Exclusive: Isabel Lucas. All heart, all action

Isabel Lucas, our favourite eco warrior and the latest Australian starlet attracting buzz in Hollywood, spent the day with Grazia at Sydney’s Cronulla Beach during a whirlwind visit home to see family and friends over Christmas.

Between shots, she chatted about how she has settled in to LA, her upcoming films and passion for environmental work, which includes the Protect our Coral Sea campaign.

It’s aim: to establish a marine park in the Coral Sea, east of the Great Barrier Reef, to safeguard the area’s habitat and sea life.

“I remember visiting the reefs off the coast of Queensland when I was 10 and going snorkelling for the first time. It was so colourful and completely unique,” Isabel says. “It’s essential that we protect it because it’s so pristine.”

As well as her work for Protect our Coral Sea, Isabel will head to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for the Summit on the Summit campaign, to raise awareness about the lack of clean drinking water globally.

She has spent months in training to ensure she is physically and mentally prepared for the arduous climb, which actress Jessica Biel and rapper Lupe Fiasco are also undertaking.

“Looking after the environment and doing things in nature was really an integral part of my life growing up,” Isabel says.

“I love the environment and I want to be able to protect it.”

A vegetarian (she gave up meat after watching the documentary Earthlings, about human dependence on animals, at the home of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman, and strict vegan, Anthony Kiedis), Isabel says she also prefers not to buy leather products unless they’re vintage.

“I don’t feel limited by not eating meat,” she adds. “I eat lots of vegies and pasta and nuts, tofu and soups.” Luckily for the former Home And Away star, LA is known for its healthy focus. Since she moved there two years ago, she has been quietly building up her resume with appearances in blockbusters such as Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen and the upcoming Red Dawn, alongside smaller projects Kin and The Waiting City.

Buy this week’s Grazia magazine for the full interview and fashion story featuring Isabel Lucas.

For more information on Protect our Coral Sea, visit www.protectourcoralsea.org.au, where you can also bid on the camilla and marc dress which they have kindly donated from the A/W 10 range. Until January 14.