegan stuff, but even that can be stuff I don’t need. I am very conscious about where I spend my money. I think every dollar you spend is the strongest vote you make. So when I need something, say shoes, I start on The Real Real that already exists; if I can’t find what I am looking for, I’ll look at sustainable vegan things out there.

What is making you the most inspiration these days and pushing you forward?

I am inspired by the truth and love; my connection with my son. I am inspired by great artists, thinkers, and I am always inspired by great food.

follow alicia silverstone on instagram

discover ‘the kind life’

A special thank you to Narrative PR, Jennifer Laskey, and this team.