In the quietude of the library, Hannah O’Neill finds her sanctuary. As an Étoile dancer with the Paris Opera and a friend of the House of CHANEL, Neill's world is bound to ideals of movement and grace, yet it is the stillness of literature that anchors her. For her, books are more than a pastime – they are vessels for dreaming, for traveling, for grounding her soul amidst the relentless rhythm of her art.

Her literary journey began with the delicate prose of Japanese authors, their introspective narratives shaping her early love for reading. Now, her bookshelf is a symphony of voices that inspire and provoke. Among her favourites, she says, is Ballerina by Patrick Modiano, a tale as intricate as the genre of dance itself, and Just Kids by Patti Smith, a poignant memoir of artistic becoming. O’Neill also treasures Almost French by Sarah Turnbull, a meditation on belonging, and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, a reimagining of mythology that pulses with lyricism and humanity.

For O’Neill, reading is both escape and discovery. It provides solace from the intensity of her career, offering a reflective mirror to her own experiences. Literature, she notes, invites her into lives and emotions she might never encounter, enriching her understanding of the world and her place within it.

Through CHANEL’s "In the Library" series, O’Neill’s relationship with books becomes a portrait of introspection and artistry. Her selections, much like her performances, speak to the profound interplay of identity, transformation, and the human spirit. In the world of Hannah O’Neill, the dance between pages is as vital as the one she performs under the spotlight.

Hannah O'Neill's book list

Patrick Modiano, Ballerina
Peter Docter, Hayao Miyazaki
Patti Smith, Just Kids
Sarah Turnbull, Almost French
Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie
Vaslav Nijinsky, The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky
Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles
Stendhal, The Red and the Black

Read Hannah O'Neill's full 'In the Library' feature on CHANEL's website.