Billy Zane

From Hollywood to Pasadena

The star of Titanic

A neighbourhood face

The art of community

When James Cameron’s Titanic dramatically sunk on screen in 1997, the film propelled its cast to international stardom. Alongside Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, actor Billy Zane became a household name thanks to his callous portrayal of jilted fiancé Cal – a skulking and anger-filled trickster who would stop at nothing (not even attempted murder and stealing a child) to have his own way.

The man we meet, however, couldn’t be further from his most famous role. He is warm, quick to smile and charming – but still impeccably dressed and with a unique sense of style, albeit a little less formal than his tuxedo-wearing on-screen character.

“Welcome to South Pasadena,” Zane says affably in a deeply cinematic voice. “My little slice of paradise. Within easy reach of Hollywood and the studios for meetings, events and all that madness, but far enough away to have a much more laid-back vibe. It’s somewhere where I can relax, be myself and be a real part of this amazing California community.”

“Most people around here just know me as Billy,” he states as we meet up with him in front of Old Focals, a specialist vintage eyewear shop owned by his friend Russ Campbell, just off the vibrant Mission Street. There is no security, paparazzi nor entourage, but the actor has nevertheless managed to make quite the entrance thanks to the car he drives.

It’s a 1990 Bentley Turbo R in black, gleaming in the morning sunshine and looking every bit as special as the day it rolled off the factory floor in Crewe. This is not something you see every day in this part of the world, amid the sea of American trucks and SUVs on the local roads, and several passers-by have already craned their necks to take a second look at this gorgeous retro saloon.

One of these onlookers is none other than Jason Segel from hit TV show How I Met Your Mother, who gives a double thumbs-up pointing at the Bentley. Famous faces, it would seem, are a commonplace feature of this town, whereas vintage British motors are much more of a rarity.

Despite boasting more than 150 film and TV credits, including the lead role in the critically acclaimed 2024 film Waltzing with Brando, Billy isn’t interested in dwelling on his on-screen career. He would much rather focus on day-to-day life in the neighbourhood.

“This is where I do my best work,” he explains, leading us through the shop to a secret space in the rear. “It’s my open-air art studio. A place where I can come and be fully expressive, slinging paint onto canvas and letting my punk-rock side go wild. It’s unbridled creativity and a colourful outlet for complete experimentation.”

The actor has been painting for nearly 30 years and sets up makeshift studios in every location where he films. His abstract expressionist paintings are described as bold juxtapositions of kinetic application and elegantly balanced colour combinations, and his work has been exhibited in LA, London, Budapest, Milan and Miami. There is also a permanent exhibition on the walls of Old Focals, which we admire as we head back out of the shop.

Unwavering attention to detail

A love of materials

Admiration for craftsmanship

A penchant for analogue

Hopping into the Bentley, Billy turns the key and the powerful V8 stirs into life. Soon we are cruising towards one of his other favourite neighbourhood haunts, Ghiaia Cashmere, a unique clothes store and fashion brand owned by Davide Baroncini.

As we arrive, the grinning Italian greets us with a hug and starts telling a wild story, while expertly operating the controls of a gleaming espresso machine. Plumes of steam and strongly accented English engulf the room, which is part fashion showroom, part café and part museum. It’s like a Mediterranean Pinterest lookbook that has been brought to life, with incredible tailoring fighting for space among 1980s racing memorabilia, sailing apparel and bottles of vermouth – there is even a verdant herb garden on the back terrace.

“Davide and I both agree that high-quality raw materials are the benchmark for quality,” says Billy, lighting up a Montecristo cigarillo to accompany his coffee. “But they need to be carefully transformed and curated to be fully appreciated. For me, Ghiaia is the epitome of this idea, a hybrid space where you can feel the clothing come to life – you can touch things, try them on but also appreciate the life they were made for.”

A deep appreciation for craftsmanship is what first attracted Billy to the Turbo R. Not only did it look exactly the way he wanted it to, but it also felt “just right”.

