Hollywood actresses take centre stage for 2017 Pirelli calendar

PARIS: Hollywood actresses take over the 2017 Pirelli calendar, with Uma Thurman, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and Nicole Kidman among the big names featuring in the latest edition unveiled in Paris on Tuesday.

German photographer Peter Lindbergh snapped simple, black and white pictures of the celebrities, which also include Julianne Moore, Lupita Nyong´o, Charlotte Rampling and Alicia Vikander, for the 44th edition of the calendar, known for its
images of scantily-clad models.

At a news conference, Mirren, Thurman and Kidman praised  Lindbergh´s stripped back photographs, which show the actresses with minimal makeup, saying they portrayed natural beauty and femininity.

"We are used to such spectacular images with such amazing locations and when you look at Vogue magazine or any magazine or the earlier Pirelli calendars, these amazing locations and incredible lighting and airbrushing," Mirren said.

"And so you have this amazing image and here we´re going
away from that and saying: ´No. Let´s find the amazing in something that´s simple and human and real."

For the 2016 edition, American photographer Annie Leibovitz  took pictures of women including tennis player Serena Williams, comedian Amy Schumer and artist Yoko Ono.