Olga Kurylenko Became a Feminist In Her Teenage Years

Olga Kurylenko graces the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia‘s February 2015 issue, out on newsstands now!

Here’s what the 35-year-old actress had to share with the mag:

On women: “I would stand up for women, so I appreciate it when other women do, too. I think that we can pretty much do anything that a man can do. The only think we can’t compete in is equal strength. But everything else, like mental capabilities, women are equal. I think it has to be known at this point.”

On feminism: “It’s funny, now it’s all coming out. But I’ve been pro-feminism since I moved to Paris [aged 16]. I had started reading a lot of [books by] Simone de Beauvoir, who has since become my role model. The thing is, nobody ever really asked me about [being a feminist], or seemed very interested, so I didn’t speak about it much. Now it’s become ‘fashion’, it’s almost like there’s a special year for it, even though it’s been around for decades. I’m like, ‘Great, but why did it take so long?’”

On Hollywood: “I understand that the best parts [in Hollywood] are for men and, of course, men are paid more. I just live with it but it matters. I’ve been lucky, though… I’ve gotten some good parts; some where I was the lead and some where I was the accessory. But look at [Terrence] Malick, he made me the lead in To The Wonder, so I can’t say that I feel the oppression as a woman or that I’m getting passed by for great parts. I just choose to look on the positive side.”