Kate Hudson On Working with Mindy Kaling, Her New Music and Red Carpet Emergency Kit

Danielle Directo-Meston
·5 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

Kate Hudson proves that it pays to shop in a new ad campaign for cash-back shopping platform Rakuten.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

In the “Shoppers Get It” video spot, the 44-year-old actress, entrepreneur and podcast host bonds with two women wearing a sparkling LBD by PatBo. “The best part? It has pockets!” the two other women declare in unison before Hudson steps into the room. Hudson and one woman reveal that they earned money on their look by shopping on Rakuten, and those who love the trio’s look can now shop the same black velvet PatBo dress — which has a high neckline, a tulle mesh bodice and beaded details — and earn 10 percent cash back on the platform.

“In this day and age, it doesn’t matter how much money you make — whatever your budget is, it should always be working for you,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter.

The new ad is the second time that Hudson has teamed with Rakuten. “We worked together for my company, Inbloom; we did a fun setup in New York with my best girlfriends,” she explains.

Hudson, who won a Golden Globe for her role as Penny Lane in Almost Famous, released her debut single, “Talk About Love.” The singer-songwriter co-wrote the pop track with Linda Perry and fiancé, musician Danny Fukijawa, and the singer-songwriter channels her award-winning, music-loving character in the official lyric video.

“I’m really in it right now, that’s going to be a long haul process,” Hudson says of her new music career. “That’s been really fun, and I’ve got a music video coming out.”

The Hollywood Reporter sat down with Hudson to chat about her most recent fashion twinning moments, her latest NBA-inspired project with Mindy Kaling, what she keeps in her red carpet emergency kit and more. Keep reading for more from the conversation and pre-order her red carpet-ready dress ($795) at Patbo.com and sign up for Rakuten for free here.

What was it like filming with Rakuten? What made you say “yes” to the project?

I really enjoyed their past commercials, they’re fun and spirited and I like the energy. The executive team is fabulous and I love Nora [Kirkpatrick], the director, she’s a friend of mine. I love how female-focused this campaign is, and it was a full female team. It was such an easy and great partnership. I also appreciate the creative, I feel we’ve all been in that same situation, or you’re in an intimate space with people you don’t know, and you start connecting.

When was the last time you had a fashion kismet moment?

The only time that’s happened with me is at dinner when I go out with my friends, like a birthday party. Recently it’s actually been with my man [musician Danny Fujikawa]. I’ll come downstairs and we’ll both be wearing green; we’re on the same color schedule. The other day I was wearing these jeans, a black blazer and a white shirt. We didn’t think about it, someone just came up to us and we didn’t even realize we were wearing the same thing.

We just launched our first Red Carpet Essentials Awards, and in the spirit of the Rakuten campaign, what’s in your event emergency kit?

At this point, I am very prepared now. I know exactly what I need when I’m doing a red carpet. I have a very specific nipple cover that I love, it’s the best because I don’t like bras, I like feeling more nude, and this you can wear under things it’s a very specific nipple cover. I love a compression bodysuit and a good thong bodysuit, I have a couple from Spanx and Skims. I bring Q-tips, I always bring a lip gloss, I always bring a floss stick and I bring my little blotting papers. I bring Altoids or some kind of mint, and pending what kind of event it is I always bring an Advil or Tylenol for when it’s a high-pressure event because I don’t really like watching myself on the screen.

And I bring a little tape — it’s always for someone else, I’ll usually steer away from fashion that needs tape. And safety pins; every single time someone will ask, “Do you have a safety pin?”

It’s great to finally be bra-free with fashion these days.

I was thinking about that the other day, I was always very free in the early 2000s; I remember my first carpet was 2000. Then something happened in 2008, 2009, it was those sites that started “banana peels,” people started putting cameras underneath and focusing on ways that felt violating. Women and publicists got more conservative, and then of course as women do, we started dressing differently. The digital world has changed everything, but the eye is much more forgiving.

You’re working with Mindy Kaling on your first TV series inspired by Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss. What has the process been like? Have you worked together before?

No, it’s my first time! I’m absolutely completely obsessed with her, she’s so smart, I feel so safe with her leading the charge. She’s so decisive and clear and a wonderful collaborator already. I love her decisiveness, and she doesn’t mince words. For me, that’s my favorite kind of partner. I can count on her to get things done immediately, and without having to sugarcoat anything and over-explain anything. She’s just right to the point and just so smart and funny, I couldn’t be more excited to have a partnership with her.

What have you been earning cash back on lately?

If I’m being really honest I try not to shop, the only things I’m buying for myself this year are things that I need. I only say that because I have a shopping problem! But I love to shop on the Rakuten app. This is more tempering my own personal shopping habit. If I’m going to shop it has to be a birthday party or for all my children.

 

Best of The Hollywood Reporter