Shailene Woodley Is a Lovable Wood Nymph Who Drinks Mushroom Tea

Interview magazine’s series where celebrities interview other celebrities can either be viewed as the end-all be-all of celebrity narcissism or an actually interesting way to get people to share things about themselves. Their latest piece, in which Emma Stone asks Secret Diary of an American Teenager star Shailene Woodley questions, continues to toe that line ever so gently. Herewith, an exploration: who is the real Shailene Woodley?

Point: Shailene is a true wood nymph walking amongst us

On her passion for the earth:

So I just started adapting my lifestyle to that of indigenous people, and what I realized is that we’re all indigenous creatures on this planet. The whole concept of re-wilding came about through some really good friends of mine, and it’s basically about adapting to your current situation. If you’re in the city, then you can’t go back to hunter-and-gatherer times, so you have to adapt to the lifestyle that’s out there….It’s so important and essential to the Earth, to Gaia.

I’ve found that self-love and self-expression for me can just come in the form of trees and come in the form of connecting back to the soil.

On filming her latest movie in a city:

I still have my crock pot of chaga mushroom tea brewing all the time …

On her daily routine:

If I’m having a me night, I might do 15 to 45 minutes of yoga. The thing that’s most grounding for me before bed, though, is when I wash my face. To wash my face and nourish my skin and cleanse myself of everything that happened through the day, and then to sit in bed with my journal or a book of poems or a novel and a cup of tea, is the perfect way for me to ensure a good night’s rest.

On life:

“Everything is sacred and nothing is sacred.” I say that to myself every day because it reminds me that life is beautiful and we should take it seriously, but then, on the other end of the spectrum, you can’t take everything so seriously that you’re ignoring the present moment. I think it’s about finding a happy medium between seriousness and play that will lead to great things in life.

Counterpoint: Hollywood needs more wood nymphs

On her new movie, The Spectacular Now:

Apart from a couple of scenes, I don’t wear much makeup in the film. Watching it back, there were some scenes where I was like, “Oh, god. I wish I’d put some makeup on. I look awful!” But once I let go of my insecurities, I could see how it added a lot to the film. The fact that we weren’t wearing makeup made it seem much more real and relatable because we’re playing awkward high school students, not beauty queens.

On why she doesn’t always wear makeup on the red carpet:

It’s important because I saw somebody—what I thought was me—in a magazine once, and I had big red lips that definitely did not belong on my face. I had boobs about three times the size they are in real life. My stomach was completely flat. My skin was also flawless. But the reality is that I do not have those lips and my skin is not flawless and I do have a little bit of a stomach. It was not a proper representation of who I am. I realized that, growing up and looking at magazines, I was comparing myself to images like that—and most of it isn’t real. So (a) I don’t really wear makeup that much anyway, so part of it is just a selfish, lazy thing, and (b) I want to be me. I do think it’s fun sometimes to dress up for the Oscars or for certain events—I get to be like a five-year-old again, wearing my Cinderella dress. But for some events where it’s a more casual vibe, I just want to be me.

On always getting asked about George Clooney:

In every single interview. I don’t mind talking about him, though, because he’s one of my favorite human beings on the planet. But it’s true that very few people have asked me what it’s like to work with Judy Greer or Ann-Margret or Molly Ringwald. It’s always the leading male.

Point: Oh dear

It’s amazing what our inner children, our previous selves, can teach us.

Counterpoint: Word

The second I wake up, I scream very loudly [sings to the tune of “Good Morning” from Singin’ in the Rain], “Good morning! Good morning!” And then I scream out, “Exciting day! Exciting day!” I feel like it completely sets the mood for the whole day.