We all remember the first time we saw latte art and were struck with a feeling of “how did they do that?!” Well, such was the recent scene for Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton, who got to experience a little bespoke latte art in a highly viral new video.
Tilda’s art was not that of a rosetta, nor tulip, nor swan, or any other traditional design. Swinton got a cappuccino with latte art of her own face. And she was understandably amazed.
Swinton, as A-list actors are wont to do, was in attendance at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where there all sorts of accommodations for the rich and famous. One of those is, of course, coffee. So when Swinton received her milky espresso drink with an image of her face atop it, she is rightfully agog and didn’t mind showing it.
@baristabrianleo Replying to @Tom O’Connell this one is up there for sure, she was so gracious and loved the latté art, Iconicque #tildaswinton #baristabrian #deadline #tiff ♬ original sound – baristabrianleo
This was no 3D-printed latte art mind you, but poured and etched by hand by Brian Leonard, a Canadian coffee professional better know at Barista Brian. The “Celebrity Latte Artist” has created milk-based portraits for celebrities like Conan O’Brien, Usher, Daniel Radcliffe, Stewarts Kristen AND Patrick, Oscar Isaac, Benedict Cumberbatch, and many, many other very famous people. Leonard has also recreated works of art including Edvard Munch’s The Scream, da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and Banksy’s Flower Thrower.
The whole exchange with Swinton was captured and posted to his TikTok, where you can see Leonard handing the drink to her, who once she realizes what it is, is frankly too amazed to let Leonard get in a word edgewise. Eventually he is able to explain to her that the image is made of just foam, which sends her reeling yet again. My favorite part has to be Leonard holding the cup so that Swinton can drink the beverage from a straw so as to not disturb her own likeness.
It is a wonderfully disarming video and just the sort of shot of serotonin your brain can use early in the week. Celebrities and the internet, both sometimes not awful and a real delight in those instances.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
