8:00 A.M. I live in New York, but I’m traveling a lot these days for films and events and other projects. That’s just the nature of my life right now. I moved here when I was 15, and I fell in love with the city immediately. It allowed me to be independent at a really young age because I didn’t have to drive—I still don’t. It’s a great place to grow up because you’re exposed to so much culture and different kinds of people.
8:15 A.M. When I’m shooting I sometimes have to get up very early for a 4:30 or 5 A.M. pickup. But I’m a night owl, so I usually sleep in as late as I can. I’m a big fan of hitting the snooze button. I will snooze until it’s too late. When I get up I usually put on music right away and listen to it while I’m washing my face and getting dressed. Jamming out is a nice time of day for me. I stream this radio station, Radio Nova, that’s based in Paris. They curate a beautiful set that’s really all over the place—they’ll play blues or some West African music, then A Tribe Called Quest, then funk from Ethiopia, then James Brown, and then the Beatles. It’s an amazing mix. My facialist, Dayle Breault, makes fantastic products. They’re all organic and natural, and I use all of her exfoliants and serums. That’s my morning ritual. If I have time, I’ll make matcha or chai tea, usually the Yogi Tea kind—they have it at Whole Foods—with almond milk and honey. I used to be a big coffee drinker, but I’ve tried to cut down.
9:00 A.M. I need time to wake up before I have my breakfast, and sometimes it takes my body a while. When I’m working and I have to get up at four o’clock in the morning, I’ll need, like, two breakfasts. But if I have a normal day when I get up by myself, sometimes as late as 10:30, I usually don’t get hungry until noon or 1 P.M. A perfect breakfast is eggs over easy with toast and avocado. If I’m making it at home, I’ll do a bowl with quinoa and egg and avocado and sriracha, but I usually go out. I really like Cafe Mogador in Williamsburg, or if I’m in Manhattan, Hampton Chutney Co.—I love their dosa sandwiches. I was raised vegan. My mom would always make quinoa with squash and kale, hippie stuff like that. Now I eat meat, but I try to be conscious about where it’s coming from. But I stick to mostly vegan health food just because it’s how I grew up; I really like Souen and Angelica Kitchen in the East Village.
10:00 A.M. I try to work out when I first get up. Otherwise I’ll go late at night, like 10 P.M. I think it helps me sleep, and it’s very important to sweat and move your blood. My gym in Brooklyn is really small, and I’ll just go on the elliptical for 30 minutes, long enough to work up a sweat, and then I’m good. I also love steam rooms, because it helps get all the toxins out and rejuvenate your body. And I do stretches and sit-ups at home, like leg exercises and stuff. I’ve worked with a lot of trainers over the years for shows and films, so I know enough about fitness to do things on my own at this point. Continue Reading