Stephanie Suganami on Her Opus Red Carpet Look
You may know Stephanie Suganami on social media as @steph_shep or may be familiar with her activism work in environmental advocacy and entrepreneurship, but in the Sundance Film Festival–acclaimed Opus, she has stepped into her role as a character that's eerily familiar to her. Following the premiere, she tells Who What Wear, "Emily is a digital influencer. I've been doing the field research on this character for the past eight years. I know exactly who Emily is. I've met her. I know her." That made the role even more exciting to take on and the character fun to dress for. Suganami cited Emily as the inspiration behind her premiere look. "She has a nice eye for fashion, so I like to think I embodied that last night," she says.
The premiere night was undeniably a highlight for Suganami, who shares that the entire experience was a bit surreal. "Honestly, I feel like I'm having a series of out-of-body experiences," she says, reflecting on the whirlwind journey that led up to the premiere.
Starring in A24's upcoming psychological thriller Opus alongside Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich, Suganami is carving out a new chapter in her career—one that merges her eye for aesthetics with compelling storytelling.
In Opus, Suganami plays a key role in a haunting narrative that follows an ambitious young writer, portrayed by Edebiri, who is selected to work with a legendary but reclusive musician, played by Malkovich. As the story unfolds, themes of obsession, genius, and control blur the lines between mentor and protégé, leading to an unsettling psychological unraveling.
With her start in dance and reality TV, Suganami's path to acting wasn't a straight line. It was more of an organic evolution. She originally moved to L.A. to pursue dance and performance, but over time, she found herself in a series of side hustles, which eventually led to her return to the craft she loves. "It's been quite a journey," she shares. "When I moved here in 2009, it was all about dance, and then after some time, I found myself working in other jobs, but I just knew I had to come back to acting. It really makes me feel the most fulfilled."
Suganami gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of how she got ready for the red carpet. The day started with her fun ritual of jamming out to pop favorites before sneaking away to reflect and unwind with her journal. "I run Sabrina Carpenter on repeat. Last year was all Harry Styles, but this year, it's all Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, and a little Gracie Abrams," she laughs. "My team's probably over me playing the same songs over and over, but it's high-energy and fun."
The drink of choice in her getting-ready suite? "A gin martini with a twist, and I always need a coffee. I probably had six coffees," she says.
