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.
When it comes to fragrance, Suganami has a signature scent that she wears with pride. “I created my own fragrance with Snif called Suganami,” she says, noting that she’s very sensitive to scent. “I either wear that one, or I’ll wear Carnal Flower by Frédéric Malle. Those are the two I wear religiously. Sometimes, I’ll mix them together for a custom scent.”
Post–glam session, Suganami slipped into her outfit of the night, which ended up being a testament to her classic, sophisticated style. “I kind of have a uniform. I love wearing black, something simple yet classic,” she shares. “When we found this Christopher Esber dress, I knew it was perfect. It felt like me—classic yet interesting. The structured neckline was a nice detail that stood out. I really wanted something I could look back on in 20 years and still love, something I wouldn’t be embarrassed by. I wanted to feel effortless and timeless.”
For accessories, Suganami wore Mateo pearl earrings—a subtle nod to a pivotal moment in the film. Though, you’ll have to watch to uncover the backstory. “The pearls were a special touch. They referenced the pearls in the film, and it was a little wink to the character,” she adds.
Reflecting on her dress sparked a journey through her personal style evolution. Suganami takes pride in how both her career and fashion sense have evolved, but the insight she shared on personal style deserves to be quoted in full. It was that compelling.
“Some of these outfits, they come back and haunt me. I’m like, ‘What the heck was I thinking?’ When you’re in your 20s, what do you know about anything? I mean, I was just trying to find myself. I’ve definitely evolved. I have a different confidence now. I feel the most like myself. Now, I wear what makes me feel good. If I’m pulling and tugging and I’m uncertain, that’s just not the energy, and nobody has time for that. It’s not that deep. Wear what you feel good in. If everybody’s in jeans and you want to wear a fucking ball gown, go for it or the other way around,” she tells us.
As her acting career continues to grow, Suganami’s effortless red carpet moments and impeccable style are here to stay, and of course, she’ll continue to be as overdressed or underdressed as she’d like. Whether she’s wearing a Christopher Esber dress or her uniform of classic black wardrobe staples, her ability to blend her acting with fashion is making waves, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her.
Photographer: Andie Jane
Stylist: Edward Bowleg
Hairstylist: Ricky Mota
Makeup Artist: Yukari Obayashi Bush
