Elizabeth Hurley: When Beauty Becomes Purpose
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Elizabeth Hurley: When Beauty Becomes Purpose
Stephanie Arouesty
For three decades, Elizabeth Hurley, Estée Lauder’s longtime ambassador has transformed her platform into a vehicle for awareness, empathy, and global action against breast cancer.
For Elizabeth Hurley, what began as an unexpected invitation in 1995 has evolved into a lifelong mission that transcends campaigns, borders, and generations. In this intimate conversation, she reflects on the beauty industry’s impact, the stories that have marked her most deeply, and the current challenges faced by women around the world.
L´BEAUTÉ: You’ve been an Estée Lauder ambassador for breast cancer for 30 years. How did it all begin?
ELIZABETH HURLEY: It began when I became the face of Estée Lauder in 1995. At that time, I was in all the campaigns for makeup, fragrance, and skincare. Early on, Evelyn Lauder approached me to tell me about a campaign she had started to raise awareness about breast cancer and fund research. She asked if I would help, and I immediately agreed. Thirty years have passed since then and I’m still supporting the campaign, which has evolved from simply raising awareness to also focusing on education, fundraising, and supporting local organizations like the ones we met in Mexico.
Has your role changed? At the beginning maybe you were just the face, but now your passion is very visible.
Yes, absolutely. When we spoke I think it was in March I was already working on the campaign. Breast cancer is important 365 days a year. October brings a lot of media support and some specific fundraising initiatives, but many people work on this throughout the entire year.
How has the beauty industry’s involvement in this issue evolved?
LH: Estée Lauder was a pioneer. They started the conversation, the fundraising, and Evelyn Lauder created the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which has raised more than a billion dollars for research and supports more than 250 scientists around the world. The beauty industry has enormous power because it speaks directly to millions of women. Initiatives like the Pink Ribbon products turn something people were already going to buy like a hand cream into a way to support research. In 30 years we’ve raised 144 million dollars, which is extraordinary.
What has been the most moving moment for you throughout these years?
Many. In fact, hearing the two young Mexican women speak today was very impactful. Over the years, you meet countless survivors, women in treatment, and families who have lost someone. It’s emotionally heavy. You become involved in their stories, and even though it can be difficult, it’s important to stay close to them. Almost every day someone tells me something related to breast cancer.
My sister-in-law had breast cancer at 34. For me it’s a very close subject.
It’s incredible how much it affects the entire family, not just the patient. And yes, it’s something very close to almost everyone. It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t love a person who has gone through this.
How do you balance your professional work with your philanthropic work?
There’s always time for both. When I’m filming a movie the days are long, but I still have weekends or evenings. It depends on the type of activities we have. And I’m not alone. In London I work with a couple of ambassadors who come from different communities. They’ve opened my eyes to many challenges. For example, one is a young Black woman diagnosed with cancer. She founded Black Women Rising to create a safe space for Black women with cancer who couldn’t find resources where they felt comfortable speaking. I attend as many of her events as I can. Another ambassador comes from a South Asian community where talking about breast cancer and even about breasts can be taboo. Another was diagnosed in her twenties and created Girls vs Cancer because when she attended support groups, most women were over 60, and the conversations were completely different from what she needed: how to feel good in her body again, how to wear sexy underwear, how to resume her intimate life…
When I hear her, it gives me goosebumps because I think of my sister-in-law.
All of this has greatly enriched our understanding of how to help.
In Mexico it’s surprising to see so many young cases. Hospitals told us that after COVID there have been more diagnoses in women aged 30–32.
There are many hypotheses and science is investigating. It’s also possible that as awareness increases, diagnoses happen earlier. In the past, many women didn’t get a mammogram until age 50, and in many countries that’s still the case. Each region faces different challenges: cultural, economic, access-related, taboos, fear. That’s why adapting the message to each territory is crucial.
In rural areas of Mexico, access to information is much more difficult.
Yes. Without internet or television, you rely on word of mouth and community visits. I remember years ago a doctor told me that there was very little breast cancer in certain rural areas, but the reality was that it wasn’t being diagnosed because no one spoke about it and no one checked themselves. Sometimes the data doesn’t reflect reality.
You have a swimwear line. Have you thought about creating models for women with mastectomies?
I don’t have them… but I should. You’re absolutely right. In Australia I saw how difficult it is for women to find suitable swimwear after a mastectomy. It’s definitely a project I want to develop.
DISCOVER: Estée Lauder ‘Companies’ da inicio a su campaña contra el cáncer de mama
Photos: Yael Tenorio
