Ahead of the holidays, Document sits down with the rising star to uncover the secret to great hosting and great gift-giving
Between major roles in three upcoming films, several event appearances, and a Gucci campaign, New York born-and-raised actor Julia Garner has had a blazing 2024, with an even brighter year ahead. Perhaps best known for her roles as Ruth Langmore, a fiery outlaw in Ozark, and notorious grifter Anna Delvey in the miniseries Inventing Anna, Garner carries an air of classic elegance into every character she plays. As the holidays approach and 2024 draws to a close, Document sits down with Garner over a cup of Nespresso coffee to discuss the art of gift-giving and hosting.
Anabel Gullo: Since it’s December, I wanted to ask, what’s your favorite gift you’ve ever given or received?
Julia Garner: If it’s a special gift for someone that I really love, any sort of jewelry. Jewelry to me is so personal. But I also love giving practical gifts, including the amount of times that I’ve gifted Nespresso machines, because everybody loves coffee. I think coffee, or anything coffee related, is a great gift. My best gift that I’ve received was probably my engagement ring.
Anabel: What are you most grateful for this holiday season?
Julia: I’m just grateful that I have the support that I have, which is every year. But you see things differently when you get older. So I feel very lucky with the people that I have in my life.
Anabel: How do you like to give back during the holidays?
Julia: I always try to help kids out by donating and giving toys. My family has done that for a long time. My father was a teacher, so he knows a lot of places to donate. Especially giving new toys. To open something, take a doll or a toy truck out of the box—it’s really about the experience.
Anabel: What’s your best piece of wisdom on hosting a party or gathering?
Julia: My mother’s always been really good at hosting. Overfeeding people is rule number one. You don’t want people to leave your house hungry. Another thing that I like to do if I have people over for dinner, especially around the holidays, is I like to get house slippers for each person—it just feels cozier. I love saving hotel slippers, and then guests can take a pair home.
Anabel: If you could host a party and invite five friends or strangers, living or dead, who would they be and why?
Julia: Nina Simone, Stanley Kubrick, Maya Angelou…people who you know are gonna drop words of wisdom and have very activating conversation. Chris Farley—he was so physical in his comedy, so you know that if he was to tell a story or reenact something, it would be amazing. You know that Kubrick’s gonna be a quiet one—bizarre, but fun. And I would either do Oscar Wilde or Truman Capote. I feel like Truman Capote is probably more fun to have for dinner than Oscar Wilde, but I like Oscar Wilde better. Truman Capote would have to stop by for dessert at the end.