“To me there is nothing better than the finish inside my Bentley,” Billy explains as we drive to our next stop, listening to rocksteady beats over the speaker system. “There is something magical about the layout – nothing else comes close in terms of practicality and comfort. It feels like a grand occasion every time I get in and go for a drive, plus the comfort is quite simply out of this world.

“I also love looking around the interior and noting all the small details that make the difference. Everywhere you look is leather, wood or chrome and you can tell that everything was put together by a human hand. This comes from an era when luxury meant high-quality materials and craftsmanship and not how much technology you could cram into a car. I mean, even the sun visor is made of leather!”

Admittedly, Billy thinks he’s a bit of a sucker for analogue, as he’s also a fan of vintage photography and loves to play around with old Leica and Rolleiflex cameras.

“There’s something undeniably tactile about analogue machines,” he says, fiddling with the Bentley’s chrome organ stops as we park outside Caltech University. “I call it machine art – a unique space where precision meets instinct, and I think we miss out on certain experiences if the only touchpoint is a screen.”

That said, Billy is no luddite, and here at the famous science faculty he co-hosts a podcast called the Einstein Suite with Fred Farina, where he interviews leading experts at the forefront of robotics, AI, life sciences and quantum physics.

“It’s a mistake to try and ignore the progress of technology,” he adds. “So, I prefer to be in the room and discuss ways it can be cleverly used and better integrated into society, without forgetting valuable lessons from the past.”

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Driven by emotion

Angeles Crest Highway

Driver-focused

Fully in the moment

Another thing Billy loves about living in Pasadena is the easy access to nature, especially the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest that tower over the city in the distance. After a spot of lunch, we head off along the Angeles Crest Highway, a 66-mile route famous for its multiple hairpins and unrivalled views. In a place like this, you can fully open up the 6.75-litre V8 engine of the Bentley Turbo R and enjoy its impressive performance. No wonder this route is a favourite among car fanatics.

“Somewhere along the way, this machine found me,” says Billy, attacking the curves of the famous highway with relish. “It’s from a time when Bentley didn’t publish horsepower but simply said ‘power is sufficient’ or ‘whatever necessary plus 30 per cent’. I love the hubris of such statements, but when you’re at the wheel you can’t deny it. In this car you don’t feel speed, you feel inevitability. You don’t simply accelerate, you apply intent.”

Clever marketing slogans aside, the 1990 Bentley Turbo R’s performance is undeniable, the turbocharged V8 with Bosch fuel injection still delivering the goods all these years later. The R stands for roadholding, and it lives up to that moniker by providing a planted, driver-focused experience throughout. This car is credited with reviving Bentley’s performance image and was a big commercial success for the company, with more than 7,000 units sold over its lifespan from 1985 to 1999. Motor Trend magazine even called the Turbo R “the first Bentley in decades deserving the famous name”, in their review of the car on its introduction to the US in 1989, and as we park up to watch the sun set above the faraway city of Los Angeles, it’s hard to argue.

However good the Turbo R was on its release, it still doesn’t quite answer the question as to why a world-famous actor would choose to drive this 36-year-old vehicle rather than anything else? For Billy, there’s only one logical answer:

“In a world of ever-increasing technology, being anchored in the analogue is a moment to reset,” he muses, leaning back in his seat to admire the silhouette of the mountains against the darkening sky. “When I drive my Bentley, I’m no longer simply on autopilot lost in virtual reality, but tangibly alive and in the moment. And that’s exactly what I try to explain to my two girls when they ask me why I don’t drive a new car like the parents of all their friends.”

Indeed, for the generation that is growing up knowing how to swipe on a touchscreen before they can talk, this is perhaps a very valuable lesson.

“For all the progress available in our world, happiness for me comes back to something simple: craft and care,” he adds. “So, if modern machines are built purely to perform, this one was engineered to endure, whatever necessary… plus a little bit more.”