Charles Melton was ready for polo. The actor looked forward to seeing his first match.
“I wanted to stomp on the divot,” he said with a smile, about coming out to the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Saturday, the annual event that has drawn a lively crowd since it launched in 2008. After relocating to New York, it returned to Los Angeles at Will Rogers State Park in the Pacific Palisades. “What better day than to do it today?”
It’s part of the polo tradition to flip and press the divots into the ground during half-time. In the age of social media, it’s also a photo op. The crowd rushed to the field to capture the moment as they sipped Champagne; Veuve Clicquot introduced two new cuvées for the occasion, Rich and Rich Rosé, more flavorful, fruity blends made to enjoy on ice.
“It’s about making new memories,” Melton said of popping a bottle.
He’s made some recent memories on set he won’t soon forget. Following “May December,” for which he received critical praise alongside Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, the 33-year-old recently wrapped “Warfare,” an A24 release directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza. He lit up explaining his time filming.
“It’s with a great group of guys in London,” he said of his costars, including D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Joseph Quinn and Kit Connor. “It was really life-changing, and I’m just so excited for people to see this film. It was a kind of brotherhood. Making that film was one of the best experiences that I’ve had. I can’t wait to see that story on the screen.”
It follows a Navy Seal team in mid-2000s Iraq whose mission goes wrong. What attracted him to the project?
“There’s a personal reason,” he said, changing his tone. “I’m trying to get closer to myself by almost departing from myself, in a way, I guess.” Quite the deep thought. “Your headline!” he joked.
After a hazy L.A. morning, the sun shined just in time for the match. For Suki Waterhouse it also was a first experience.
“I know it’s a very intense and quite exciting sport,” she said of expectations. “I feel like it’s gonna be high stakes,” she paused. “And with Champagne,” she laughed. “I mean, that’s a really good Saturday afternoon to me.”
The singer-songwriter and actor — and new mom, arriving with partner Robert Pattinson — has been busy prepping for her upcoming tour. It kicks off this month in Texas, following the release of her second album, “Memoir of a Sparklemuffin.”
“I’m leaning into lots of vintage,” she said of her onstage ensembles. “I’m using it as an excuse to go shopping as much as possible.”
On this day she was wearing a structured, cinch-waisted dress by Antonio Marras.
“I just saw it, and I instantly just wanted to put it on,” she continued. “I wanted something light and airy. I feel almost like a Champagne bottle shape.”
“There’s no rules,” Nacho Figueras said of polo attire. The professional player and Veuve Clicquot captain took on Team Will Rogers this year.
Star of the event since its early days, he still gets nervous, he admitted.
“I think it’s always good to have some butterflies,” he continued. “I don’t like it when I’m too relaxed.”
Will he be enjoying a glass of bubbly?
“If I win, yes.”
And he did.
