Model Diaries: Jessica Capshaw

Photographed by JANA SCHUESSLER

On embracing possibility, finding beauty in the everyday, and discovering that the most exciting 
chapters are often the ones yet to be written.

Effortlessly captivating, refreshingly candid, and endlessly charismatic, Jessica Capshaw is embracing a new chapter defined by confidence, creativity, and possibility. From her unforgettable portrayal of Arizona Robbins on Grey’s Anatomyto her latest role as Blythe Hart in 9-1-1: Nashville, the actress has established herself as one of television’s most compelling  personalities, bringing warmth, wit, and emotional depth to every character she inhabits.

Now, at an exciting intersection of experience and reinvention, Capshaw is looking toward the future with a renewed sense of curiosity and creative ambition. Whether exploring the complexities of her latest character, sharing unfiltered conversations alongside longtime friend Camilla Luddington on their podcast We Ride at Dawn(ish), or envisioning new opportunities behind the camera, she approaches each chapter with an infectious optimism and an appreciation for the unexpected.

Beyond Hollywood, Capshaw finds inspiration in the art of everyday living, from timeless fashion and 
effortless beauty to meaningful friendships, motherhood, and the simple pleasures that make life extraordinary. With a personal style inspired by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, a penchant for beautifully imperfect moments, and a philosophy rooted in embracing possibility, she embodies a refreshing kind of modern elegance.

For her Modeliste cover, Jessica Capshaw invites us into her world, reflecting on the evolution of her career, the beauty of becoming, and why the most captivating stories are still waiting to unfold.

Congratulations on your Modeliste cover! What does being our latest cover star mean to you, and what do you love most about Modeliste?
Thank you! I was so excited to work with you all because I have loved so many of your past covers and layouts. Especially the one with Michelle Monaghan. She’s such a mega babe. I really value opportunities to collaborate with people who are excited about creating something interesting and beautiful. A magazine cover is such a fun combination of fashion, storytelling, and a little bit of fantasy. What I appreciate about Modeliste is the celebration of individuality and personal style. I also think that one of the most interesting things about fashion is what it can reveal about a person before they’ve said a single word.

If you could describe this chapter of your life in three words, what would they be?
Expansive. Discerning. Open-hearted

What feels particularly special about where you are in your life and career right now?
I feel like I’m experiencing this wonderful intersection of experience and possibility. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a career that has given me extraordinary opportunities, incredible friendships, and characters that I’ve loved playing. I have always been curious and ambitious and excited about the things I haven’t done yet. And now, there’s something really liberating about knowing myself better and better and yet still being willing and able to surprise myself.

You’re starring as Blythe Hart in 9-1-1: Nashville. What do you enjoy most about playing her, and what can audiences look forward to this season?
Blythe is an absolute gift because she has a pretty winning combination of extreme strength and patience. She’s polished and she’s proud AND underneath all of that is a woman with enormous feelings and very little interest in keeping them to herself when she’s pushed too far. I love playing someone who can be completely outrageous one minute and genuinely vulnerable the next.
This season, the wheels come off a little bit. Her marriage is being tested, her family is changing, and she’s being forced to reckon with things that she was willfully ignoring last season. And, of course, because this is 9-1-1: Nashville, all of that unfolds against a backdrop of spectacular emergencies. It’s big, emotional, funny, and occasionally completely unhinged. It’s a wonderful combination.

What initially drew you to the character of Blythe Hart?
I loved that she wasn’t necessarily written to be likable every second. That’s incredibly freeing as an actor. I was drawn to her confidence, her humor, her contradictions, her flaws and the sense that beneath all of her certainty there was a much more complicated woman. I also loved the opportunity to explore a character who is so different from Arizona Robbins. Arizona led with her heart. Blythe leads more with her head and is working on tending to her heart.

You’re also co-hosting We Ride at Dawn(ish) with your close friend Camilla Luddington. What’s your favorite part of sharing such candid conversations with listeners?
Camilla and I have the kind of friendship where we can go from discussing something genuinely meaningful to laughing so hard we can’t finish a sentence. And I think that’s what makes the podcast feel so natural. We’re not trying to present perfectly curated versions of ourselves. We’re figuring things out, changing our minds, telling stories, disagreeing, and laughing at ourselves along the way. I love that listeners have become part of that conversation. There’s something incredibly comforting about realizing how many of us are navigating different versions of the same things.

Are there any exciting upcoming projects or creative ventures you can share with us?
I’m really interested in expanding the kinds of stories I get to tell, both in front of and behind the camera. I love acting, but I’m also increasingly drawn to developing and producing projects. I’m particularly interested in stories about women who are complicated, funny, capable, and still figuring things out. Women who have lived enough life to be interesting and are facing new challenges and situations. Between 9-1-1: Nashville, the podcast, and some creative ideas I’m developing, I feel like there’s a lot of possibility ahead.

What’s something about Jessica Capshaw that people might be surprised to learn?
I’m a very optimistic person, but I’m also extremely practical. I love a big, romantic idea, and then I immediately want to know how we’re going to make it happen. I think people sometimes mistake optimism for naïveté. To me, optimism is a choice, and sometimes a pretty disciplined one. I believe in the possibility of good things, and I also believe in doing the work to make them happen. I feel very misunderstood when people take my optimism as avoidant or delusional. Choosing to be optimistic has never disappointed me.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and how has it influenced you?
Coming up with the “best” feels like a lot of pressure, but I did hear this one recently and it resonated.

