Harper's Bazaar Cosmic Kate

At the turn of the millennium, Kate Hudson became one of the most recognisable faces of rom-com, her films capturing how millions of women feel about falling in love. Gerald Tan charts Hudson’s path to stardom, her relationship with the different men in her life and the importance of doing things her own way.

- Gerald Tan

Kate Hudson is standing by the window on the second floor of Capella Singapore’s two-storey manor. The morning sky is coloured in a light shade of grey, overcast, with the occasional ray of sunshine escaping from the breaks in the cloud cover above. It’s a chilly start to the day by Singapore’s standards, thanks to an early bout of heavy rain that seems to have washed away the tropical heat.

Hudson is on a whirlwind tour to Singapore as a guest of Michael Kors. The effervescent American designer is in town to officiate the opening of his first flagship boutique, and Hudson has been specially flown in to lend star wattage to the event. “We’ve known each other for years. I adore him,” she says of their friendship. “Michael loves women and the female form. His clothes are so appealing because he celebrates both in his designs.”

The traces of yesterday’s glamorous shindig—think wisps of fringe framing the face, smoky eyes and a wide-legged white trouser suit—have been removed. Instead, Hudson’s hair is swept back and looks as if she has just stepped out of the shower; her face is almost bare and only shows the slightest hint of makeup. The French cuffs on the 37-year-old’s crisp white shirt are tastefully undone, and the pleats on her tailored shorts crease beautifully as she leans on the windowsill and looks into the clear waters of the pool below. Simon Upton, Harper’s BAZAAR’s photographer for the shoot, moves stealthily around her, each click of the camera preserving this pensive moment.

It’s a contemplative portrayal of Hudson that’s different from the one we’re used to seeing. Often described as a “sunny delight” and noted within the film industry for her knack to “light up the room,” Hudson is normally all smiles and all-American.