Actress Jessica Henwick Embraces Slow Living

Jessica Henwick, a busy actress with recent roles in the buzzy Netflix series "Vladimir" and the dark comedy "How to Make a Killing," is advocating for a shift towards "slow living." This approach contrasts with the high-pressure "hustle culture" prevalent in the entertainment industry, which Henwick has navigated for over 15 years since starting her career as a teen. Her role in "How to Make a Killing" as Ruth, a fashion designer who leaves a high-stress job to teach, particularly resonated with Henwick.

The line "no-one teaches us to dream small" from the film prompted Henwick to re-evaluate her own life. She realized the importance of stepping back from the constant striving for "more, bigger, better." To counteract burnout, Henwick has begun incorporating activities that encourage mindfulness and presence, such as gardening, reading, and playing the piano, which she previously might have considered unproductive if they didn't yield immediate career results.

Henwick has also implemented strategies to manage her engagement with social media, setting time limits to reduce "fast dopamine hits" and distance herself from the intense online discourse surrounding her projects. While her film "How to Make a Killing" is connecting with audiences and "Vladimir" has garnered critical acclaim, Henwick is also pursuing her own directorial debut for a feature film. Despite industry challenges like mergers and potential strikes, she remains committed to a more deliberate pace in her career, increasingly choosing to say no to roles to maintain this balance.