“Don’t be good at something you don’t want to do.”

I love this because it made me laugh at first, but there’s a lot of truth in it. Being capable of doing something doesn’t mean you’re obligated to keep doing it. I’ve become much more thoughtful about where I put my time and energy, and whether the things I’m saying yes to actually belong in the life I want to build.

Who is your ultimate style icon, and whose closet would you love to raid?
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. I love the restraint, the simplicity, the confidence. Nothing ever looked overly considered, even though I’m sure it was. And I would happily spend an afternoon in Gwyneth Paltrow’s ’90s closet. That era of beautifully tailored, uncomplicated dressing is pretty much my love language. And Sienna Miller. She’s the ultimate boho girl crush!

What’s the one fashion piece in your closet you’ll never part with?
A perfectly worn-in pair of Levi’s. I love clothes that get better with age and feel like they’ve lived a little life with you. There is something so appealing about putting on a great pair of jeans, a beautiful sweater, and not having to think about it again.

What’s your most memorable red-carpet fashion moment?
I think the most memorable fashion moments are the ones where you feel completely like yourself, just turned up a few notches. I love when the dress, the hair, the makeup, and the mood all come together and you walk out the door feeling fantastic. The best part is that fashion can be playful. You get to try on a version of yourself for an evening and then go home and put on your pajamas.

What are your top beauty essentials you simply can’t live without?
Really good moisturizer, sunscreen, an eyelash curler, great mascara, and something that makes my skin look healthy and luminous. I love makeup but I don’t wear it much if I’m not working. My goal is usually to look fresh, rested, and like I’ve had eight hours of sleep, whether or not any of those things are true.
  
What’s your favorite way to indulge in a little self-care?
I love a long walk in a beautiful city, a really good meal, time with people who make me laugh, and an evening where nobody needs me to be anywhere. I also think there’s a lot to be said for doing absolutely nothing without feeling guilty about it. I’m still working on that last part.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I check in on my kids. Sometimes that means physically finding them, and sometimes it means looking at my phone to see who’s texted, who’s where, and what the day has in store. Four children means there is almost always something happening before I’ve even had coffee.

What’s your current obsession?
The idea of making ordinary life feel extraordinary. A beautiful table, great music playing in the kitchen, flowers in little vases, a dinner that turns into a three-hour conversation. I love the details that make people feel happy and at home. I’m increasingly convinced that the little things are actually the big things.

What’s one song that’s always on repeat?
It’s never one song, it’s always a radio channel from the artist that we’ve all been listening to most recently. Noah Kahan, Mumford & Sons, Stella Lefty, and Taylor Swift (of course) have been on our most recent.

What’s the last show you binge-watched or movie you absolutely loved?
I will always have a soft spot for a great romantic comedy, especially one with genuinely smart dialogue and two people who can really go toe-to-toe. Give me the energy of His Girl Friday, the chemistry of a great old Hollywood pairing, and characters who are as funny as they are flawed. That’s my idea of a perfect movie night. That being said, I recently watched East of Eden and loved every single second of it.

What’s your most-used emoji?
The laughing-crying emoji. By a considerable margin

What’s something that instantly puts you in a good mood?
Hearing my kids laughing together. Not polite laughter, but the kind where somebody can’t breathe and nobody can remember what was funny in the first place. It’s impossible not to be happy around that.

What does your perfect day off look like?
No alarm. Breakfast with the kids. A gym or class workout. A long shower. A late lunch somewhere delicious. A long walk. A dinner that comes together without too much effort and has everyone lingering around the table longer than they intended.

How has motherhood influenced your perspective on life, and what’s one lesson your children have taught you?
Motherhood has changed everything about how I understand love, time, and what really matters. It’s the greatest privilege of my life and also the most humbling. You begin thinking you’re going to teach these little people everything they need to know, and then you realize they’re teaching you just as much.

My children have taught me that love and control are not the same thing. You can guide them, encourage them, protect them, and give them everything you have, but ultimately your job is to help them become who they are, not who you imagined they might be. That’s a beautiful thing to truly learn and to understand.

If you could escape anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
Somewhere on the Mediterranean. A beautiful little town, a long lunch by the water, absolutely no schedule, and the kind of afternoon that seems to last forever. Italy, Mallorca, the South of France. I have my favorite spots but I’m not too difficult to please when there’s sunshine, excellent food and a view of the sea.

What’s one experience still at the top of your bucket list?
I’d love to produce and star in a really wonderful romantic comedy. The kind with sharp writing, fantastic chemistry, genuinely funny people, and a big, beating heart. I’ve always loved stories that make you laugh and then catch you off guard by making you feel something. Getting to help create one from the ground up would be incredibly exciting.

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about in this next chapter of your life?
The unknown, actually. I love that I can’t see exactly what’s coming. I want to keep challenging myself creatively, finding new people to collaborate with, making things I’m proud of, and building a life that’s full of the people I love. I think there’s a tendency to imagine that at some point you arrive at a finished version of yourself. I don’t believe that. I hope I’m always evolving, always learning, and always finding new reasons to be excited about what’s next.

And if I can make people feel things and laugh along the way, that would make me very happy.