“America Is Over”: Quenlin Blackwell Reviews Burberry SS25

MONDAY 5:05 PM SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 LONDON

Earlier today, Burberry went brutalist at London’s National Theatre, where Daniel Lee showed his SS25 collection for the staple British fashion house. In a play on the familiar, cargos, capris, and peacoats all got tactical plaid makeovers. And beneath a sculptural turquoise set by British art legend Gary Hume, a dapper front row filled up with Law Roach, Vinnie Hacker, Lila Moss, Barry Keoghan, and comedian-actor-baddie Quenlin Blackwell, who shared some gossip with our senior editor after the show.

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TAYLORE SCARABELLI: Hello, hi. Are you feeling British?

QUENLIN BLACKWELL: I’m feeling so British. Grey skies, the whole vibe.

SCARABELLI: How’s your British accent?

BLACKWELL: I only know how to say one thing, like Central Cee says Auto-Tune instead of Auto-Tune.

SCARABELLI: [Laughs] Are you having fun in London?

BLACKWELL: I’m having so much fun. I literally feel like a princess. I feel like an it-girl right now.

SCARABELLI: You are. Did you get up to any trouble last night? 

BLACKWELL: No trouble for me, because I knew that I had to be here today, and I wanted to show a good face and be professional. But tonight, after the after-party, we’ll get lit.

SCARABELLI: Who are you going to dance with at the after-party?

BLACKWELL: I’ll probably dance with Nye, I’ll probably dance with Vinny, I’ll probably dance with Nara and Lucky Smith.

SCARABELLI: Oh my god.

BLACKWELL: They were sitting next to me. I didn’t know how to interact because they’re beyond human.

SCARABELLI: I want to twirl with Nara.

BLACKWELL: I want to twerk with Nara Smith too.

SCARABELLI: And Barry. I heard Barry is a party animal.

BLACKWELL: Barry who?

SCARABELLI: Barry Keoghan.

BLACKWELL: He was here?

SCARABELLI: He was here, yeah.

BLACKWELL: Was Sabrina here?

SCARABELLI: No, I actually saw him sitting next to the chicken shop date girl…

BLACKWELL: Oh, cute. May they be friends.

SCARABELLI: What did you think of the show?

BLACKWELL: I thought the show was incredible. There were these low-rise pants that had the new emblem on the back of them. My vibe completely. Because I like to show a little bit of crack, a little bit, to keep it chic. That was my thing. I need those.

SCARABELLI: Exactly! There were a couple of looks that were really 2005.

BLACKWELL: That’s my era.

SCARABELLI: Yeah, like the capri, with that nice little matching button-up military coat.

BLACKWELL: And the open blouse with the capri and then a just jacket thrown on. I was like, “This is cunt.”

SCARABELLI: And the slutty little sequin bag with the Burberry print. Oh wait, I have to ask you about the show.

BLACKWELL: Oh, my HBO show that I star in, written by Rachel Sennott, directed by Rachel Sennott? The new pilot that just got approved and accepted, and we’re going into a whole show order, that show?

SCARABELLI: [Laughs] I was going to ask you how your transition into acting is, but you seem pretty ready. Are you?

BLACKWELL: You just called me delusional. Like, “Oh, I just saw a new possession take place.”

SCARABELLI: No, I’m just seeing you perform in front of my eyes. It’s going to be good.

BLACKWELL: Thank you. I’m excited. I’m really excited for that show. I’ve always wanted to act. I have this deep fear of mediocrity, so I’ve been in acting classes for the past two years, and so it was really nice to get into that and then get casted in Rachel’s show. I’m just so happy to be a part of it. I have a recurring guest role, so it’s a nice entry point into the acting world.

SCARABELLI: I love it. Is your character like you, but different? 

BLACKWELL: Me but masculine, even though I’m already masculine. 

SCARABELLI: Hot. I can’t wait to see. Alright that’s it. Time to go be British now.

BLACKWELL: I’m ready to convert to a new nationality. America is over.

SCARABELLI: You’re a Burberry girl.