Photographed by David Anthony.

Scanned from Cosmopolitan, January 1974.

Claire Bloom is an exquisite dark-haired beauty, all actress without being the least bit stagey. She first caught the public eye in Anouilh’s Ring Round the Moon, then made her film debut in Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight in 1952. This month she stars as Blanche in Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire, produced by her husband, Hillard Elkins, and co-starring Stacy Keach. Recently Claire took the great step for an actress and had her hair cut.

“I couldn’t stand my thin shoulder-length hair a moment longer. I thought if I don’t give myself a new look now, I never will. Now I feel a different person.

“I start every day the same way. Coffee, then a delicious smelling Floris bath followed by half an hour of yoga. I was taught in New York three years ago and I’ve done it ever since. I took it up because I was getting so tense and nervous—it really has made a difference. I do it to a marvellous record of chanting Tibetan monks. I like the feeling of physical fitness it brings too. I’ve tried transcendental meditation, but found it too relaxing. When I started yawning through The Doll’s House, I just had to stop. ‘

“My make-up follows this routine: I use RedKen’s moisturiser, followed by Mary Quant’s Nature Tint Foundation, then puff on some transparent powder. The shiny look is not for me. I need to play up my eyes so I always wear eyeshadow and liner. My favourite colours are all the dark, smudgy ones—greys, browns, burgundies and greens. I only wear lip gloss as my lips are well-defined and lipstick makes me feel too made up. If I n a bit of brightening I use Boots No 7 powder rouge. I go to Countess Csaky (5 Carrington House, Hertford St, WI ; 01-629 3732) once a month for a facial. Twice a week I steam my face to get it really clean. I put on Countess Csaky skin food and I lie down with a warm moist flannel over my face for about five minutes. I don’t follow any special diet although I try not to eat anything between breakfast and dinner—just a cup of tea when I’m very thirsty. I don’t like spirits but I love wine with food. Every day I take a complex vitamin tablet—I get them from the States—and a vitamin C tablet. It may be psychological but I feel very well and haven’t had a cold for over three years. The newest find in my life has been a book called Feed Your Face (Duckworth, 90p)—a herbal guide to healthy and beauty. It’s full of the most marvellous recipes. I rushed out and bought some almond meal which is a fantastic facial cleanser, and I use cucumber slices as eye pads. I can’t wait to try out all the recipes!”