Who is the woman in the new Chanel No. 5 commercial?
A behind-the-bottle look at the face of an iconic fragrance
(By Carmichael Phillip)
The campaign that put a new woman front-and-centre
In October 2024, Chanel unveiled its latest campaign for its legendary fragrance Chanel No. 5. The campaign film, titled “See You at 5”, features Hollywood actress Margot Robbie as the leading face and muse.
Robbie appears alongside actor Jacob Elordi in the short-film style commercial, directed by Luca Guadagnino, and shot in California.
Thus, if you saw the woman in the ad and wondered who she is — she’s Margot Robbie, the current face of Chanel No. 5.
Why Margot Robbie was chosen as the woman of the moment
Robbie’s casting isn’t simply a celebrity endorsement. Several factors align:
Her international stardom and persona carry the aura of confidence, modernity and allure that Chanel wants to project for No. 5. Robbie herself spoke about the fragrance’s strength and iconic status.
The campaign film and visuals lean into cinematic storytelling, not just a product shot. For example, the film uses 35 mm film to emphasise texture and mood, as Chanel described.
The red-tweed outfit Robbie wears in the imagery, the Californian road-trip setting, and the narrative of meeting at “5 o’clock” give the campaign freshness while anchoring in the heritage of No. 5.
In short: Margot Robbie was chosen to be the “woman” in the new commercial because she embodies the brand’s ambition for the film-like ad — confident, stylish, cinematic.
What the commercial depicts and the woman’s role in it
In See You at 5, Robbie plays a central figure whose journey forms the narrative of the ad. Key elements:
She sends a message to Elordi’s character to meet at 5 o’clock, and then sets out in a convertible car. Meanwhile, Elordi rides a motorcycle, both heading into California’s hills.
The storyline leans on “missed connection” tension: they both travel, possibly towards each other, but the rendez-vous remains somewhat open to interpretation.
Chanel described the film as embodying “the sophisticated, resolutely modern universe” of No. 5 and “the captivating, liberated feminine personality at its centre.”
Thus the woman (Robbie) is not merely a model posing with the fragrance — she is the protagonist of the fictional world the fragrance is inviting us into.
The significance of this woman for the legacy of Chanel No. 5
Chanel No. 5 is one of the most storied perfumes in the world — launched in 1921 by house founder Coco Chanel (with perfumer Ernest Beaux). Over the decades it has been represented by a lineage of prominent women and cinematic campaigns.
In choosing Margot Robbie, Chanel refreshes its face with someone younger, globally recognised, and from a film background — helping to bridge the fragrance’s heritage with contemporary culture.
Robbie herself recognised the responsibility and legacy in her comments: “I think Chanel No. 5 is one of the most iconic fragrances in the world… it’s incredible to be a part of it.”
The campaign’s production values (35 mm film, cinematic direction, big-screen feel) mark a premium approach: the woman in the ad is elevated through the story just as the product is elevated.
In this sense, the woman in the new commercial is more than a face — she is the embodiment of where Chanel wants No. 5 to be: at the intersection of heritage, glamour and contemporary relevance.
Behind the scenes: what you might not immediately see
Some insights into the making and context of the ad:
Director Luca Guadagnino is known for his trademark visual style (e.g., Call Me by Your Name). For Chanel No. 5 he shot the film in 35 mm to “better reveal the grain of the skin”, as explained in press materials.
The music chosen is Daft Punk’s “Veridis Quo”, giving the campaign a modern soundtrack with cultural resonance.
The re-imagining of No. 5 via a film–rather than a static print ad–reinforces the idea that fragrance is as much about storytelling as it is about scent. One reviewer noted that Charlie (the Reddit user) wrote:
“Margot Robbie is lovely but I have no idea what’s going on in this ad. Remember the Nicole Kidman Chanel no 5 ad? Now that’s a perfume ad.”
This highlights the fact that the “woman” in the ad isn’t simply to show off the bottle; she’s part of an ambiguous story that invites interpretation.
What this means for viewers and consumers
If you ask yourself: “What does it matter who the woman is?” — the answer lies in brand-storying and emotional connection. Here’s how you might interpret it:
When you see Margot Robbie in the ad, you’re drawn into a cinematic world. That world elevates the fragrance from a mere product to an experience.
The casting of a known actress adds relevance: you recognise her, you associate her with film and glamour, which rubs off on the product.
The narrative suggests possibility, anticipation and elegance — which are emotional states a brand like Chanel wants you to feel when you wear No. 5.
For you as a viewer, knowing who the woman is enriches your engagement with the ad. Instead of just seeing a beautiful face, you see a persona, a story-carrier.
Final thoughts: recognising the woman and her role
To wrap up: the woman in the new Chanel No. 5 commercial is Margot Robbie — and her role is central for the campaign’s ambitions. She is both the protagonist of the mini-film “See You at 5” and the face of the fragrance in its latest chapter. Chanel has chosen her as its muse to bridge legacy and modernity, to bring cinematic narrative to fragrance, and to invite viewers into a story rather than simply a billboard.
When you next see the commercial — watching the convertible drive, the motorcycle ride, the red tweed outfit, the bottle of No. 5 glinting in sunlight — remember: it’s not just about the scent. It’s about the woman who embodies the scent’s attitude, the narrative she carries, and the mood she conjures.
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